You’re caving to vague threats, New Times

I am appalled that you not only published the letter from Jon Claxton (“Show some respect,” July 18) regarding the July 4 cartoon by Jerry James, but that you issued an apology, and thanked him as well. Maybe you did not actually read the letter, which concludes with a threat of some undisclosed nature. Read his last sentence again if you think I am mistaken.

Mr. Claxton should have every right to contact you and express his dislike of any portion of your editorial content (even I feel Jerry gives some low blows here and there). He could even pull his financial support, if he gave any, for all I care. But when he claims that if you had offended him a little bit more, he was ready and willing to do more than express his opinion in words (violence, legal proceedings?), and you do not take him to task to at least explain what he means, then you accept the same sort of thinking used by those who would call for the death of a cartoonist for offending their god.

Thank you for your time.

-- Tim Jouet - San Luis Obispo