Mail call.

• Author: Rothschild, Matthew
• Position: Editor's Note - The Progressive magazine - Brief Article - Editorial

The front door of our office is locked. And we've kept it that way for a month now, the longest time in memory.

The reason: We've been getting a lot of hate mail, and one of our staff members felt ill at ease. Much as I dislike letting the haters have any influence on us whatsoever, the wise course is the course of prudence.

I'd like to give you a sample of some of the e-mails that came in after we posted our "Comment" from last month, "The Toll of Terror," on our web page, and after I adapted it for an op-ed that ran in several newspapers.

"You big bunch of gutless wimps! Not only are you people stupid but un-American to the extent you would not call for the U.S. to respond in kind," one said. "America First, Last, and Always! The time for talk is over. You leftest [sic] will all be abolished in one way or another, soon!"

"I wish you and Barbara T. Lee [Democrat of California and the sole member of Congress to vote against authorizing Bush to use force] were in the World Trade Center last week and got your terrorist-loving asses blown up," wrote another. "You serve no purpose in our free society. You make me sick. Drop dead!"

"I have read the article by Matthew Rothschild and cannot determine if the man is spineless, stupid as a chair, or a combination of both," one curious writer said. "It was the most worthless piece of science fiction I have ever read. He is a blooming idiot. I think he should be a frontline reporter for bin Laden on site with him when the first cruise missiles hit."

"I am an American," another said. "I'm proud to be an American, and I will fully support President Bush and our government in our efforts to protect ourselves whatever the means are to achieve that goal.... I would like to check your citizenship and then decide if you want to stay in the home of the brave, or if you would like to join the faceless cowards that kill...