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The Founders' opinions on manners are not Constitutional law, nor do they define "American" or "un-American." It is illogical to say, "Free speech means people can say what they want," and then qualify it, "Unless it's speech that I (or George Washington) think is bad manners."

I don't believe I called anyone a name; I simply identified the originators (liberals) of the "right not be exposed to casual criticism" that was being claimed for Mr. Farah. When a person puts his political, social, or religious beliefs out in the public domain, he's inviting criticism. Whether the criticism is polite and measured, or hyperbolic and derogatory, or all of the above, is irrelevant.

Nobody has suggested that Mr. Farah's beliefs shouldn't be held, or that they shouldn't be expressed. Posters have offered various permutations of agreement and disagreement, most of them perfectly civil, others sarcastic or jesting. I fail to see anything contrary to American principles in this form of discussion.