Non-profit accuses Post Office of censorship (Not Gay Friendly)

Colorado Connection ^ | Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 9:27 p.m. | Christina Salvo

[DaveyB]

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The non-profit, Family Research Institute (FRI) claims the local U.S. Postal Service violated their free speech rights by refusing to mail their controversial newsletters.

Paul Cameron, Chairmen of FRI said the newsletters, addressed to about a thousand of their subscribers, called for opposition to the President's stance of allowing openly gay soldiers in the military.

In the newsletter there is an interview with a woman military recruit who talks about her experiences in basic training with a group of lesbians. Analysis of gay historian Randy Shilts, and excerpts from a retired navy captain's letter describing his experiences with homosexuals aboard his naval vessel.

Opinionated as the letter may be, Cameron, argued it is not a call to rebellion, and does not contain any lewd pictures or words. However, Cameron said the Colorado Springs Postmaster refused to mail the letters because he felt the overall content violated the Post Office's domestic mailing manual by containing "lewd or filthy matter" and "matter inciting violence."

The US Postal Service's spokesman Ron Perry said "We didn't say we would not mail [the letters]. We just said it couldn't' go at the nonprofit rate and would need to go standard mail, which was a difference of about $15 for the whole thing." The issue argued Perry was pricing and classification based on their interpretation of the domestic mailing manual, based on the non-profit.

Cameron said it wasn't the price he is upset about, but what he feels was censorship and a violation of their right to speak and publish. "The post office delivers everyday mail with a host of nudity. We had no pictures, no dirty words, no four letter words," said Cameron.

FRI did appeal and had the decision overturned, but is waiting to get the latest decision in writing before they mail the newsletters.

[DaveyB]

Post office (union members) playing political favorites with the mail. What next politics with medical care? Queer - that a bankrupt pseudo government entity would turn away legitimate business.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Post office (union members) playing political favorites with the mail.

This decision was made by postal management, it had nothing to do with the rank and file. Many of the people who do the grunt work and actually move, sort and deliver the mail are military veterans and/or conservatives and quite a number are members of Free Republic.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

A potential Postal ping.

[skr]

Does Mr. Perry apply the same scrutiny to LBGT-related non-profit organization’s mailings?

[ari-freedom]

this is what happens when the govt is in charge of the mail.

[gleeaikin]

If the Post Office is going to cut back to 5 days, I wish they would keep Saturday delivery and cut Tuesday or Wednesday.

[ASA Vet]

Postal Ping

[muawiyah]

Very good point. BTW, the "lewd" part would not change the "classification" to regular standard from special rate standard. Rather, the correct procedure is to determine if the mailer should pay part of the special fee used to build the list of folks who do not wish to receive pornography.

That question would be initiated by a recipient, not the postmaster or a supervisor.

The mail would properly have been accepted as is at the rate claimed provided it met the presort requirements AND the mailer had a permit to mail at the special rate.

Since this mail was eventually accepted at the higher rate (after an appeal) the issue is finished.

Now, to get the kleinescheistengrupenfuhrer who made the initial WRONG DECISION fired!

[muawiyah]

Excuse please ~ I believe it was accepted at the LOWER RATE ~ and the mailer was awaiting a letter stating that.

Some of these doufouses in the field get the idea that their jobs as Postmasters make them qualified to make decisions in hard cases.

They are wrong. Only Mail Classification Specialists and Managers may make those decisions. The job of the Postmaster is to MOVE THE MAIL, not STOP THE MAIL, and every single time they get involved in stopping it, they are trying to work above their grade level.

Eventually they learn to call the Classification Manager at the District first. All appeals end up in the hands of the Specialists.

[starlifter]

I suspect there is more to the story than reported oin this article.

[SgtBob]

You have ingratiated yourself with the FReepin’ Mailmen, and cohorts in crime, communism, and corruption, Mailwomen. (and hardcore VETERANS!)

WTF?? Time for SKOOLIN’...Standard mail is discounted provided you are mass mailing 200+ pieces, or more than 50 lbs of letters.

Non-profit, or Not For Profit is a different catagory. You must apply, and be approved for a permit number.

Ain’t it queer that you would probably enjoy me rolling up my union card and stickin’ it up yer arse?

Semper Fi, asshat!

[SgtBob]

Postal PING.

Veteran PING.

[DaveyB]

Wow - going postal are we!

[SgtBob]

Nope...you ain’t doin’ squat, (I disregard your “we” premise) outside of pissin’ off extremely conservative, U. S. Veterans who happen to have a union card...

[DaveyB]

Your use of logic and your amazing argumentation are only matched by your winsome apologetic and wit. You are a credit to union mail carriers everywhere.

Your are a real man of genius - today we salute you Mr. really really Psycho letter carrier - you deliver the census, IRS tax forms and paid political announcements meant to sway really really ignorant voters, you find time in his busy schedule to be a union thug- you love trying to be intimidating just like you were still a sergeant yelling at his pfc. We salute you Mr. thinking man who philosophies on each of his eleven paid holidays, a man who has never succeeded in a job requiring initiative, creativity and competition for service. So crack open a nice cold Bud-light Mr. sunshine and take yet another break, because you really put the postal in postal worker!

This is what can happens when you skip your Prozac for just one day.

[SgtBob]

I can see a relationship building opportunity...the depth, and breadth of your knowlege pool, as far as I can tell via your posts, will not drown a rat.

In the Postal Service the majority of the “rank and file” are Veterans, and conservatives. I, for the life of me, cannot understand your hate of veterans.

Every Officer, or Enlistedman has no choice but to have initiative, creativity, and be highly competetive for any chance of promotion. Every Veteran comes out with a life-long skill-set.

My skill-set is long range, ahem, “asset reduction”, administation chief, bulk fueler, charter pilot, prison warden, surveyor, and letter carrier.

By and away, the long range asset reduction skill-set pays the highest wage, however, my family has sacrificed enough throughout my military career. I will never leave them again. The price of time lost isn’t worth any wage.

I love to fly, but I also love living outdoors. Carrying the mail gives me the outdoors I love, and a wage to rent an aircraft every now and again.

As for your “winsome apologetic” reference; I pray, and hope to God that you never do what I have done; I pray that you never see what I have seen. Winsome apologetic....I now understand why you feel intimidated.