Title: Alex Beam's hate mail.

" Hi I'm Alex beam on the living arts columnist for the Boston Globe welcome to the and addition of hate mail podcast we're using letters that came in reaction to. Columns I wrote. During this wonderful summer a lot of his columns actually were written from the molten -- public library and molten for a New Hampshire which has. Excellent wireless that extends. Into the parking lot so I actually wrote these columns while sitting in my car. Before library opened because by the time library opened -- him back to -- Now for the back to school addition we have in a way a panoply of guest stars reading these letters from disgruntled. Readers the first the first guest are worthy of instructions Charlie pierce who's in magazine writer. Here to Boston Globe he's actually a nationally. Famous and much decorated sports writer. And also has a terrific background in radio I'm sure you know him from various national public radio shows are other reader. Is very much of an an inside player here at the Boston Globe with the managing editor for administration. Mary Jane Wilkinson Mary Jane Wilkinson was my boss when I was a business reporter shoes my boss when as a business columnist who's my boss when she -- an -- section many years ago. Sees sort of a central person. Who runs the paper and to whom we are all extremely -- as would have Mary Jane. We never get paid. He'll also be hearing -- voice of my friend joke time. Who's read here before and I think by consensus is probably one of the best hate mail readers that we have with a paper so I hope you enjoyed this. And keep -- coming."

" On August 1. I wrote what I that was a pretty innocent. Summer column -- was be careful what you wish for but it was all written out in like. Text language and if you're 12 years old you know what I mean it was written out enough the way kids text each other on their cellphones because it was a column that's actually based on a press release which the BBC's swallowed about the purported resurgence of an organization called the simplified spelling society mainly in Britain although -- about six grew clicks and learn that there's along and not uninteresting history of so called simplified spelling in the United States as well both Andrew Carnegie. And Theodore Roosevelt were huge advocates of Mae king. He knows though and row. Spelled the same way although there's only about eight billion other examples. But the best letters I got on this column really had nothing to do with simplified spelling because it was August 1 in -- was reading -- newspaper except. Some officials. From the Esperanto society because I compared to clause of reforming spelling I called it. The ultimate media Janet hopeless cause like -- rant. And that prompted. Two very amusing letters the first one. From bill and months old writing from what I believe is the Esperanto designation of -- town in Arizona he says he's -- from. So to you know demand CIO. Arizona whose owner Bruce I don't know as we don't know being United States in Esperanto here's bill's letter."

" You said quote the United Kingdom based society is the ultimate media Janet hopeless cause like Esperanto -- quote. -- contrary air Mon -- Esperanto is alive and well thank you very much and then use somewhere in the world on a daily basis there are -- practice in over 100 in 20 countries. And a person can travel the world speaking only Esperanto. But it does take some planning ahead of time."

" Great letter bill next time I'm in Arizona oh planned a trip to via an all Esperanto voyager I think we need to send a memo to the travel editors sounds like a sure fire feature article. The actual president of Esperanto USA full torque -- got on the line to send me this letter."

" Here mister Alex beam. I use Esperanto for my main daily communications because it is logical rich robust useful expressive and relatively free of ambiguities. It is even my shipping -- exceeds English and each of these qualities. It is a puzzlement to me the language so widely used and successful as Esperanto get such treatment in the press. I can only assume that the knot was to grab attention in amusing way"

" Phil thank you for the letter actually sent an email back to -- Chris calling him out on his line quote I use Esperanto from my main daily communications. Saying we're here you've written a letter to the Boston Globe wasn't that a relatively important communication that each terrorists are rated in English not in. The wonderful language of Esperanto. But it's the thought that counts and thank you. Literally for three years I'd I'd wanted to write about the selling of David Beckham in the United States on. There was of a pretty widely read Vanity Fair cover story that appeared in 2004. That was very upfront -- at that time was so -- soccer for believe rail Madrid. And his wife of Victoria beckham with a former posh spice it was pursuing her career at that point of this by schools were pretty much over. And these."

" You know relatively subtle public relations and advertising types laid out their plans for Vanity Fair incident we're going to take this beckham brand and we're going to sell it into the American market the reason being. At the end of the day islam money in the American market I always thought this was a calculated kind of cynicism that rubbed me the wrong way so. My column was entitled beckham -- won't play here in a bid made sort of 22 points that that weren't particularly breathtaking in in one I was channeling a friend of mine who's sort of a local soccer expert he actually successfully predicted that women's professional soccer would fail which it did. And he actually doesn't think this so called MLS major league soccer is going to make it economically United States. And to a certain extent MLS had you know was hoping that that beckham. Would maybe jacked them off -- that the necessary level becoming the fifth or fourth most popular sport in the country in the summer. As you -- now call on their sort of back from tour beckham in the Los Angeles galaxy. I went and played in most of the major media markets he didn't play in Boston because he he had an injury and and that's a tricky thing and I very cynically predicted that he would play on in larger medium markets and Boston fact he did. I sort of win after beckham went after the notion that soccer was going to make it into the top five sports and also went after. His wife who was getting an amazing amount of negative press. In Los Angeles. I -- she had a kind of 11 hour reality shows it was supposed to be a series it was really ghastly and watch some good. She sort of an appallingly. Poker person I think I think by any standards I don't think it's merely snobs who who would say that we're going to read two letters here. The first one from Jonathan Goodrich of lol."

" So Alex you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning one. Expect this kind of negative vitriolic crap from certain -- in sports writers who want their ignorance hatred of slacker. But from the living not searching a break if you're disappointed about beckham's emotional about that. Drag and -- sport league for one in the process of several points in my goodness. Has a legitimate injury and what's going to risk the rest of the season by playing on fielder Kenny Everett. You talk about the US ports and it is one monolithic personality. We watch a lot of sports in this country with sporting public property Oliver's community soccer. Is holding its own against the NHL it towards the TV ratings and attendance. -- beat out the NBA and LB and a the only time soon -- Yeah it's aka assault. What is ignorance qualification for commentary in a major newspaper. -- harassment political."

" my name is Richard thought I'm 24 point San Diego through English parents opening. Football real English football I know my stuff. Economic won't play I'd -- well written about it is like is injured and it takes only deal. Being partners except that this is an important part of body. Is that you stop been injected the rebels which steroids or painkillers like you'll all American US football players baseball. I don't know -- item under American geographically but it. -- the country what you need to understand that by USA is a big country adult the biggest. It around for a couple hundred years apart -- drink that is old and -- country. The best league as the -- long time. Instead of dissect him -- him at heartland the -- of holes a beautiful thing not just the goals if you can't understand not. Proving what Europe is already thinking and have been prolonged time."

" Stupid well Richard thanks for your thoughts actually sent Richard return email because the last two words of his letter work. You're stupid but it was misspelled it was YOUR and Chris Richard wanted to say why are you apostrophe are he. So kind of very brief message I -- estimate I was super fun it was stupid at least I can write the language that comes from his purported homeland England. I signed off a letter by saying that Richard -- thank me later for the grammar lesson but curiously he didn't thank me later for the grammar -- I had said in that column that beckham hadn't scored and seven months which was in in fact true beckham had never scored on American soil after he signed his do you with the Los Angeles galaxy February. And as if to kind of for stick in my David Beckham scored a goal that very night that for Wednesday. That I wrote this column predicting that his whole soccer career -- nowhere. On two things have happened since the column appears an -- I don't I don't take pleasure in anyone's. Anyone's misfortune in fact -- has had a more serious injury he he probably won't be playing soccer for the rest this year America the the other bizarre piece of news Phnom. I didn't include in the columnist his wife Victoria will be. Appearing in new Spice Girls world --"

" On August 6 I've published but I also hope was a relatively innocent. Summer column we're -- half over and opens read the paper because I'm just relaxing and writing about. Things I -- I was in somebody else's summer house. When I -- a long profiles Mort Zuckerman. In the New Yorker it was completely ridiculous -- all essentially nothing Zuckerman of course is the famous Boston real estate magnate turned. Manhattan real estate magnate -- Washington DC realistic magnate -- magazine publisher former Atlantic. And now refused news and world report and he mention he writes a weekly column which is the subject of much derision in journalism circles. And he described it to the New Yorker reporter. How he. Let's see how he reads his column allowed I think to a secretary in Mexico City who transcribed it and faxes it back to him. Then he sends a column to Harold Evans -- name quite well known in journalism because Harold Evans weaver who is Tina Brown's husband -- But is also famous in his own right as the editor of the London Sunday Times. And down. So -- more -- offering up all these bizarre moments in the creation of his absolutely mediocre. Magazine column and ended by confessing that he he's not very good at. Metaphor so while I was going through 750 words sort of central casting mockery of this rich guy trying to write a magazine opinion column. I included. Several metaphors because he said they were so hard to use metaphor. When you were writing and when reader local Andy -- When went nearly bizarre. Arm and and called me out. Very very aggressively with a letter that had a heading when he sent it to me of to use an apt metaphor you aren't empty styrofoam beer cooler here's Andy's letter."

" Dear mr. beam. Twice in your August 6 column you congratulate yourself and being good with metaphors you don't know a metaphor from a hospital. The comparison made explicit by using words such as like. As for the band. Is a Somali a metaphor is an implied comparison which as it stands is always alive. My column is a sausage of unknown origin perhaps war deadlines keep poking their snouts in my face. You'll also asked Arab -- where the US news and world report had fired -- fact checkers. I gather the globe hasn't retained many such positions -- Hoping to get your own facts right the next time me spew contempt for other people's right."

" Well if nothing else that's certainly proves it the people who read the paper -- better than the people who purport to write the paper. I sent in the gallows a relatively brief. Response and which I can quote verbatim because they're probably about 15 of the worst chosen words I've ever. I've committed two keyboard acts could hear mr. gas. Every educated person knows that similarly come likes -- and other figures of speech. Is a subset. Of metaphor period and I left -- well. That was crazy I couldn't bring in. His billion page response in which. He put metaphor and symbol into various search engines he came up with 12. You know relatively well authoritative sources that -- butted my contention similarly it was a subset. A metaphor within the interest of intellectual honesty he. He mentioned it several major dictionaries and I believe the Oxford English dictionary. Back me up but. You're creating struck me a chest like have thrown beer can at Foxboro. Similar metaphor thank you very much for your letter and."

" On September 10 I wrote a column called chemical literati saved our four. Which was based on a visit I made it to the institute of contemporary art down Boston waterfront. They had a one day visiting photo exhibit called star forward to -- four. And it was of a relatively pricey ticket about 60 or 70 dollars on a lot of very well known Bostonians were there. A your real mom played the cello and the column the thrust of the column basically was some -- a lot of fashion shows in Manhattan. That purport to be sending agent R four with a lot of movie stars who. Raised the consciousness of Americans about therefore there's a lot of what I -- empty talk about boycotting olympics you know people wearing wrist bands and wealthy suburbanites putting lawn signs out saying you know not on our watch saved -- for now and I felt that sadly. Had done absolutely nothing either to stop the killing nor in any -- ameliorated -- defeat of the millions of refugees we have several very pointed letters the first ones from wasn't -- Massachusetts."

" Sir madam. There -- a lot of things I could say to rebut mr. being snide pessimism about the anti genocide movement including. Citing investment efforts fund raising and UN resolutions 1796. But to find out those things on -- being we need to do is summary search. Instead I'd asked that he not insult the intelligence of the people concerned about this issue. We're not -- Mia -- Angelina Jolie in fact most of us aren't. A lot of us including myself are high school students and while you're at it down to -- of people affected by this crisis by labeling them dark for -- Rape and murder are not -- and your cavalier attitude that any concern is fashionably entitled concern. It's -- damaging to the cause were working for. Your decision to focus on the so called literati and awareness raising event only betrays your own fellow disparaging preoccupation with wealth and glamour"

" that's -- great veterans of beautifully written letters thank you very much we got another response from Leslie Thomas who's been traveling all over the country generating the actual photo exhibit that came. To the institute of contemporary art."

" I find it curious that you trivialize the efforts of people want to try against our obvious sides to keep the plight of civilians and to our four in the media. And that's on the media hungry political agenda. What do you suggest. That we simply ignore the deaths of hundreds of thousands because -- leaders have. As the curator of the exhibit I'd rather have your disdain they give up quite that easily."

" In the last letter on the subject we got was from Malcolm Parris. Who co founded an organization that I essentially poked fun at which it's sponsored actually nightclub event down in Manhattan called designers for Darfur war."

" You're mr. beam. As the co founder of designers for -- four. I can tell you that our original intention was simply to raise awareness with in the fashion community to some of the more important. Plates in the world outside of hemlines and it next. I didn't choose to do this work this work chose me. Once I start to see the countless faces of innocent -- suffering people of -- for whilst on a business trip Paris I just decided to jump in -- all my might. And found myself very fortunate to have a voice within the fashion community. Fortunately I am old enough to remember the initial rate of aids in the United States and when people were holding charity events nonstop to raise awareness and funds throughout the country. I can also remember the way the media bashed every single organization for their efforts. But it was due to the dancing feet -- dance of -- the revved up performances at live concerts inspiring voices and spirits of celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and yes. The creativity and commitment of relatively unknown fashion designer at the time named Kenneth Cole. That eventually made all the difference in finding treatment in combating the spread of HIV aids. If we're not for people like this. I as a proud African American homosexual male. Perhaps would not be around to assist an important efforts like attempted to -- genocide still taking place in -- for -- energy and light be --"

" thank you Malcolm I had an email exchange with famine which side. I respectfully disagreed with this notion that would the media bashed aids awareness events when it took place and I also respectfully mentioned it. Probably it was thanks to a newspaper writer named Randy shields who worked for the San Francisco chronicle it finally the aids epidemic can confront Saturn American public consciousness in any case -- doing the podcast. Has has become a real pleasure we've gotten a lot of good feedback we've been picked up at various places blogs here. So to our producer and Silvio into everyone who's listening thanks a lot thank you for listening you can even criticize us we won't be sending you hate mail. Oh"