Title: Alex Beam reads his hate mail.

" I'm Alex beam on the living arts columnist for the Boston globe. And this is yet again my podcasts done with my friends. Of the hate mail that I received in response to my provocative columns of course no response to my boring columns -- likely -- not all boring. That's recently come out ever since we started these podcasts. But there's some readers. -- concerned about me and worried that I receive only hate mails I've been getting emails were the subject line reads. This is not hate mail or this is love mail and it's like everyone is sort of trying to be my nice older sister you know under an assured me that the -- Meehan. And first of all I wish I -- sister and second of all you know I know the family still loves me so please. Don't bother sending me a lot of mail. Mainly because it won't get used in this wonderful podcast."

" The first column we're discussing appeared on April 4. It was really about the cape wind project it was a column about an investigative book has just come out. Which really exposes the opponents to this huge wind farm that's supposed to go into Nantucket shoals. It's exposes them as a state coalition of incredibly rich people. Who own huge homes basically on Nantucket on Martha's vineyard. Or on that gorgeous section of the -- their faces out to the islands it's really just rich people. Who don't want to have to look out -- balcony of their four million dollar mega mansion. In Hyannis and see 200 wind turbines here's a very typical letter from reader named Jim mckenzie."

" Alex of course the easy not an assistant say it's a rich man's nimby not in my backyard. But it is much more than that. This is a pristine area and should be off limits to crass commercial development. Zoning boards exercise control over the look and feel of 30 Storey structures all over New England. -- that such an issue when they're looking to do the same here wait. I have the solution. Let's put 200 plus towers each 200 feet in height in Chester nova Scotia harbor. And I know just a point to locate them."

" Chester nova Scotia funny you should mention that you. Q is extremely sharp eyed reader and remembers back to 2001 in fact September 18 I have my days correct. The only time I've ever mentioned. That I did inherit a lovely home second home ancestor of Scotia perhaps. One of the most beautiful places. In North America as far as I'm concerned and -- exactly right I really would not like to have a wind farm. In -- Chester harbor although frankly it wouldn't matter right now one which me because alas I no longer on that gorgeous home. Here's a letter from Dan Dowling who didn't like -- turn a phrase in that same cape wind column."

" To balance beam as a gay man I took offensive to the following phrase. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of a new literary genre call it Cape Cod exploitation. Prime examples include Peter -- those delightful anti gay manifesto. He count our sex and money on the outer cape. Would you describe something as someone's delightful racist novel. Or delightful anti African American film. Since you go into no details about your opinion -- that book I can only take the words you selected at face value. Rather than get emotionally flooded and run the risk of writing a letter that would wind up being fodder for whenever you're. Hate mail podcasts. I would like to hear you elaborate on or clarify not justified or validate your phrasing. It may be that mr. man's has done the inconceivable at least to me and written something that is delightful and in time. Still I would be interest in hearing what you mean by that phrase."

" Okay and here's my answer to you I mean I use the term delightfully mad for instance I use that term to describe my own mother and my column. You know what appeared -- those. Book is sort of a delightful in a way it's extremely gossipy and it is. It is anti gay Peter really objects to that focus being characterized as anti -- but. Ice ice I -- sort of present you're taking me to task in an -- too literal way for saying that. A work that is -- you know derisive of Catholics or even even derisive of African Americans can't be. Delightful obviously it's controversial you're gonna -- What's an example of a delightful anti African American comedy what what about the -- of Sasha baron Cohen what about our active -- with my life from my. -- I was almost flashing in the aisles but it's it's it's -- too -- anti Jewish. On his character Ali G in my opinion is is like two operatives vitriolic satire sort of the -- culture if you will the culture of African American -- You know it would be very easy for a black person to pose as being offended by Ali G although I would have to argue it. That person really isn't getting. This next letter is from Warner is going to Moscow."

" I am an unemployed administrative assistant registered Democrat. Anti bush resident of Plymouth Massachusetts who is also against the wind farm. Isn't just rich people who live on or near the -- or ordinary people do to. And I don't want my view when I go for a drive or take -- theory to the island Israel and either. I hope it Robert F Kennedy junior continues to be allowed now because he is a lot to say it needs to be heard. And you know what. If the wind farm is built and it ruins RST -- view he can afford to move someplace else that the average person can't. Put the wind farm some place that is already ugly air enough places that are."

" Well thank you for that letter Lorna. As I said on this podcast I I if I positions all the opponents. To be Nantucket shoals wind farm. As -- crass rich people sort of trust the Syrians if you will and and she says no she says. You know she's an average person who like to keep that particular -- beautiful which certainly refuse to tone of what I wrote which also picks up. On a kind of one of several nasty data published lately against. Robert F Kennedy junior I believe I called -- loud mouth environmentalist in this particular column because the Kennedys of course how they're very famous Hyannis compound and Robert Kennedy has. Hezbollah -- in front of congress and elsewhere and on public radio at great length about how he's learned to sail in Nantucket sound in this trotted out all these pictures his uncle John F Kennedy. And his famous little slew open house that it would be you know if we generated electricity. On this particular body of war. A recent mail now. That appear in response to a column I wrote on April 10 that was about it book co edited by three academic -- had I think the single most absurd title. I've ever seen in my life and the title of the book was. How green where the Nazis and on the put on the cover here's a picture of forest. And in the shape of a swastika some of the trees have been dyed yellow. Which allowed me of course in the course of the column. To use the unbearable -- suggested -- frame of mind talk about not seeing the forest. For the -- these three academics wrote about a 250 page book about the environmental leanings of discern right. Some of the facts -- dragged into the book. Or we're really start turning immunity the they mentioned inter Alia that there was an organic herb garden -- Dahab that death -- They mentioned the widely known and not particularly mentioned fact that Hitler was a vegetarian than they even curiously. In in the courses book kept."

" Trying to describe the role of environmentalism and forest preservation. As part of the Nazis electoral platform and I had an email exchange with the authors this book and I he has been years since I've been in college. I -- you know my memory tells me that after the Nazis took power in January of 1933. They dispensed with electoral platforms for the simple reason there were never any elections until Hitler killed himself in 1945. So that this I felt these these three authors have created this nether world where. The -- informed American reader would think that environmentalism was sort of part of the Nazi platform. Which frankly didn't exist at all under the Nazi platform sadly you know was about restoring. Nationalist -- to Germany and that that include killing people that so called aryan Germans didn't approve of and that included of course. Jews homosexuals poles Gypsies kindness I have terrible trouble this book which I thought was."

" Our leaders are going to mention just totally out of school that these three authors are sent a letter to the editor of the lost an awful. Caller we have caught me all kinds of names saying that was an unethical journalist this and that this and that and they specifically asked Thomas Zeller a professor at University of Maryland specifically asked editors make sure. That I could not repeat their comments. In this podcast. In any case just a different letter we got from a reader named Scott Sulzer."

" Alex you're right. The Nazis were so abhorrent that studies on -- should only be focused on their concentration camps in more strategies. And he's saying is that might yield insights into the culture and times and -- at the Third -- It's trivial if not blasphemous of the memories of the dead. That there was sufficient to so let's be where those who believe in efficiency the Third Reich had a strong military so -- Anyone who went as the military. We have the third -- model of government also believed in strong partnership between government and business so we'd better -- where political leaders today would boost. Private public partnerships can't they give any. And wait that would be WM running this country."

" Right now. Scott thank you for your extra ordinarily ironical letter that reveals me to be. The shallow person I am there's a saying in my wife's family. And I quote sarcasm is the lowest form of humor. And you've achieved a new."

" published a column on April 18 that. Got more mail. -- healthy percentage of it negative critical than any column I've ever written. Since -- should have died and I can't remember when that was I wrote a column. Calling the outpouring of grief and emotion about the deficit to imagine -- said it was the caning. For the deaths of the last quite superstar. Which I've since learned a lot of people agree to an important wants him to agree with me the time. On April 18 I wrote a column with Clinton's gay people give me my stuff back which was really in response to -- very funny and silly article. In the New York Times styles section. Which identified -- Peru's. Which since he knows that most of you listening come from doing consumers are almost issues. Every man and woman in New England to New York Times style substances who bruiser actually gay cars or lesbian cars and are known. Fairly widely in the gay community as Liz Peru's. Which certainly came as news now -- to meeting between 900 year old father in law who this -- me. -- Subaru he's elderly Norwegian gentleman. I also in the same column mentioned I mean I had known that prius is which also alone. Are deemed nikkei had known Camel's -- to be anywhere I sort of went to town with -- whole notion. -- things that our culture deems to be today. Whether they are or not and frankly I was having fun. And I allowed that. When I'm having fun. Not everybody is getting the joke in any case we have we have plenty of great hate mail to share with you in fact I think we're going to second edition of gay anti anti hate mail because there's so much of it I should say that at the end of this column. He got it jokingly again not everyone else is refining and -- sort of half part of list of things said it would never be gay included. Thomas menino than the mayor of Boston I think it's fairly and -- going to get infected emails and he's very pro which is different and I'm glad that person the KGB he heard the FSB's is now known as probably not very case. -- the National Hockey League. Probably would would never become very case I think that's correct that I really made an error and wrote that the National Football League. Wasn't very gate which prompted a lot of response including this letter from -- that."

" Alex you don't think the NFL can be considered -- a bunch of PP muscular guys running chasing after each other and tight pants. Piling on top of each other slapping and hugging one another when something good happens then showering together when it's all said and done. Gay gay gay. This is a sport that has a position called tight end mind view."

" Dole had taken many other readers agree with you I got it all wrong about the national football. Here 22 letters brief letters from women readers who have different. Responses to this column first Suzanne aide who did not give her last name."

" You aren't mask all those gay themes are usually labeled gay by straight people like yourself. And a letter from a woman who identified herself as Flozell. Oh it's okay for you to Marion blond Norwegian goddess. With a gaze Subaru nothing father loving gay people do what exactly morning Kate. Epstein self pleasure. Maine Judy Garland Conte US sleepless nights"

" great letter -- and my wife will be flattered to -- for Tuesday blonde. Norwegian got a decisively Judy Garland reference of course was it was in the column -- I made a point that. Tongue in cheek hope that -- gays and run off with. Not not only Judy Garland but Gloria Gaynor and Bette Midler of course in other words with and most of the great female vocalist of part time. Here's a letter from a reader named victor oliveira."

" Alex that -- cliche article he wrote is probably one of the most offensive articles I have ever seen throwing out all those stereotypes just reinforce them. When people say things like that so -- it creates the other that humans love so much and love to read about. I find a whole hunt to marginalize people and to find them find jobs -- objects is really offensive. No matter who the group that is targeted. I know plenty of gay people who do not drive those cars or wear those clothes that you mentioned and you just mix them all in. Really really clever you. Hey Alex why don't you give me my real news. Now here's a letter from reader named George Narnia."

" Hey Alex at least you can't accuse -- taking you're writing talent. Hard to -- that which never existed if this -- worse ways to print is any indication cheer. Though you can always take solace in the fact that you're feeling only an amusing piece probably brought a few chuckles. And -- curmudgeonly joy to the hearts of a few bigots but spoons and poorly endowed in secures straight man. Which category do you fall into Alex promise I won't tell that would be just game."

" I feel obliged to sort of I guess answer where where life could fall into his. Catalogue of negative stereotypes in my bigger buffoon. -- poorly endowed insecure straight man I think I'm probably all of the above. Here's a letter from Elaine Peterson."

" Alex I have read your column for a long time and it usually enjoyed your views I've never felt the way and feeling now after reading today's column. It is left me confused and concerned what is your point. What is the ending mean are you actually attacking gays or is this meant to be a satirical ironic or dark comedy. Is this column part of the New York Times the globe plan to attract younger readers. If it is whether or not it will do so is questionable. But he is certain that it will certainly speed the departure of many of the quote older readers. Those who have supported the paper for 25 years looking forward to each state to index. Thoughtful writing not just on current events but across many disciplines. Maybe I'm overreacting I hope so."

" Well -- I hope you're overreacting mean to be fair to the globe. We publish dozens of I would like to say hundreds but now it's more like dozens of pages every day in depth. Thoughtful writing on current events across many disciplines I've always seen myself as something of an antidote. To the rest of the paper and if wanting to use your own words -- when I'm writing is a satirical ironical. Or dark comedy mean why not why not 11 slender column it's ambiguous where people. In a sense either laugh or aren't sure whether they should be laughing this kind of writing ally that's kind of writing I want in my newspaper. I appreciate your feelings your -- quote what does the ending media and quote and the ending of this calm again the headline was they gave people give me my stuff back it was sort of -- very typical. Kind of twisted an ending -- mention to us in Massachusetts. Now gay men gave women and he had had the right to be married which really deep down remind our heart means they have the right to be as unhappy as the rest of us I think. I think that's precisely. What I wrote in that ending although I did not use us. Precise words -- an address one other question you pose in -- letter which by the way is really is really nicely written it's nice to see some direct -- Asks real questions you ask is this column part of the glows plan to attract younger readers. Elaine let me let you win on the -- plan to attract younger readers the -- they fired 53 year old point colonists that you know that we're serious. About attracting younger readers thank you for reading. Thank you -- way."