Title: Alex Beam reads his hate mail.

" I'm Alex beam a columnist for the Boston globe. And this is my podcast. I hate mail because this agree anecdote about one William F Buckley is a wonderful writer essayist and magazine editor. Was an undergraduate who's the editor of Yale daily news. And he used to actually kill advertisements he would withhold revenue and not run advertisements in the old daily news in order. To print anti William F Buckley letters in the paper. Anyway I wish the Boston globe would do wish they would clear large amounts of -- days. -- To print and gives voice to all these wonderful. Angry -- readers. Second very literate letter reacting to a column I wrote in late February. About the movie 300 300 was was was kind of -- head in my -- 14 year old son Michael has been bugging me taken -- it."

" For months because they had an extremely subtle unsuccessful promotion campaign. Point MySpace and effective campaign was later written up in the Wall Street Journal they -- MySpace users. To post 300 pictures -- that -- 12 which is usually allowed by the servers if they agreed to put the 300 trailer. On their site. In any case our own. Messenger -- and I did manage to squeeze into a preview. -- 300 which is theory style eyes sort of special effects rich. Count he's famous stand at 300 spartans their model -- The model is Greek for high speeds and courses. Very narrow pass through which. The invading army observed CDs and hated persians had to pass. In order to attempt to conquer all Greece which way. South of the past this is really one of the most. Beautiful old heroic stories sacrifices in military history -- detail by garage it is it is histories and what happens of course is on. Candidly honest start -- 300 of his best warriors north into the pass through an awful lot. And they successfully hold off the entire Persian army. For several days and after heroically defending -- pass."

" Built up. -- the movies loads of fun I went into some detail on it and -- At one point I mentioned. That classicism victor Davis Hanson has actually become fairly well known because it's sort of a go to guy for a new conservative thinking about the Warner wrong. Wrote a book in which he called the braves standard the model line perhaps the greatest loss. In the history of pan Hellenic operations. And one of the few times in history that an Asian army would defeat western force. Inside Europe that's something that's a very clear and direct an interest in -- that Hanssen is making because. The brave sacrifices the spartans is always seen us that's what's called a pyrrhic victory meaning oh loss in the short term. But ultimately of course six months later -- uses Armenia is beaten. And they were badly slowed down by -- this has slowed down of course by the slaughter. Of the three minutes."

" in any case my my -- super super literate readers system he didn't mr. -- didn't you make kind of cheap shot. From my study of the model life and he writes with some -- conducted on the history channel. No one expected 300 spartans to -- to defeat hundreds of thousands of persians. They were assigned delaying action and they carried out heroically with the certainty eventual death and the fate of -- in their hands. So they did win in that sense kind of like the Americans on bunker hill right. Then he says -- my dad. Isn't just great to only hear from your readers -- think you're wrong."

" I got a whole bunch of letters. In reaction to a column -- published on march 5. This year and the headline was a Mormon president I don't -- What I did in this column really it was a -- used several hours of footage. From a forthcoming public broadcasting from a special reports on the front line in American experience. About the history of the Mormon religion is called the Mormon."

" And it's going to be airing all of the countries the end of this month. And I'm genuinely fascinated. In how the Mormon church is this perceived. In the United States depending on who's counting it's one of two or three. Native great religions the other one the other great news -- revisions course hails from Boston just Christian science it wouldn't -- any. And that you know mormons is is it big deal to us now because powerful governor Mitt Romney. As a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination. We we runs towards the virtually every day every story in today's paper -- and his number one money raiser among and he. Their current candidates for the Republican nomination. So I don't for some reason I am I need some regular Mormon I think Romney puts the issue of religion on the table. And I've always been. Extremely skeptical and questioning about the possibility. Of Mormon becoming president and board I hear."

" From mormons -- fence in my skepticism. You've probably know all emails come with a subject line here's -- subject line reads look at the emcee Chris Warren now. And if there can be no doubt that and -- its work preferred answer. And this very aggressive letter starts out by saying quote. It is amazing just how far you journalists will -- just trying to get some rise out of people especially the end time warm and kind. You've shown to have zero morals in your body -- peace. Your editorial piece would not contain the -- in the context you rather than men as it was written what is most insidious. You portray them as real truth that is taught as doctrine in the obvious fees. Without any true research have to interrupt here briefly because LBS stands for. Latter day saints which as the name mormons prefer to have one. Refer to there. Religion it's only estrogen Lebanese things that don't actually going to be called Mormon settlers don't call themselves means. Amongst each other anyway this letter. It's taking me to task for various frictions. -- to new research -- quote. Knowing full well inside yourself that what you've written as a function B yes but the mormons are easy targets to pick the letter gets better stay with me here quote. People like you in journalism like a five year old with a handgun being more responsible pack your bags. Frankly I'm glad that many people no longer take a Boston los seriously writers like you has seemed to that is not much better than the national enquirer. Or this. Maybe many mormons. Read this column because."

" It was posted on Mormon web -- on anti Mormon states. And several mormons invited me to to learn more about the church which of course is kind of subtle ways I don't know squat. Here's an excerpt from Gary prince's letter to me quote. You may be very surprised at what you learn about -- in fact. You would probably discover that Joseph Smith now that's the founder of course of the Mormon religion. That Joseph Smith would be considered an extreme left wing social liberals by today's standards just for the record and a member of the church of Jesus Christ. Of latter day saints very scary prince of course I had no doubt that. He goes on quote."

" When you -- attacked religion as the main basis for not voting for an individual it's suggest that you have no real substantive reasons to object. To his candidacy. It's in this is a -- many letter writers -- I attachment -- sort of unfairly by the back door because his religious beliefs. Rather than through the front door of his flip flopping on such issues as gay marriage and abortion."

" Yet another letter writer named Tom to vote who reminds us that he holds a Ph.D. Has a long letter again taking me to task for being ignorant of oh yes is he writes quote. There's something inherently bogus individuals taking it upon themselves -- characterize others without anything anymore. Than superficial knowledge of them. Unfortunately that's what you've done do you think that interviewing disgruntled ex members of an organization reveals his true colors. Of that organization unquote well actually I didn't hear -- and he -- like it was way -- PBS special. This point eight it is that -- I gave voice to some of the dissidents in the Mormon church -- are very very numerous and very very active. And the real problem for the Mormon church and the problem for many of these letter writers as well shortly see. Is that -- dissidents in the church the so called fundamentalists -- traditionalists still believe in polygamy still believes that man should have. As many -- as justice Smith pretty -- premiums case was over. Here's yet another letter from a Mormon reader named -- below he lives in Salt Lake City. And like so many others he objected to mind raising the issue polygamy or multiple marriage and calm he says. I live in Salt Lake City quote. I never met or known of a family practicing polygamy nearly everyone knew Tom we'll say the same thing its -- through the media. That we hear about other families practicing polygamy there are no families in the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. Practicing polygamy was is an interest in -- credit credible makes and on it's worth taking a look at the PBS documentary which was done by. Filmmaker named Helen Whitney. Tom she states that there are between 30060000. Mormons practicing polygamy in the United States and -- even though this mr. bulletin council city. Utah that's an act toward her many of the Mormon polygamous."

" Arlo that they cannot live in the city -- listen rural Utah rural. Arizona Anderson fantastic footage actually that I kind of made fun of -- not so nice way. India documentaries that shows on the family of 11 sitting down to dinner and the receiver and get this right. There's six children three mothers and one father. And in the column I mean this really nasty crack about Heather has three mommies because. That's courted a sort of catch phrase for home foes and right wingers -- always attacking. On these books that show elementary school shelves called Heather has two daddies which makes fun. Some little children -- her to -- institutional -- There were several other relatively brief brief letters from. Mormons -- men and press conferences. What do we read an article about its long in the same manner and tone he used in this article my money says that you don't have the guts to do is a two story. You are weak and you make me sick. Louis ray rates to me your article stinks exclamation Mark. He refers to my biased viewpoint and he goes on to say you folks in the media can't find any dirt on meant she's going to attack. His religion for more mormons in the world. We have a lot less terrorism and hatred. Which brings me and my next point. To be so called fair and unbiased when we'd be producing a similar article on barrack Obama -- the Muslims or Hillary. Whatever she believes in oh sorry I forgot the filing cabinets are overflowing with current. On both of them I lost."

" Louis -- point 4 you remember respond to this email. As -- respond -- only -- and I think though he said if we have more mormons in the world atlas terrorism and hatred thinker wrote well especially said. Yeah and maybe it would pull out more massacres as well which was really nasty. -- that luxury -- ought to be famous. Meadows massacre -- there is fairly in this morning's in this PBS special. It's just terrible stain on history one that actually trying to rub for many years. When a group of mormons me and made common cause with some Indians out west to massacre away entry. Non Mormon settlers. I mean in this podcast wouldn't -- very good grief. And self explanatory email from reader who identified himself as George Orwell. And if George Orwell is one of our readers. I am lucky man and here is what George Orwell wrote me quote. If you understand this -- and if you're religion doesn't forbid kill yourself using oxygen that's all you're doing. George if you is not mutual -- an admirer of yours from an early."

" Please continue to share your thoughts of me please write it without you there would be no podcast. Where are you there would be no one worth defending I'm Alex beam you can reach me by email team. The last thing was elected beam of light beam. Globe dot com thank you so much for reading and thank you so much for --"