Michael Moore and Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt was ushered from The Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas yesterday and asked never to return when, during her set, she dedicated her rendition of the Eagles' Desperado to Michael Moore and encouraged the audience to go see the film. Moore responded to Aladdin president Bill Timmins actions saying, "What country do you live in? Last time I checked, Las Vegas is still in the United States. And in the United States, we have something called “The First Amendment.” This constitutional right gives everyone here the right to say whatever they want to say." The beauty of America is that we hold private property.  Timmins owns the Aladdin and can do with it whatever he likes (provided it meets certain loose government requirements for safety and fair employment, etc.)  It would be an evil society that forced Timmins to use a stage he built to push a political agenda he did not support.  Could you imagine a world where the government mandated that anyone could do or say anything they liked in your home or business and you simply had to tolerate it?  It would be unjust to take life or liberty from Ronstadt for speaking her mind, but we don't live in a country which frees us from all the responsibility of our speech. Maybe I don't agree with Timmins' decision to bar Ronstadt from ever returning, but I'm sure glad he has the liberty to make such a choice.