Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, writes the "most popular and widely syndicated column in the world". Her publisher is Univeral Press Syndicate, which you may recognize as also being Ann Coulter's publisher. Below the flip is my "Dear Abby" letter that I sent to her column.
Dear Abby,
My friend, Jeanne, is a wonderful, caring person who has worked tirelessly for years helping people with their personal problems. Her syndicated column is carried to millions of readers around the world by her publisher, Universal Press.
However, her publisher also carries a column by another writer, named Ann, who promotes hatred and violence. She frequently speaks on national television using words promoting bigotry towards homosexuals to describe people who don't agree with her. She has also on numerous occasions called for the murder of Muslims and the assassination of public figures who don't agree with her.
The publisher, Universal Press, has refused to rebuke Ann or drop her column. My friend, Jeanne, also seems to have turned a blind eye to what is going on as she continues her relationship with her publisher and has not used her significant influence to force them, or Ann, to change their behavior.
Abby, what should I do? Even though I know Jeanne doesn't condone Ann's hateful speech, should I hold her responsible for staying silent when she could have a positive influence? Should I stop reading her column? Or am I expecting to much from my friend given all the good she does with her own column?
Updated with a hat tip: I should have included this before. Please also read jgilhousen's letter to UPS "practical ethicist" Randy Cohen which along with volvodrivingliberal's recent diaries inspired me to write the letter and my first diary!