Freespeechers down under

"KUNG FU FIGHTING" WORDS
I've just come home from the Institute of Public Affairs conference on the state of Freedom of Speech in Australia, where I assume with the magic of the interwebs, I basked in your enlarged on-screen presence and bore witness to your fantastic tribute to Andrew Bolt. Just wanted to say that the audience laughed riotously at your jokes(not as riotous as you're used to in Canada however) and even sang along, on cue, to "Kung Fu Fighting". At your mention of Mr Earle's plight, I noticed many knowingly nodding heads. I assure you that your troubles with the Diversity Commissars, and that of Mr Levant and Mr Earle are very much known to us on the other side of the world. When we're not drinking our body weight in beer and wrestling crocs, our so called "silent majority" are slowly finding outlets to speak out against the absurdities of our representative governments.

I believe that the reception to your video prompted the IPA's director John Roskam to spontaneously announce an invitation to get you back over here was imminent! Your message was very welcome, and very well received. Cheers and thanks for your fantastic and prolific work.

Matt Aitken
Melbourne

MARK SAYS: I very much enjoy my forays Down Under, and had a grand time with John and the IPA a couple of years back. So we will make this happen! The full supporting orchestra to accompany me on "Kung Fu Fighting" may strain the budget.

FIRST TIME
I was at the Institute of Public Affairs seminar on free speech in Melbourne and I had great pleasure watching and listening to your videotaped address. This was the first time I had seen you in action, and I found your comments not only funny, but pointedly insightful and very clever. I hope you will be able to come out to Australia on a speaking tour some time soon.

Adrian Kelleher
Shepparton, Victoria

KING KUNG
I just returned from the 'Freedom of Speech in Australia' speech tonight to see our friend Andrew Bolt not-talk about his trial and everything associated with it, even got to shake hands with him and talk to him for a bit, where I thanked him for basing an entire blog post on one of my midnight rants on his blog during the last Federal election in August 2010, which was a true honour.

His quasi-speech was excellent, as were the guest speakers such as Michael Kroger, James Allen, even Paul Howes was good - still don't forgive him for inflicting Julia Gillard as PM on us! But your video speech was awesome! You had everyone in stitches, and you got a rousing ovation by the audience! Furthermore, the Kung Fu Fighting situation summed it up best- if two white people were walking past, they'd have no way to be offended, as they're not part of a victim group. Your speech was a roaring success, and the crowd loved it! Part of the reason I went, apart from hearing Bolt, was to watch your message. I told my cousin who came with me beforehand how highly I thought of you, and after seeing your speech, I think he was converted! I spent the drive home telling him of some of your personal experiences with bureaucracy that you've related on Rush's show- he couldn't believe it!

Andrew Vaccaro
Melbourne

KUNG FU SLIGHTING?
I just returned home tonight from a wonderful evening recognizing Andrew Bolt. The event was sold out around 600 people they even ran out of seating. There were terrific speakers leading up to Andrew but I have to tell you , your wonderful video performance brought the house down. You have a wonderful sense of humor , and your message was well received.

I have to tell you I did cringe a bit when you were singing Kung foo fighting as there was a young guy of Chinese extraction sitting right next to me I hope he took it in the spirit it was meant.

Everyone agreed that a double billing Steyn /Bolt show would be a winner, we only hope to see that come to fruition . At dinner after the event someone did ask Andrew what was it that he said that may have pissed you off - something to do with a statistic you quoted that Andrew may have questioned on his blog site? Nothing important, I'm sure you guys have most things in common.

Thanks for entertaining us tonight, keep up your good work and keep supporting our Andrew.

Michael Burd
Melbourne

GOT A RHYME, GUV?
Mark, re your Song of the Week and the four-and-a-half rhymes for "love": "love" also rhymes with "dot gov."

Think of the possibilities! "I found my love, at weiner house dot gov."

Israel Pickholtz
Jerusalem

MARK SAYS: We really need Cole Porter:

Is it a Weiner you Tweet from dot-gov?
Or is it At Long Last Love?

WHEN HE'S SIXTY-NINE
I question your taste in music. Over the last couple of days, both Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson turned 69 years old, and you print an essay on that monotonous three-chord dirge, sung by that Canadian who sounds like a record being played at the wrong speed.

Wilson's birthday falling on Father's Day this year would have been the perfect excuse to wax eloquent about the one song where none of the words rhyme, that's even better than "Moonlight In Vermont." Namely, this.

Daniel Hollombe
Los Angeles

MARK SAYS: Careful - or I might pick Macca's "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime" for my Yuletide single this year. And that's no idle threat.

Thank you for your kind (and unkind) letters from America, Canada, Britain, Australia and around the world. Mark reads all mail, but especially enjoys the vicious ones. Each day Monday to Friday we pick six of the best for our Daily Delivery. So drop a line to Mark's Mailbox, and on Friday if you're chosen to be the one and only Letter of the Week you'll join our roll of winners from four Continents and receive a copy of Mark Steyn From Head To Toe. It would help if you could indicate your city or town, or, at any rate, your state, province or country. If not, at least let us know what planet you're on.