Letter to Navy Times

[maxrandb]

I'm sorry, but I am not computer savvy enough to post a link, but the 30 June 2003 Navy Times had an article entitled "Fair game?". In the article, two marine officers had designed some stupid thing called "Most Unwanted Americans" playing cards. Of course, modeled after the Iraq playing cards. Of the cards shown, there was Bill Clinton as the Ace of Spades, along with Nancy Pelosi, Dick Gephardt, and of course..The Dixie Chicks. I was offended, so here is the letter I sent off to Navy Times:

I am an active duty officer in the United States Navy with 19 years of
dedicated service to my country. I was appalled and embarrassed by the 30 June 2003 Navy times article "Fair game?". Currently I am deployed to "support and defend" the Constitution of the United States. Not only am I an active duty officer, but I am also what you may classify as a "died in the wool", "bleeding heart liberal". Are you, or the two Marines that designed the "Most Unwanted Americans" playing cards implying that I am not a patriot? Maybe you are implying that my picture should be on the cards as well. If that is the case, I'll send in my picture and request that I be the Jack of Hearts.

It is amazing that of all the cards shown, there was not one Republican member of the House or Senate. That's awful funny when you consider that there is currently ONE, ONE! member of Congress that has a child serving in harms way, and that member is a Democrat from the great state of South Dakota. Maybe I missed something. Is the military now an arm of the Republican Party? That will really come as a shock to the hundreds of thousands of Democrats, Independents, and thoughtful people serving today. Most of these military members understand the difference between showing
respect and admiration for our elected officials, and the jingoistic,
knee-jerk reaction of far right wing conservatives.

For Navy Times to give this sophomoric display any press, let alone include a web site to order these ridiculous cards, is a slap in the face of every left of center person currently risking their lives in defense of this country. This type of abuse because of someone's political views would be more fitting in Stalinist Russia. To equate a former two time elected President of the United States with Saddam Hussein by putting his face on the Ace of Spades is not only laughable, it is unseemly. It definitely is not conduct that I would define as "becoming" an officer in the United States Marine Corps. This great country of ours has survived as long as it has, in no small part, because the military does not belong to one political
party or another. What ever happened to respect and decency?


Oh by the way..The Pentagon was qouted as saying that there would be no disciplinary action taken.

[jiacinto]

1. Your letter is too long

It is good but it may not be printed because of length. These letters have to be brief and to the point due to space considerations.

[charlie]

16. No it's not

It's about middling for Navy Times letters.

[jiacinto]

19. Ok I'll take your word for it then

I just always thought these types of letters had to be extremely brief and to the point due to space considerations.

[charlie]

20. Here's some letters

http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=0-NAVYPAPER-1969668.php

The top letter is on this very subject (and the writer is just as pissed).

BTW, good job maxrandb!

[Caution]

2. Hopefully they'll see fit to print your letter

I doubt it but you never know. I'm appalled that a navy sanctioned journal would allow something like that to get to print.

[roguevalley]

4. I hope they print it.

Frankly, insulting a President like they did should be
a courtmartial offense. Consider if it was Bush. Funny,
isn't it? They cut Clinton but ignore that Bush and Co.
use them as tools in their rape of the world.

Morons.

[caledesi]

3. Posting a link (very easy)

Don't panic Max, to post a link:

Go to the Address bar and highlight the address (e.g. http://wwww.....)
Once highlighted hit CTRL and C keys. (this copies the link)
Then when you are posting on DU, just hit CTRL P (this pastes the link so everyone can go there).

[DieboldMustDie]

18. I don't know what software you're running...

but when I hit Ctrl-P my computer thinks I want to print something. To paste something I hit Ctrl-V.

[LEW]

5. Great letter

I agree 100% with you. Hope they print it.

B-)

[Eloriel]

6. OUTSTANDING!

And thank you. Not just for the letter, but for your service.

Fabulous letter, and it definitely needed to be said.

Eloriel

[punpirate]

7. Might be a bit long for them to print...

... but, in any event, fix the spelling of "quoted," and the phrase should be "dyed-in-the-wool."

On edit, it may not be your computer skills, but the Navy Times. I just checked their site, and it looks as if the article and the letters complaining about it have been removed from their site.


Cheers.

[enough]

8. A very good letter

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to do that.

I don't know the particular publication, but I don't think three substanial paragraphs is too long for the importance of the subject. If I were the Editor, I'd run it. It has logic and passion.

Also, thanks for bringing this to our attention, maxrandb. This is the sort of thing I would never find out about if not for DU.

[CatWoman]

10. I would submit it in its entirety

editors edit according to space limitations, and normally from the bottom up.

Just make sure all of your main points are up front.

[Kurovski]

9. Thank you for serving

and thank you for speaking up.

I would edit it only if other letters in this publication are short. but brevity is always a good bet.

[otohara]

11. I Went To Navy Times & Looking At Past Polls

I'm not surprised - but it is interesting that 60% vs 30% didn't exactly like Bush's "Bring Em On" remark. Bush bamboozled the military - now they are not so happy.

I couldn't find the story you were referring to.

[oneighty]

12. Nice letter.

I used to subscribe to the Navy Times. It was getting political.

I do not believe the Navy Times is associated with the US Navy.

180

[Cha]

13. Thanks for writing this letter to the "Navy Times"...

I'm appalled but not surprised that this happened with the "cards".

Everyone is so uninformed as to what is really going on with the politicians and the reasons we went over there and bombed Iraq.

And do the Soldiers playing these "cards" know how many benefits were cut from the Veterans by the republican party?

When is the real news going to get out so everyone knows what's going on ..not just DU2ers?

I hope you get published..let us know, please!

And any questions you have regarding computer savey will be answered immediately by the DU2 Wonks! :D

[Rebellious Republican]

14. I did a search at Navy Times, did find it. Tips on posting link....

Move your cursor ( Arrow, pointer) up to the Address bar, right click on the http://www.navytimes.com/ , a box should pop up, click on copy. Come back to DU, post message, in the message text box, right click, box will pop up, click on paste. Link will be posted. Would love to see this, I am Ex-Navy and a Naval Expeditionary Force medal recipient (Beirut) plus other medals, awards and citations. I will most certainly write to the editors if I have something to go on! Great Letter.

[Rebellious Republican]

17. OOPS, title should have read Did NOT find it!

:silly:

[MrScorpio]

15. So speaks this USAF TSgt...

I'm sick and tired of running into people who think that the Repugs are more supportive of the military than the Democrats.

Is it me, or is it true that I have never witnessed a Democrat politician that expressed hate for the military?

I used to work at the Pentagon and I know that a desire for bloated Pentagon budgets, in no way, equate to support for the troops. However, the civilian contractors seem to benefit though.

We all know that the military doesn't send troops into unjust wars, our civilians leaders do.

All I know is that once we're out of uniform the politicians, especially the Repugs, couldn't give a damn about us.

[SOteric]

21. Excellent.

Do not trim a single word.

(But maybe fix the spelling on 'quoted' in the last sentence.)

[Tinoire]

22. Whoa! This Master Sergeant SALUTES YOU!

You GO BOY! And watch your back!

:loveya: