MOS 000a: Citizenship Counselor

One can only hope this letter to the Editor of the Amarillo Globe News comes from a very uniquely opinionated 19-year old Sailor who's still trying to find his voice and his identity. [link via atrios]

Letters To The Editor: Another name for war protesters

I am a United States sailor. I have chosen to defend my country and the freedom some take for granted.

I love my country, my family, my freedom. Only by the blood which was shed by the service members before me did we receive this freedom.

There are some, though, who do not appreciate this freedom. I call these people traitors; they call themselves protesters. They are nothing more than an infectious disease that infests the minds and hearts of the Americans we are defending. It consumes the honor and courage within its host until it kills the very patriotism that made this country.

There is no cure for this disease. Never will everyone be satisfied. But let it be known what this guardian of America's freedom thinks of these protesters: Traitors should be hanged. I hold our enemies in higher standing. At least they are willing to fight for their beliefs and the country they love.

Sonar Technician
Derik L.Jobe
U.S. Navy
Amarillo

Someone needs to read up on why they took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic and what that Constitution and its Bill of Rights says. It could be especially helpful when it comes to defining other terms, like enemy.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

My response to the Editorial Editor:

Re: Another name for war protesters, Letters to the Editor, 12/03/03.

I commend Technician Jobe for his service to our country. But I cannot commend his definition of "Freedom".

In order to be accepted in good standing into the America Mr. Jobe envisions he fights for, he insists that his sacrifice be conditioned upon our agreement with his viewpoint.

That is not freedom. It is not America. It is Jobeland, a place where a King Jobe expects to decide who is in, who is out, who prospers, who suffers. Perhaps, it seems, even who lives and who dies.

Seaman Jobe might consider looking deeper into the words and intent of the founders of the country he loves so dearly. Our Republic was purposefully structured by the framers to protect the right of dissent--to protect the minority, down to an individual, from both the majority and from government itself. America is the manifestation of a healthy embrace of dissent; we even had a Tea Party to prove our disregard for the prevailing, popular wisdom. A king called us traitors then, too.

As unnerving as it may often be, disagreement is part of political discourse and War is perhaps the most serious of political decisions. My hope is that Seaman Jobe will reconsider his opinion, and inform his definition of Patriotism with the same fortitude he brings to his service as a sailor.

Fouro Boros

Del Rio / Richmond VA

This is getting completely out of hand. If I didn't know already, I'd ask "where are the grown-ups to take young people like Derik aside and explain to him the way things really are?" Perhaps I'd ask why they haven't explained that--with a few notable regressions--debate and compromise without resorting to 20 paces and turn, has been the unique key to our nation's success up to this point.

I'd ask, but my guess is that Derik has learned all the answers he's going to get from the grown-ups in his sphere already. Time for a CO somewhere to do a little counseling. Good luck, Derik.