MAILBAG - Dec. 17, 2006

America not worthy of my respect, allegiance

Regarding Steve Smith’s On the Town column of Dec. 6, “Oh, say, did you see that picture?” I served eight years in the U.S. Army, two years in active duty, and no one ever asked me if I would kill anyone if so ordered.

I would not.

Or if I believed that the United States had the right to risk my life. I did not so believe.

I was deeply insulted that as a new recruit I had to take a “loyalty oath” as though mouthing some vague patriotic drivel has some sort of supernatural power. I accepted the inconvenience of military service, not out of some stupid sense of patriotism or to avoid jail time like some of my fellow recruits but because it was easier to just go along with it than fight it.

I have nothing but respect and admiration for those who were able to claim fairly consciousness objector status. I was not a conscientious objector — it was just that my idea of who the enemy really was was not always the same as those old men in Washington.

I would have happily sighted my M-1 at some of our eminent draft dodging public officials who consistently waved the flag and sent young Americans into the killing fields to murder and to die.

Contrary to what I had learned in civics class so many years ago that America would never attack a sovereign nation in an act of war unless provoked, Bush attacked Iraq and gave lie to that notion.

I saw just one more example of America not being worthy of my respect and certainly not worthy of a Pledge of Allegiance.

Americans slaughtered the Native Americans it found on the continent. America killed and drove off their British kin in a war of revolution. Americans demeaned and enslaved the black African.

Americans slaughtered their brothers in a bloody war between the states. Americans drove the Mexicans from the Southwestern territories.

Americans have subjugated and exploited every group of immigrants ever to gain entry onto American soil. Americans have supported dictators the world over and overlooked genocide when it suits Americans’ purpose to do so.

America is the only country in the world to have dropped atomic bombs on civilians as though incendiary and blanket bombing did not do enough damage to the poor souls in harm’s way, and America has sent thousands to die in foreign lands with whom we now engage in tourism and trade and dare not say that they who fought died in vain.

Even now, thousand die in Iraq because of a whim of an American president.

Ask me not why I do not salute the flag to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Tell me why you do.

BOB LEONARD

Costa Mesa

Pilot’s Forum page becomes funnies page

I just finished reading “Don’t trust the city’s new majority” (Community Commentary, Dec. 10), Geoff West’s latest tirade. I’ve often wondered why the Pilot did not have a comics section — now I know. With contributors like West, you don’t need one.

R. W. JOHNSON

Costa Mesa

Mayor’s opponents hit political doldrums

“Police state” indeed. Defeat has unhinged Geoff West. “The rest will remain [in Costa Mesa], to find themselves under the heel of a virtual dictatorship.” Someone needs to rescue him from his haunted, virtual reality.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent is posted at the city jail only because the council majority, affirmed in last month’s election, was ready to train our police to do the same job.

Opponents used to complain about the cost. Immigration and Customs Enforcement won’t charge the city one dime.

What do the critics say now? It’s they who have no wind in their sails, other than their own hysteria.

NED MCCUNE

Costa Mesa

Sports feature was reprehensible

Your article on Cierra Gaytan-Leach (“Gaytan-Leach motivated by rejection,” Sports, Nov. 30), is reprehensible and constitutes journalistic misconduct. What possibly motivated you to expose details of a heart-breaking family situation that is clearly none of your business or anyone else’s? Additional pain for all parties was all you accomplished.

A written apology to the Leach family, which has done so much for tennis and their community, is mandated. Perhaps our rejection of you and of your publication will motivate you to a higher standard of journalism.

KATHLEEN AND JOHN HARTY AND PIP WILSON

Newport Coast