THIS LETTER APPEARED IN MONDAY'S BOREGONIAN
Held captive by pilot
A funny thing happened to us on an American Airlines flight from Portland to Chicago this month.
After having welcomed us, the captain pronounced a political speech glorifying a couple of soldiers in the plane, their labor and their mission in Iraq.
By doing so, the captain acted as an ideological kidnapper. That was not his plane but American Airlines' plane. And, we paid to be transported from Point A to Point B safely; we did not pay to hear about the political opinions of a pilot, nor the glorification of a re-re-redefined (more "re-" to come, that's for sure) mission.
He had no right to do what he did. Keep politics off planes.
SEBASTIAN REYES GARCIA and FRIEDERIKE MACKENSEN, Southwest Portland
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Portlanders "offended" by pilot giving atta boys to soldiers on board!
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11 comments:
I'm offended they are offended.....perhaps the next aircraft they ride on will be hijacked by AL-QUEDA, they will get another political speech by a more radical faction of that party.
Lets hear them complain then, Like maybe a call via a cell phone from the plane.
I am so proud of our fighting men in Iraq. What this couple wrote is free speech. Aren't they fortunate to be living in the USA. I am fortunate that I live in the USA.
Oh, boo hoo ... someone wrote a short letter to the editor. Victoria gets HOURS and HOURS -- every night! -- to share her opinions.
So let's pick on two people for writing a paragraph she disagrees with.
Oh, boo hoo ... someone wrote a short letter to the editor. Victoria gets HOURS and HOURS -- every night! -- to share her opinions. SAID JIMMY.
So let's pick on two people for writing a paragraph she disagrees with.
NO ...YOU PROGESSIVE Waste of clean air, its' not "just' two people, it's the mindset of the county and people like you.
You would perhaps like to express your opinion on this subject, I would be happy to provide the forum and I might buy you an adult beverage.
Your candor and bravado maybe tested as the little neighborhood gathering place with about 90 "REAL PEOPLE!" gave my son a standing ovation the other night when his aunt, my sister annouced who he was, talked of the three tours in Iraq, and a trip to Bosina as well.
I 'm a big believer in equal time, so if you would be man enough to publically support this post in person....POST YOUR INTEREST HERE.
First of all, you call me "progressive" as if I'm going to take offense at it. I welcome the title.
Secondly, to question if I'm "man" enough to do anything when you post anonymously is quite humorous to me.
Anyway. Settle down. I don't hate you. I just disagree with you.
My point was not that the authors of the letter were right, wrong, or something else entirely. My point was, pointing their letter out the way she did and displaying it as if to say "here's a target, please ridicule them" (because they had a thought that Victoria disagreed with) was petty. At least, it was in my opinion.
Ms. Taft is able to share her opinions for hours and hours per week, selectively choosing who gets to respond to her on-air to refute or rebut her points. Then, she takes a simple letter that I'm guessing is probably the only one the authors have had published, and sets them up for ridicule.
THAT was my point. If a politician or someone in the public eye had said it, it would be a completely different issue. But in this case, I didn't care for her tone and presentation.
Regarding your 90 "real people" -- I'd consider myself one of them, believe it or not. I just happen to disagree with much of what Ms. Taft (and presumably you) happen to base your political ideals upon.
I have nothing but the most heartfelt respect for those who serve in our armed forces. I do! But this is where so many on the right can't understand the whole "support the troops, not the war" argument.
Say, for instance, I go into a McDonalds but don't like the burger I was served. I'm not going to hold it against the guy at the counter who gave it to me.
Likewise, the soldiers did not get us into the war. I cannot hold the war against them. I can, however, acknowledge their bravery in the service of this country, and that they admirably follow the orders of the folks in charge.
*My* problem is with the folks in charge! Not the ones following orders.
I do not want our soldiers to "lose". I do not want the terrorists to "win". I simply want to know that there is a purpose and clear, honest reason for their sacrifice. I do not feel that I get this from the Bush administration.
So I support the soldiers, but I do not support the war. It's really that simple.
I absolutely promise you that if I met your son, I would shake his hand and say "thank you" as well.
I'm as anonymous as you are SONIC Jim, so don't tell me you don't think I would not sign my name.
Having long talks with my kid after a few beers, I asked him, "Was it worth it?"
This is a 30 yr. old Sargent with alot of trigger time.
He looked at me and got quiet for about a minute, "the vast majority of the people I met wanted us there, and thanked us for all we did, THE REST NEEDED KILLING!"
You will not get that at a vigil celebrating the death of the 2000th person in combat there.
It was clear to me, and my son who "volunteered" for the service, that when Bush said we will fight a war unlike any other against a foe more evil then ever seen..THAT YOU LIBBER WAS 1000 PERCENT CORRECT.
If all 19 people who took those planes were not from Iraq but Saudia Arabia, it doesn't matter, they were factions of radical Islam that have sworn to kill you.
If you want more of the same like 911, just keep asking for it by disarming the combat focus of those that keep your idiot head on.
If you would like to debate this issue on a soapbox at this neighborhood meeting place my sister owns, check you insurance policy and let me know you want to "convince" us you support the troops.
I tried to be civil with you, yet you threaten violence against me in your last paragraph.
I wish you well, and perhaps someday when you can accept that others have differing views and can respond appropriately (e.g., conversation, exchange of ideas, actual debate of pros and cons) instead of waving a fist around, it will be worth my time to respond to this thread further.
Have a nice weekend.
check you insurance policy and let me know you want to "convince" us you support the troops.
Dear SONIC: So sensetive, feelers so down that a little joke is too much for you. YOU AREN'T MAN ENOUGH TO DEBATE THIS ISSUE WITH SOME "REAL PEOPLE" then the conclusion is you have no substance either.
I apparently just don't find your knuckle dragging, mouth breathing excuse for a "joke" that funny, I guess.
Also, how would you define "real people"? Just so I know what I'm up against here.
People who salute the flag, stand-up when the flag pass's in a parade.
People who remember 9II!
People who don't want The Christ out of Christmas.
People who think Randy Leonard is a jerk, for taking us out of the JTTF.
People who really think some of us had had enough of RADICAL lIBBERISM KISSING TO RADICAL ISLAM.
Your right..some of us are pissed off, perhaps you need to reconize that.
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