Posted on 02/01/2006 1:13:25 PM PST by Natty Bumppo@frontier.net
Mr. Philip Bennett
Managing Editor, The Washington Post
1150 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20071
To The Editor of the Washington Post:
We were extremely disappointed to see the editorial cartoon by Tom Toles on page B6 in the January 29 edition. Using the likeness of a service member who has lost his arms and legs in war as the central theme of a cartoon is beyond tasteless. Editorial cartoons are often designed to exaggerate issues - and your paper is obviously free to address any topic, including the state of readiness of today's Armed Forces. However, we believe you and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and lifealtering wounds.
Those who visit with wounded veterans in local hospitals have found lives profoundly changed by pain and loss. They have also found brave men and women with a sense of purpose and selfless commitment that causes truly battle-hardened warriors to pause. Where do we get such men and women? From the cities, and farmlands of this great Nation - they serve to be a part of something bigger than themselves. While you or some of your readers may not agree with the war or its conduct, we believe you owe the men and women and their families who so selflessly serve our country the decency to not make light of their tremendous physical sacrifices.
As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered.
Sincerely,
s/
PETER PACE
General, US Marine Corps
Chairman
Of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
s/
EDMUND P. GIAMBASTIANI, JR.
Admiral, U.S. Navy
Vice Chairman
Of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
s/
MICHAEL W. HAGEE
General, US Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
s/
PETER J. SCHOOMAKER
General, US Army
Chief of Staff
s/
MICHAEL G. MULLEN
Admiral, US Navy
Chief of Naval Operations
s/
T. MiCHAEL MOSELEY
General, US Air Force
Chief of Staff
Finally, a Chairman with balls. Thanks Gen. Pace our forces are in good hands.
Semper fi to Chairman Pace and an oo-RAH to the Joint Chiefs!!!
ping ~ is this it?
Excellent!
This needs wide dissemination. If anyone has a pic of said cartoon, I'd jump at the chance to do my part.
It's pretty rare for the Joint Chiefs to get directly involved in an editorial issue. Shame on the Washington Post. and good leadership by General Pace for doing so.
The Washington comPost and its editorial staff, as far as I'm concerned, can SHOVE IT.
And lest anyone be so confused as to equate this with the outrage of Mohammedans over a certain set of cartoons, please be aware:
No punishment has been asked.
No attempt at censorship has been invoked.
The freedom to create and publish such trash has been reiterated.
I just saw the cartoon. Tasteless. I am glad these fine men took the Washington Post to the woodshed.
God Bless our wounded servicemen.
God bless him and all our military.
Got this memo in an e-mail not 5 minutes ago.
Great to see the Joint Chiefs respond to this despicable cartoon.
Correct! That's the letter, except I have a pdf copy with the DoD official letterhead - -
they don't mess around!!
As do I, I posted about this earlier here (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569600/posts) and you can view the images there. Also, some other people had posted on this subject as well.. But thanks for putting it up in plain text! Much better than having to view the pdf I posted earlier lol :)
We all need to write the editor and express our outrage over this 'cartoon'.
The Washington POST should go to Walter Reed and show-off their witty work.
The entire editorial staff fo the WP shudl be made to go change bedpans at Water Reed for a week..
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