Letter from the USS Abraham Lincoln

Seattle Post-Intelligencer via Real Clear Politcs ^ | 4-5-03 | Thomas L. Gibbons

[jocon307]

Our place in the world: Letter from the USS Abraham Lincoln

By THOMAS L. GIBBONS LIEUTENANT, U.S. NAVY

The Hollywood crowd has gone entirely too far. It is time to stand up to them and tell them to put personal agendas aside so our nation can be united.

I respect personal opinion but believe it should be well-informed. But personal opinion should be put aside in an effort to appear cohesive and less of a circus act to the rest of the world.

The public display of president- and administration-bashing is out of control. I am writing this from the USS Abraham Lincoln, where I am doing what is asked of me in the name of freedom and democracy...

Unfortunately, those very people don't take the time to see how much their words hurt those who are willing to give it all for their country. Their commercials, speeches and various other acts and protests do nothing but disrupt a united America...

I am willing to die for the rights of those in the entertainment business. Are they willing to die for mine?...

Additionally, I believe these same individuals would be the first ones to stand on a stage and scream that the Bush administration didn't do enough should there be another strike against us on the home front...

I and my fellow service men and women are people of action and conviction. We put our money where our mouths are. I strongly suggest those who question the actions of our government study history to see the consequences of inaction...

It blows my mind that so many in this country take so much for granted and have already forgotten the small glimmer of patriotism that came with the tragedy that was 9/11. I want all those who are doing these acts, acts I consider a form of terrorism against their own government, to try to remember just how good they have it and there is no other country like the United States in the entire world.

I want all those in Hollywood and in the entertainment business who speak against the government to know that I take your actions as a personal attack on all service members...

We still have the greatest nation in the world, and for that reason alone, a lot of countries want to kill Americans. We don't seek trouble, but by God, I for one won't publicly bash the one man and his administration that is finally willing to start somewhere to end the atrocities against this country....

[T]hose who are rallying so strongly against what this country stands for are aiding and abetting the enemy through their actions. . . . They should think about that.

Lt. Thomas L. Gibbons of Whidbey Island is serving on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East.

[jocon307]

I did a search and didn't find this column. It definately deserves a reading by all.

[DoughtyOne]

 

[AgThorn]

Will send this to my son, who is also serving on the Abe ... well written!

[thasea]

Awesome letter!!

[Hila]

Someone must tell the writer aboard the Lincoln, that there are "many" - it is estimated that the loud mouths who are anti-America amount to perhaps 1% of our population. That's just normal amount of ruffians to have in a nation as ours. Greater is the number with our troops than against them.

[howieg2u2]

Peace isn't always worn by a pretty face, nor is wisdom always robed in beautiful cloth.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Does anyone have the emails fromt he guy in the 3rd ID and the ones from the guy in the 1st Marines that have been circulating around?