Telperion
April 5, 2003, 01:50 PM
Saw this in the online SF Chronicle, of all places.
Editor -- Your April 2 article, "Marine obeys his conscience," was mislabeled. Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk may be a lot of things, but he is definitely not a Marine. As a retired Marine Corps officer, I don't intend to write another diatribe about patriotism. Aimee Allison is correct when she says, "there is nothing un-American or unpatriotic about saying killing is wrong or I won't kill." Additionally, it's every Americans right to demonstrate against war or even be a legitimate conscientious objector. I support those rights and make no judgments about those who choose to exercise them.
Webster's dictionary defines the Marine Corps as a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces equipped and trained for land, sea and aerial combat. Funk either lacks the mental aptitude to comprehend that definition (i.e. he's stupid) or the moral courage to honor his commitments (i.e. he's a lying coward). Either one disqualifies him from being a Marine.
CHARLIE WARD
Novato
'Nuff said.
Editor -- Your April 2 article, "Marine obeys his conscience," was mislabeled. Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk may be a lot of things, but he is definitely not a Marine. As a retired Marine Corps officer, I don't intend to write another diatribe about patriotism. Aimee Allison is correct when she says, "there is nothing un-American or unpatriotic about saying killing is wrong or I won't kill." Additionally, it's every Americans right to demonstrate against war or even be a legitimate conscientious objector. I support those rights and make no judgments about those who choose to exercise them.
Webster's dictionary defines the Marine Corps as a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces equipped and trained for land, sea and aerial combat. Funk either lacks the mental aptitude to comprehend that definition (i.e. he's stupid) or the moral courage to honor his commitments (i.e. he's a lying coward). Either one disqualifies him from being a Marine.
CHARLIE WARD
Novato
'Nuff said.