Editor,

Has COER, as a citizens group who’s confrontational opposition to continued naval presence locally, gone one insult too far toward those who choose to govern or choose wear a military uniform of our nation?

I’m referring to their latest staged grandstand presentation before our county commissioners last Tuesday. Unfortunately, this coincided with the naval incident in the Persian Gulf resulting in the confinement of 10 of our naval personnel by Iran, as well as not to go unnoticed the last State of the Union presentation of our sitting president.

This, being a known fact prior to the commissioners meeting time — nonetheless, this group as a whole appeared to make little or no effort to restrain their confrontational style of insult before the commissioners.

Why, if they are truly looking for a resolution to a problem, insult the folks who may provide help in reaching a resolution they supposedly seek?

Common sense, which appears to be in short supply within the leadership of COER, suggests that they are not.

Confrontational intentions appear to have overpowered COER as a citizens action group in search of a solution to aircraft noise. This confrontational demeanor only serves our adversaries abroad as their handmaidens for recruitment purposes while feeding the epidemic of frustration that appears to be spreading amongst our fellow citizens, thus weakening our national resolve to overcome adversity.

If we as nation of citizens cannot join together to overcome home grown adversities, surely we will not be able to join together and overcome the spreading evil intent of others growing in the cradle of civilization, the Middle East.

The exercise of our right of free speech is not truly free or, should I say, without cost. Its cost comes in consequences paid either intended or not.

I offer this a food for thought as I’m an offspring of Norman Rockwell’s four freedoms portrait of America, and I believe we, as citizens of this nation of unequaled freedom, are truly better than we appear to the world’s eyes at this moment in time.

Thomas Strang

Coupeville