So, Kathleen Nauert (Letters, Nov. 8) thinks that she exists outside of “the cycle of greediness.” Greedy is not an apt way to describe the driving force on this island. Those who sacrifice their lives for our safety and prosperity, who are sent here and dutifully, heed the call. Those whose wages are minuscule when weighed against the responsibility they choose to shoulder are the ones who really suffer and contribute “more than their fair share,” to our community. They want nothing more than to live the American dream – a home to raise their children in and freedoms worth dying for. They have seen real suffering, real oppression, and real sacrifice, and they bring home a true appreciation for the gift of being born in this country. Those of you who bought a home years ago are the winners; the one thousand newly stationed inhabitants of the Island are the ones who really suffer from your skewed sense of entitlement.

Webster’s defines greed as, “acquisitive or selfish desire beyond reason.”

How reasonable is discovering this Island is a beautiful place to live and not thinking others have the right to live here as well. Greed is living the dream while denying the same opportunity to others. Land was cleared to build her house, trees cut down, rolling meadows plowed over, concrete poured over precious native dirt to make way for her and her family, yet she would gladly deny me and my daughters the same opportunity.

No one wants to see the Island plowed and filled with strip malls and billboards, but let’s not bemoan people for wanting to live in a nice place and raise a family.

To answer Ms. Nauert’s question regarding what led to the outrageous amounts her property is suddenly “worth,” your property is worth whatever someone is willing to pay. You can’t keep people from spending three or four or even five hundred thousand dollars for a house down the street from you. We have a right to the same dreams as you; we just have to pay more for it.

It’s not easy, but we think it is worth it. Some in our community pay by putting their lives on the line for our safety, some cash in their 401K’s, some work 6-7 very long days a week. Some people work all their lives to retire here in their dream home. She calls it dirt and a house; we see a home, garden, neighborhood, community, sunsets, stars, fireworks, sailboats, and a chance to bring our children up absent gangs, violence, and rampant crime.

I think Ms. Nauert has been on the Island too long, maybe she needs to spend some time living in Spokane, Yakima, Tacoma or Seattle to really appreciate “all the beautiful things” this Island still possesses.

Robyn Kolaitis

Oak Harbor