Ann Coulter has inspired several Stars & Stripes Letters to the Editor critical of her column published in Stripes (in counterpoint to Arianna Huffington). Criticism of Coulter hasn't let up, especially since her recent piece (of crap) published re: the six imams removed from US Airways. Coulter has since written an update, which concludes, "What did we do to the Arabs? I believe Americans are the victims in that relationship. After the attacks of 9/11, profiling Muslims is more like profiling the Klan."
I don't know if her latest has been printed in Stripes yet, but there has been an increased effort to have Coulter's commentary removed from the paper and replaced with a conservative voice displaying fewer racist opinions and more talent. Stripes editors are clearly "under the gun" to take action.
I've included excerpted letters other than those pertaining to Coulter as well, dating from Nov. 10 to the present, chronologically. Similar Stripes letters can be found in my journal dating back to 2003.
Apology owed for column--Dec. 4, 2006
I cannot express how displeased I was that Stars and Stripes ran a hateful, racially biased column from Ann Coulter that specifically targets the Muslim religion and its way of life ("Those who don’t see a threat are flying blind," Opinion, Nov. 27). The incident of the six imams and US Airways has been a subject of much controversy both in the U.S. and the world. Her column took this controversial subject and expressed it in terms that our country should regard all Muslims as terrorists, especially if they start praying in public places. To then place this column in a newspaper that is read all over the Middle East by U.S. military, coalition forces and local nationals is ignorant, at the least.
Using column is wrong--Dec. 4, 2006
There should be no place in Stars and Stripes for paid hatemongers such as Coulter. If she can sell her message of hate to privately owned newspapers, as sad as that may be, that’s her business. To publish this inflammatory rhetoric in a newspaper designed to serve the people who are defending this country and its values, however, is just plain wrong. I understand, and agree with completely, the need for balance on the opinion page. I’m certain there are other columnists who could present the conservative viewpoint without denigrating entire segments of our population, and I think it’s time to find one.
Coulter judged by her words--Dec. 4, 2006
Regarding the Dec. 1 letter "Drop hateful Coulter column": While I fully understand the writer’s disgust with Ann Coulter’s writings and utterances, I disagree with his request for Stars and Stripes to drop her column, for two reasons. First, it is Coulter’s First Amendment right to state her opinion, no matter how "racist, hate-filled," or ridiculous it may be, or is. Second, as it became crystal clear when she so despicably insulted and maligned some of the Sept. 11 widows, the viler and more vitriolic her rhetoric becomes, the better Americans get to understand the mentality of such fringes in our society, and, as the recent elections have shown, the better informed Americans can voice their opinions where and when it really matters: at the ballot box.
What voters ran from--Dec. 3, 2006
The only thing the American voters chose to "cut and run" from was failed policies of the Republican leadership ("Why wait six months to run? letter, Nov. 28). Oh, and also the party of sore losers, as the writer so aptly demonstrates.
Apologize to the world--Dec. 3, 2006
As the situation in Iraq deteriorates and our government seeks new ways to reach a successful outcome, here is a possible exit strategy: Apologize to the world by admitting we made a mistake by invading Iraq.
Exercising constitutional right--Dec. 2, 2006
Yes, the elections are over and the people have made their choices ("Why wait six months to run?," letter, Nov. 28). The writer and thousands of other brave men and women are fighting for their right to vote as they choose, but, because they didn’t vote the way he would have, he is now preaching doom and gloom. Does he honestly think all soldiers are Republicans? Ask around. He will find many Democrats, Independents and who knows what else — enlisted and officer alike, who are just as patriotic as he is. I once had a young captain ask me: "Did you know that there are actually senior NCOs (noncommissioned officers) and officers who are not Republicans?" My reply was, "Do you think it has anything to do with being an American?"
Join us for a vacation in Iraq--Dec. 2, 2006
I think if the writer of "Servicemembers not that poor" thinks we get paid too much, then maybe he should join one of the four armed forces. He should sign up for four years and do at least two combat tours. He should join before he is 21 but can’t even have a drink until he is 21, and has seen friends die.
Sacrifices outweigh pay--Dec. 2, 2006
I’m 21 years old, not married, an E-4 who’s been in the Marines for more than three years and if — if — I were to stay deployed here at my current pay for an entire year, not seven or eight months, I would make $28,938.12. If I weren’t deployed, I would be making $19,539.12 annually. <snip> We don’t get paid enough for the job we do. And that is a fact.
GIs’ pay is ‘quite the bargain’--Dec. 2, 2006
In response to "Servicemembers not that poor": I have a simple solution to this guy’s problem. Move into a tent, eat cafeteria food every day and work 72 hours a week, all while getting the occasional mortar. I have been doing all of these for a year straight for that whopping paycheck of $32,000. Quite the bargain, huh?
Half-truths not whole story--Dec. 1, 2006
I must respond to the Nov. 29 letter "Why wait six months to run?" — which was filled with half-truth propaganda. {The letter writer} states that we can look forward to higher taxes and more social welfare with a Democratic-controlled Congress. But what he doesn’t state is that the Democrats have already said that they will shift the higher tax burden to the rich — not the middle class, as he would want you to believe. Also, he doesn’t say anything about the current Republican-led "corporate welfare" tax incentives given to the Bush/Cheney cronies at the oil companies while the companies make record profits.
‘Disturbing’ views don’t fly--Dec. 1, 2006
I find Ann Coulter’s Nov. 27 column "Those who don’t see a threat are flying blind," on Muslim air passengers being refused air service, to contain some very disturbing ideas. This column makes a lot of disparaging comments about Muslims, and the author states that {one air carrier’s decision not to allow this group of Muslims to board a flight} puts it in her good graces. She even implies that all 150 Muslims who attended a conference should have all been placed in handcuffs simply for being Muslim. (The Muslims were detained for praying prior to boarding the flight. As a Catholic, I am guilty of the same offense and have never been detained for it.) A lot of us veterans of wars fought to keep this sort of opinion in check.
Drop Hateful Coulter Column--Dec. 1, 2006
Why does Stars and Stripes carry a column written by a racist, hate-spouting columnist like Ann Coulter? "Those who don’t see a threat are flying blind" (Opinion, Nov. 27), defending the removal of six imams from a US Airways flight, is akin to defending the police tactic of racial profiling. <snip> Being a middle- to upper-class white female, she, in all likelihood, will never be subjected to this type of racism. <snip> For those of us who are not of the lighter complexion, we have to worry about it and we are sick and tired of it.
Some people just don’t get it--Nov. 30, 2006
I read with both laughter and dismay "Americans fail to understand" (letter, Nov. 17) and concluded that the author doesn’t understand. The elections were all about Americans understanding this fiasco that we call the war in Iraq. I think there are many people around the world who now see the light; that this war was a mistake that was brought on by lies and half-truths.
Morality and Christians--Nov. 30, 2006
It was with great dismay that I read "Guess who’s behind amazing social progress" (Opinion, Amanda Parker, Nov. 23). I am constantly amazed by how often the religious assign "divine inspiration" to causes that they champion. <snip> Parker concludes: "Those crazy Christians. What will they think of next?" Hmmmm ... the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, the Thirty Years’ War, the Chmielnicki Uprising, the condemnation of Galileo, the torture and execution of the Knights Templar, the Salem witch trials. What, indeed?
Drop hateful Coulter column--Nov. 30, 2006
Why does Stars and Stripes carry a column written by a racist, hate-spouting columnist like Ann Coulter? "Those who don’t see a threat are flying blind" (Opinion, Nov. 27), defending the removal of six imams from a US Airways flight is akin to defending the police tactic of racial profiling. <snip> It is unfortunate, but people who think like Ann Coulter are in positions to make such rules, defend such practices, or look the other way when such things happen. Stars and Stripes can do us a huge favor and stop running her racist, hate-filled message. Servicemembers and others deserve better than being insulted by the likes of her.
Trudeau shows compassion--Nov. 29, 2006
The writer of "Ignoring those pesky facts" (letter, Nov. 23) remarks that Garry Trudeau is like "most liberals has never been one to let ... pesky facts get in the way of a good story." Trudeau, author of the "Doonesbury" comic strip, has published two books of his strips concerning his character B.D.’s journey as a wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, all the proceeds of which benefit Fisher House, and therefore the families of wounded vets. He has told the story of life as a wounded veteran more compassionately and more effectively than anyone else I have read. Please don’t ever stop running the "Doonesbury" strip.
Defense of gays incomplete--Nov. 24, 2006
During my 30 years as a college educator, I have counseled many active-duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel in the San Diego area who are gay. More recently, some have rotated back to units in the San Diego area from Iraq and Afghanistan. They have included members of Special Forces units, cryptographers, intelligence specialists, corpsmen, etc. Two have received Purple Hearts for wounds they received. Two were fluent non-native speakers of Arabic. In a few instances, the commanding officer knew they were gay and didn’t care. That homosexual men and women continue to serve the nation with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrates that their sexual orientation is irrelevant to the military defense of the nation. Since many will retire from active duty, articles dealing with retirement are certainly appropriate.
Train troops in law of war--Nov. 23, 2006
As an activated Army reservist, I can say we may have a serious problem with training the replacement force to standard on its way to deployment early next year. With the new order mobilizing 57,000 U.S. troops to Iraq — signed by the defense secretary about to walk out the door, Donald Rumsfeld — how will we be able to train their replacements to standard? The problem with mobilizing 57,000 troops within a couple of months is, how efficient will they really be?
Moving on after Rumsfeld--Nov. 16, 2006
I was both shocked and awed that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld decided to cut and run in the oncoming face of his enemy, the Democrats, something which military members would never do in the face of their enemy. His decision not to stay the course, perhaps so he can stay at the golf course, is a positive thing for most in the military. Most of us here in Iraq are glad to see this turn of events. It was due time for him to step aside and let someone else command the armed forces.
Iraq war wastes tax dollars--Nov. 10, 2006
The war in Iraq is the biggest waste of taxpayers’ money. Billions of dollars have been wasted so far. There were no weapons of mass destruction. It is obvious we have not uprooted terrorism by wasting so much money, but have created more hatred toward Americans and America. Nor will this war get a free flow of oil from Iraq. So, let’s put these petty complaints aside and sound off in one voice against this big white elephant that is swallowing our precious tax dollars — which, instead, could have been used for our own welfare — and work toward bringing the culprits who designed this war by lying to us to justice.