I appreciate Scott Smith's letter of Sept. 22 ("Lose the fly-over during Beaver football games"). Although it touched on a number of valid reasons why a low flyover of military jets is inappropriate for an intercollegiate sports game, the most immediate reason that Oregon State University should stop sponsoring this type of display has to do with its effect on some members of our community.
Although ostensibly performed to honor those serving in the armed forces, this ugly display of machismo is a slap in the face to those community members, both veterans and others, who are trying to recover from post-traumatic stress disorder and/or the memories of having lived in war.
If OSU would like to honor service men and women, there are more thoughtful and appropriate ways to do so; there is not a need to flash weapons and sounds of war in the face of all.
Being a responsible member of the community and society means behaving in a thoughtful way. I hope that more thoughtfulness will be utilized in the planning of future intercollegiate games and community events.
Robert Henderson, Corvallis
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I don't particularly agree with this letter, or care much about the issue one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to note the tone of the comments.
Just today, two letter writers are called idiots. Civility has not increased.
http://gazettetimes.com/news/opinion/
Wow, yeah, civility not increased at all. They know it's the weekend and there is no moderator.
ReplyDeleteCarpeDM is alive and well in Austin.
I did call some of the protestors idiots, but I kinda doubt they'll ever read my post here. Maybe that doesn't matter, though. But they truly are idiots in the sense that they are ignorant.
As far as the letter goes... What's next?
ReplyDeleteHoly crap, first it was the cannon fire at the games that scared all the poor puppies in town. Now fly overs (Which I love and always gives goosebumps for me)...
Maybe the crowd can quiet down too? There is a lot of noise from thousands of people clapping and yelling! OOOH yelling, yeah, we need that to stop!
How about the referee's wistle? We all know how loud sudden noises can effect those with PTSD...
How about the twenty one gun salute? We can't have those either right?
What's next?
"I also heard the sound of aircraft over Reser on Saturday. I did not have to turn and look because I knew what it was. It was the "Sound of Freedom" made by F-15 aircraft from the Oregon Air National Guard.
ReplyDeleteBut regarding Scott Smith's Sept. 22 letter, "Lose the fly-over during Beaver football games":
Killing machines? Yes, in a way. Those aircraft were built to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft that might try to cause loss of family or home to citizens of the Northwest. For over 50 years, these aircraft and others like them have kept him and his fellow Oregonians safe and secure.
Wasted dollars? Each pilot is required to fly a number of scheduled training flights each month so that their skills will be always at the high level needed to complete the unit's mission. Normally these flights are out over the Pacific Ocean where the sounds do not bother us but occasionally they fly them over land.
The pilots, some of them from OSU, fly these "fly overs" at public events to honor military members killed or injured protecting your right to assemble for a football game and live in a peaceful society.
The next time Smith hears that sound, he should bow his head and thank God for these men and women who are serving him."
Mel Rydman, SMS (retired), Corvallis
I've got a bit of a different take than the letter writer. I'm happy to see them fly over Reser, because it means they aren't in the middle of some war. Which, means the pilot is safe and fewer people are being killed by our "war machine".
ReplyDeleteAlso, I helped pay for the damn thing, I'd like to see it once in a while! In fact, I'd kinda like a ride!
I lived near White Sands in New Mexico. Once in a while we'd see stealth bombers fly over. They are fast and awesome machines. It is interesting the mix of feelings one gets over seeing these things. The creativity and genius of the technology...the fact that they are part of wars.
ReplyDelete