Letters to the Editor for Monday, July 18, 2005

European and Mideast editions

(EDITOR’S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here to jump ahead to the Pacific edition letters)

A liberal ‘apologizes’

I — and my other second-rate colleagues on the faculty of University of Maryland University College — would like to apologize to the author of “Leftist ideas rule academia” (letter, July 2) for our spreading of liberal doctrine in our classrooms.

We have been unbelievably inconsiderate in failing to take into consideration the havoc that having to consider alternative points of view creates in the conservative mind. Accordingly, these changes to the UMUC curriculum will be made:

• As an English teacher, I take responsibility for promoting what we liberals smugly refer to as “literature,” with its tendency toward asking questions rather than supplying answers. To accommodate conservatives, questions will be mostly eliminated. Hamlet’s “To be or not to be, that is the question” will now be taught as “To be. Yep, that’s the answer.” Trashy liberal novels such as “Huckleberry Finn” will be replaced by “Aesop’s Fables” and “The Collected Writings of Bill O’Reilly.”
• History. At no time will America be shown to have done anything morally questionable at any place or under any circumstances. Slavery never happened; or if it did, it was invented by the French.
• Geography. Maps will show only the United States and those countries currently supporting us, such as Great Britain and Guam.
• The sciences. As every good conservative knows, the universe was created on April 23, 6004 B.C. at 9:23 a.m. Central Standard Time by Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh. Everything was perfectly constructed and therefore there is no need for the liberal concept of “evilution.” Other liberal notions to be removed from the classroom will include gravity, the heliocentric solar system (the absurd idea that the Earth goes around the sun — a heresy for which liberal propagandists Galileo and Copernicus were rightly condemned), and the concept of the “round Earth.”

We hope this clears everything up, and, again, we’re really sorry for confusing everybody.

Peyton Glass
Harrogate, United Kingdom

Remember Mosul, show ID

I want to remind everyone deployed to Logistics Support Area Anaconda that we are in a state of war. The explosions you hear are real, and the security measures being enforced are implemented for a reason. Has everyone forgotten the [Dec. 21, 2004] dining tent bombing in Mosul already?

I have heard many positive comments concerning the job we do as force protection at the dining facilities, but the negative remarks have been bountiful. Though we have many of the comforts that we cherish in the States, we are not at home. We are surrounded by people who want to kill us.

To the soldiers who complain about having to show their identification on the way to chow, get a grip! Identification is part of the military uniform. Ask me any day, I have mine. And to the civilians who are inconvenienced or feel violated in some way by our noninvasive searches, you have a choice, go home!

We do not personally select our search candidates based on skin color, religion, gender or political affiliation. Our search criteria are handed down by our chain of command.

Force protection simply tries to perform its duties while maintaining a pleasant, professional attitude. I can promise you one thing: When you get blown up at some other dining facility, I will be the first one to read about it in Stars and Stripes, all the while mumbling “I told you so.”

Remember Mosul!

Pfc. Jared Fox
Logistics Support Area Anaconda, Iraq

Story confirms stereotypes

I came across the article “Hooters planning to bust out with restaurant in Ramstein” (European edition, June 19) in a paper that I fished out of my recycling bin. (I should have left it there.)

For those readers who don’t remember the opening sentence of that article — a product that should be used for studying purposes at journalism seminars — I quote: “Say ‘auf Wiedersehen’ to the image of the frumpy German barmaid with meaty fists serving beers you can barely pronounce. And get ready to say ‘How ya doing?’ to scores of women in low-cut tank tops and tight, orange shorts delivering mugs of ice-cold Budweiser.”

This sentence sends two messages: It indicates that women working in a German Gasthaus are fat, old-fashioned and physically unattractive. They use words in a language Americans can’t understand and the beer isn’t cold enough.

On the other hand, American barmaids do just the right thing: They speak the only language the average soldier understands, serve the only beer a true American drinks and they have just what it takes to send Superman into a sexual frenzy by showing him lots of wiggling skin and meat.

The portrait that reporter Steve Mraz painted confirms the stereotype of the primitive, uneducated “ugly American,” which, unfortunately, has gained ground in Europe. Your “Mr. America” has no interest in European culture and languages, judges women by physical standards he could never reach himself, spends his assignment to Germany on base, in military housing or on organized shopping tours and yearns for the only world he knows and understands, the USA.

Stars and Stripes is read by German and other European citizens. It doesn’t do the American military community any favor to print articles that reinforce anti-American prejudice.

I think it is time the reporter does himself and Germany a favor: Go back to the United States.

Cornelia M. Peters
Büchenbeuren, Germany

‘Hooah!’ to Academy leader

I’m a former enlisted sailor serving with the U.S. Army. I would like to give [U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent] Vice Adm. Rodney Rempt a big Hooah (“Naval Academy rejects request to end midday prayer,” Associated Press article, European edition, July 8; “Naval Academy rejects request to cease prayer,” Mideast edition)!

Why should the Naval Academy change its lunchtime moment of silence, devotional thought or brief prayer that is part of the tradition and heritage that has molded naval officers by instilling values in these young men and women who one day will lead our Navy?

The Naval Academy also builds future presidents, senators and congresswomen and men who will lead our country. The academy instills values in its midshipmen no matter their race, color, creed or religion, and when they do become naval officers, they will be able to lead with the respect of all their junior men and women.

If the Anti-Defamation League has so much time on its hands as to pry into the business of the Naval Academy, why doesn’t it spend some time here in Iraq helping our fellow men bring peace in this region.

The academy has its reasons for its rules, regulations and discipline; it’s called duty, honor, respect, selfless service, integrity.

Sgt. Phillip Denny
Iraq

A plea to AFN

Please, AFN, please! I want my American Forces Network 1107 (Kaiserslautern, Germany) back.

There’s no Paul Harvey to listen to. Move the antenna to my back yard in K-town … do something! Get me Paul Harvey … Good day!

C.J. Spencer
Kaiserslautern, Germany

Pacific edition

It’s all about discipline

The Army’s physical fitness program was not designed to improve a soldier’s fitness level; in fact, Army physical fitness is designed to maintain a physically fit appearance (“Active duty hinders fitness,” letter, July 14). It is the individual soldier’s responsibility to improve on his/her flaws, such as push-ups, sit-ups, the two-mile run and weight control.

Discipline is the main factor in achieving these goals. And when discipline is lacking, it’s the noncommissioned officer’s duty to help improve the soldier’s weakness.

I am one of my company’s master fitness NCOs, and physical training is one of my main concerns. I, as other NCOs in my unit, have the dedication to help a soldier improve. In a signal unit, running a 24-hour operation is not easy. They work day and night shifts, 12 hours for each shift, not to mention guard duty. And they still manage to do PT. I have seen soldiers who are overweight and have been able to pass their PT test with no problem, but AR 600-9, which is the Army’s Weight Control Program gives them a “go/no-go” if they fail to meet their body fat percentage.

When an NCO “drops” a soldier (makes a soldier do push-ups) for a minor offense, it is for discipline, not to make a soldier feel like he is being punished. It is so the soldier learns not to commit an offense again.

The dining facility does not have the best food in the world, but it is what we are being fed, and it takes discipline to stay away from the fatty foods.

This is my second deployment here, and both times I have run 12-hour operations and still managed to do PT. It’s all about discipline and dedication to duty.

Staff Sgt. Mahoma Tello
Camp Taji, Iraq

Make the right choices

A 51-year-old reservist, I am in the best physical condition since I was a high school athlete (“Active duty hinders fitness,” letter, July 14). I am running more than four miles consistently. I use the excellent fitness equipment provided on most installations, and the pools available in some places. You can keep a tough physical training schedule if you make it a part of your daily routine.

Most soldiers go beyond the bare requirements of staying in shape to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test. In 34 years in the Army, I have never seen more dedicated, professional, committed soldiers than now. If [the letter writer thinks] we have fat soldiers, I say that his concept of “fat” is a relative term conditioned by the fact that he has always lived under the official weight control standards. There was a time when we had no such standards.

My dining facility serves fresh grapefruit, oranges and other fruits every day. Fried foods are not the centerpiece of every meal. If you don’t like the two main entrees and are tired of hamburgers and hot dogs, we serve an outstanding broiled chicken twice a day. Our hard-working food specialists bend over backward to please everybody. If you want fruit, veggies, nuts and cereals, we serve them. But some soldiers demand their daily bacon, eggs and hash browns because they need those calories and don’t gain weight on that diet.

The key is to make the choices that are right for you. As for pizza in the barracks, that is just a fact of life. Did you ever have pizza delivered to your house?

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ken Schmidt
Camp Doha, Kuwait

A lack of self-discipline

I would like to thank the ex-Marine-turned-soldier for enlisting after 20 years’ break in service (“Active duty hinders fitness,” letter, July 14). Not a lot of individuals would have taken those steps for their country.

But I’m appalled by the audacity of the writer to blame the Army for his lack of self-discipline. From Day One, the Army preaches that physical training is done to maintain, not sustain; therefore, you must take it upon yourself to remain fit.

Sure, you can go out with your unit and do PT and get nothing out of it, but that’s because you’re putting nothing into it. If you have the time to change the channel on your remote, or write a complaint to Star and Stripes, you have time to work out.

Soldiers are working out more while deployed. I applaud the many servicemembers who have taken their fitness level up while deployed. Every Army dining facility that I have dined in since I enlisted has given you a choice. It’s up to you to pass on the “fatty fries” and hit the “lean greens.”

The comments read like communist prison rules: “Ban all food from barracks,” “stop serving desserts.” I’m sorry that we look out for the morale of our heroes by making available desserts, ice cream and such.

I end with strong words for this soldier: You only get out of it what you put into it.

Staff Sgt. Shawn L. Brown
Baghdad

A personal responsibility

The writer is using the Army as a scapegoat (“Active duty hinders fitness,” letter, July 14). Why wait until his tour ends to start exercising and eating healthier? What is hindering him from doing it now? He would surely support the Americans who sued McDonald’s claiming that McDonald’s made them fat, not the lack of motivation or self-discipline that it takes them to go to the gym, or possibly grocery shop, to create a healthier meal.

If his unit cancels physical training, then he needs to take that motivation and initiative he had before his tour started to go work out by himself. As far as PT not being strenuous enough, he needs to suggest a way to make it meet his standards.

Maybe when the letter writer took that 20-year break in between the Marines and now is when dropping soldiers (making them do push-ups) became popular. Leaders push soldiers to reiterate that what they did was the wrong thing.

To take junk food out of the barracks! Does he suggest noncommissioned officers go inventory their soldiers’ rooms every night to prevent late-night snacking? Dining facility food is not the best, but the food provided is not Army food, but KBR food. The DFAC does not only serve junk food, it has a main order that consists of a meat, starch and vegetable, and if there is nothing healthy there, why not make his way to the salad bar?

His lack of motivation to go to the gym and undisciplined attitude of not eating healthy make it easy to blame the Army. Everyone is responsible for his or her own body and eating habits. Maybe he should look at his lack of initiative and stop casting blame on a whole organization.

Sgt. Charmaine D. Felton
Camp Victory, Iraq

Air Force PT standards faulty

The Air Force’s new physical training standards have recently been amended once again to account for the unreliability of the measurement of waist circumference in determining an individual’s fitness level. However, the new standard uses a Body Mass Index measurement that also does not accurately depict a person’s fitness level.

The BMI calculation is weight divided by height squared, then multiplied by 703. This calculation works great for someone with my body structure because I am very tall and slim, but for someone with big bones and broad shoulders, it would be very inaccurate. Also, because muscle weighs more than fat, someone who has a lot of muscle would be considered “overweight” according to this standard of measurement.

Everyone, regardless of body structure, should have the opportunity to max out their points on a PT test. If someone can max out his or her points on the push-ups, sit-ups and the mile and a half run, then why are we telling them their waist is too big, or that they weigh too much? These people are “fit to fight” and should not have to be held to someone else’s standard of how large their midsection can be.

If body fat measurements must be taken, they should be accurate measurements done in a water tank, and not by some formula that does not take into account the individual’s body structure.

Senior Airman Charity D.C. Paschall
Baghdad