Friday, August 2, 2013

Standing Up To Uncle Sam Page 29






Page 1  Search Suspended
Page 2  The Story
Page 3  About the Nina
Page 4  Dyche Family
Page 5  Evi Nemeth
Page 6  Matt Wootton
Page 7  Kyle Jackson
Page 8  Danielle Wright
Page 9 RCCNZ
Page 10  To the Families
Page 11  What Went Wrong?
Page 12  Last Message From Nina Crew
Page 13  Family of Nina Crew Appeal For Search Funds
Page 14  Family Anxious For Search To Begin
Page 15  RCCNZ Less Than Cooperative in New Nina Search
Page 16  Third Day of Search, Funding Needed

Page 17  New Zealand Responds
Page 18  Equusearch Seeks Satellite Specialist
Page 19  A New Era Of Cooperation
Page 20  Wild Speculation No Help
Page 21  Sailboat Washes Up On Beach
Page 22  Nina Fund
Page 23  Nina Makes Prime Time
Page 24  Kyle Jackson, Hiya Mom!

Page 25  U.S. Coast Guard Endangers Lives of Nina 7
PAGE 26, Equusearch and Nina Families Ask For Your Help
Page 27  Apathy From US Officials
Page 28  Families Seek More Funding



Page 29  STANDING UP FOR THE CREW OF THE NINA



Page 30  Possible New Location of Nina
Page 31  Reason For Hope Rescue After 76 Days At Sea
Page 32  Breaking News Delayed
Page 33 Positive Despite the Negatives
Page 34  Tomnod Saves Lives
Page 34  Tomnod Saves Lives
Page 35  Holding
Page 36  Tasman Takes Two
Page 37  91 Days Lost At Sea
Page 38  Your Calls Needed




The most heated discussion in my home as a kid was weather my brother was going to fight in the Viet Nam war.  My brother was very convinced he wasn't.  My father was very convinced he was


As the American press slowly began to report the truth about the Viet Nam war, the most ugly parts which are still unknown today, I began to tremble in my tennis shoes because I knew the day for me to make the "America, Love it or Leave it" decision was coming soon.  Fortunately, the war ended a few months before I had to register for the selective service.  I didn't enlist, though I would gone if I had been called.








Whether or not we should have been spending the lives of American boys in rice paddies in Viet Nam is not the topic of this blog.  Helping people recognize the difference between demanding good government and tearing down our government, is one of the things I do as an activist.  Democracy only exists when we learn how to use our voices in a peaceful way.  That is what congressmen and senators tell us.  When people remain silent, others make decisions for them.  What kind of democracy is that?


I am as patriotic a person as you will ever meet.  I love my country.  I think it is a great place to be.  We have given the world our best and sometimes we get the worst treatment.  I would never attack my government.  I often attack it's policies, though.


Part of basic patriotism is understanding people get the government they demand.  When we hold our government accountable we stop tyranny at it roots.  We remind all people who serve our great nation their service is not for themselves or for their convenience.  The reason we call it service is because they serve the people.











For me, Viet Nam stands for the proposition, people can attack bad policy without attacking the government proper.  For example, I have been critical of the U.S. Coast Guard in the SV Nina disappearance.  I am the first to point out, the Coast Guard is one of the finest law enforcement organizations in the world.  Many a sailor has benefited from the protection of the Coast Guard when things went sour.


My criticism of a policy decision by the Coast Guard when it did not back the families of the missing sailors is not cutting down the institution.  Rather, it is an insistence the Coast Guard always remember who they are supposed to serve, namely U.S. citizens.  When family members want to search I think it is unconscionable to put barriers in their way.


I told Ralph Baird I had become too close to the sailors and families in this search.  I will be proud to get to know every one of them when we bring them home.  Some of them, like Evi Nemeth, have given America a wonderful legacy.  Others, like Kyle Jackson and Danielle Wright, have only started their service to our nation.  It is clear they have the talent.  Even Matthew Wootton, who is from England, has given our world a great example for a better place to live.  How could I not stand up for these people?  Don't they deserve better?


One of the biggest lessons of the Viet Nam was was when people didn't support the soldiers who fought.  Why won't our government support Equusearch and the families?  Am I wrong to call them on the carpet for it?


Please, quit worrying about who you are going to offend when defending the right of your family for a decent search.


An activist is mostly a person who gives a voice to those who have no voice.  Sometimes for me it is abused women.  Sometimes it is hungry or molested children.  In this case it is missing sailors.


Mine is an insistence our coast guard remains the best law enforcement agency on the planet.  It is an insistence, when a private, non-profit, search organization assembles the talent and resources to search for a missing yacht, our Coast Guard should be standing by these family members and volunteer organizations, not fighting against them.  


In so doing, we keep the U.S. Coast Guard centered and first rate.  I think that is pretty patriotic.



Page 1  Search Suspended
Page 2  The Story
Page 3  About the Nina
Page 4  Dyche Family
Page 5  Evi Nemeth
Page 6  Matt Wootton
Page 7  Kyle Jackson
Page 8  Danielle Wright
Page 9 RCCNZ
Page 10  To the Families
Page 11  What Went Wrong?
Page 12  Last Message From Nina Crew
Page 13  Family of Nina Crew Appeal For Search Funds
Page 14  Family Anxious For Search To Begin
Page 15  RCCNZ Less Than Cooperative in New Nina Search
Page 16  Third Day of Search, Funding Needed

Page 17  New Zealand Responds
Page 18  Equusearch Seeks Satellite Specialist
Page 19  A New Era Of Cooperation
Page 20  Wild Speculation No Help
Page 21  Sailboat Washes Up On Beach
Page 22  Nina Fund
Page 23  Nina Makes Prime Time
Page 24  Kyle Jackson, Hiya Mom!

Page 25  U.S. Coast Guard Endangers Lives of Nina 7
PAGE 26, Equusearch and Nina Families Ask For Your Help
Page 27  Apathy From US Officials
Page 28  Families Seek More Funding




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