— from Christine Cribb, Executive Director, Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce —
The mission of The Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce is to serve and promote the business interests of greater Whidbey Island. We cannot imagine a more worthy cause than supporting the mission of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the largest employer within three counties. NAS Whidbey provides over 9000 military and civilian jobs with a total economic activity generated in this area equally nearly $1.04 billion. Jets truly do equal jobs.
Whidbey Island residents “choose” to call Whidbey Island their home. Businesses are outraged that a small group of self-interested, divisive activists are promoting their limited special interests over the greater national good. Attorney General Robert Ferguson’s decision to file suit against the Department of the Navy under the pretext of “protecting the rights” of a small group of activists is ill advised and fails to even consider the critical carrier landing practice needs of our men and women who fly the aircraft that protect our freedom. What a waste of taxpayer money. Particularly when the persons lobbying for this action are focused more on their property values than the safety of the flight crews who have been using this area for training for over 60 years.
The Oak Harbor Chamber would like the United States Navy and everyone who serves and have served this country through NAS Whidbey to know that the business community stands beside you, supporting your efforts for the best possible training available. The lawsuit that Attorney General Ferguson filed against the Department of the Navy is completely out of touch with the real issues presented by this discussion and does not represent the sentiment of a vast majority of the residents of Whidbey Island and surrounding areas. We support the “Sound of Freedom.” Conversely, using the office of the Attorney General to promote the objectives of a small, but very vocal special interest group is inexcusable.
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This letter sounds much like military government Propaganda that is also hiding behind and promoting Whidbey Islands Chamber of Commerce and it’s own special business interests. The idea presented that “ Whidbey Island residents “choose” to call Whidbey Island their home” suggests that businesses are somehow exempt from this same choice. Further, it is stated that “ Businesses are outraged that a small group of self-interested, divisive activists are promoting their limited special interests over the greater national security.” Excuse me? Are you discounting or just ignoring all the other Anacortes residents, and all the residents inhabiting the San Juan Islands and around the entire Salish Sea that don’t like their ears blown out and their lives seriously disturbed and/or wrecked by more Growler noise overhead? Do we really want more of that and does such a noble sacrifice of sanity and well being really make us more secure? I question the “facts” stated by Ms. Cribb in her letter.
I doubt that we who resist more Growlers overhead are all just divisive activists. Maybe that just means we are consciously willing to stand up to protect the precious quality of life here where we have chosen to live.
There is enough ‘bad faith’ here to fill several hours of the “700 Club” if not send Jean Paul Sartre into a triple somersault in his Paris tomb.
The phony ‘big box” prosperity of Oak Harbor might actually be worthwhile if the Navy jobs actually meant something other than ‘penis writing’ with contrails.
As Harvey Korman so eloquently put it in the immortal Mel Brooks, “Blazing Saddles”, “Gentlemen, we must protect our phony baloney jobs!”
But seriously folks, watch Bob Ferguson’s beautiful press conference announcing the suit and decide for yourselves. What is it about, ‘rule of law’ that these folks don’t understand?
Maybe the lady who wrote this letter to the editor doesn’t understand that in scoping comments, concerned citizens have no rights at all to protect the environments on which we depend and are sustained. We’re can’t express health concerns, concerns about cumulative environmental or health impacts; those are not counted. The only things that are counted in scoping comments are things like property value loss! Endangered species count a little – if you can find some that aren’t extinct.
It isn’t just a small handful of activists that Mr. Ferguson is representing. It’s an entire interconnected, contiguous region of terrestrial and marine ecosystems including the Salish Sea itself. It’s a way of life for coastal populations – we’re dependent on protecting these ecosystems and we take our responsibility seriously.
I think we should be honest when talking about “the sounds of freedom” and take a long hard look at U.S. history of starting wars of aggression and their true purpose; to feed corporate profits in the military-industrial complex, fossil fuel and nuclear industries, and big agribusinesses.