Readers Defend "Traitor" Al Neuharth -- and Freedom of Speech

By: Greg Mitchell In yesterday?s column, which another online site dubbed ?Treason?s Greetings,? we reprinted a number of e-mails calling Al Neuharth a traitor (and worse) for writing a brief opinion piece for USA Today, the paper he founded, suggesting the U.S. start withdrawing troops from Iraq ?sooner rather than later.? Earlier we had quoted from a number of other letters, both pro and con, from among a small mountain of mail inspired by our Dec. 23 Neuharth piece.

Yesterday?s column (if you missed it, you can link to it at the right) in turn provoked a strong response much more favorable to Neuharth who, as we pointed out previously, served his country in World War II in Europe and the Pacific, earning a Bronze Star. Excerpts from the latest letters, mainly pro-Neuharth or pro-freedom of the press, follow. They accurately reflect the tone of the letters that arrived.

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Alberto Saavedra: ?The excerpts you posted have me very worried. Thank you for waking me up.?

Paul A. Cox: ?As a retired veteran, I truly believe we shouldn't be there. Let?s bring my fellow soldiers home. But what makes our country great is that we can disagree on this war. Just because someone doesn't agree with the war, doesn't mean they do not support the troops. I can remember after serving in Desert Storm, we got a lot of support because people believed why we were there.?

Scott W. Phillips, Lutz, FL: ?If one American soldier dies because your anti-war diatribes prolong the terrorists? resistance, then you both are human debris. And no it's not patriotic to protest the war while our guys are in combat. That is Vietnam era bullshit. It was then too.?

Al Sayers, Pound Ridge, NY: ?These are difficult times. It is difficult to think that we are engaged in a war for made up reasons and that the people in that country do not view us kindly and that perhaps those men and women who died in Iraq for us died in vain. I understand that it makes people angry. It makes me angry. But denouncing those who disagree with us is not the American way.?

Suzanne DeBolt, Niceville, FL: ?Neuharth's column was an act of bravery. I commend him for it. But, whether one agrees with him or not, it is true that the media has fallen short in its role as the watchdog of government in recent years, most egregiously during 2002 in the run-up to the Iraq War. That is why Neuharth's bold journalism was so refreshing, and why it generated such a vicious response.?

Wade O'Hara Kane, Crescent City, FL: "I guess what gets me the most are those twits that don't realize or care that he fought in WW II. But what do I know? I'm just a bleeding heart Vietnam combat vet."

Jerry Rust, Long Beach, CA: ?I'm sorry, Mr. Mitchell, but patriotism means supporting your government. If you ask for the withdrawal of troops when your government wants the troops to remain, then you are not a patriot. It's that simple.?

Wilmoth E. Nichols, Arispe, Iowa: "I am the wife of a veteran of WWII. My late husband served 52 months in the military during that time, he was in the 509th Composite Group and this is the unit that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Two of my sons served in Vietnam, not in the Texas Air National Guard. I am very much opposed to the war in Iraq, I predicted that if we started a war there it would bring Muslims from all over the world to support the Iraqis. If I, a mere housewife in little Arispe, IA, population 85, could see this, why could not the powers that be in Washington see it? I defy ANYONE to tell me that I am unpatriotic because I oppose this war!"

Ellen Johnson, Dallas, TX: ?I note that every one of these letters (except those with initials whose sex I can't determine) are from men. Why are they here? Why aren't they fighting in Iraq if they're so gung-ho for this war??

Elaine Supkis, Petersburgh, NY: ?I do hope you forward all the pro-war letters to the Pentagon. Obviously, these men are eager to fight and since we are sending grannies and gramps to Iraq to fight, none of them are too old to put their money where their mouths are.?

Ben Spiker: ?You can?t stop writing about these people who don?t understand what freedom of speech is. If you do, they will win eventually. It takes courage, but please keep printing the vilest of the vile emails and shine the harsh light on these people. Silence is not an option.?

Robert Burnett: ?You state he served his country in WW2. What country was that? During WW2 what newspapers published pull-out editorials? Why do you suppose there were none."

Elaine Cole: ?Mr. Neuharth is following in the footsteps of all great citizens of history, those who seek an end to injustice, no matter its form. I applaud his efforts, and I am pleased to note that the majority of Americans (in the latest Gallup Poll) at last agree with him that this war was a mistake.?

Greg Frayser, Nashville, TN: ?What would Jesus do??

Nancy Schmelter, Chicago, IL: ?The reaction to Neuharth's article is a microcosmic sample of a psychosis that is rampant in this country. The rabid bullying, overt threats, and boycotts on rational debate are now synonymous with patriotism. This is ?top-down? stuff endorsed by government leaders, teachers, preachers, and yes, journalists.?

Michael Sidoric, Austin, TX: "I appreciate your balanced coverage of Neuharth's OpEd piece as well as the blazing reaction. Informed, thoughtful, and respectful discourse is the bedrock of society, not just democracy. I applaud your efforts to raise the bar from the gutter, aspiring for at least curb-height.

John Johnson: ?Actually I find the increasing viciousness in the verbal attacks on Neuharth quite encouraging for the anti-war segment of US society. Increased anger would seem to indicate the pro war faction?s basic core beliefs are being more & more threatened. This, in time, will cause their reassessment of their core beliefs. A recent poll shows more Americans than ever before (51%) think the Iraq war was a mistake. I'm sure this figure will continue to rise over time, just as in Vietnam.?

Howard Bixler: ?The old mainstream media is an abomination. Totally BIASED to the FAR LEFT, anti-American, anti-Christian and anti-military! My friends and I are carefully teaching our children the TRUTH about the media and academia! God Bless traditional America!?

John Dente, Wilmingtonm, DE: ?Al Neuharth is a brave man and a true hero who speaks the truth to the lies and propaganda that brought us to this unfolding catastrophe in Iraq. Unfortunately, it is the media and the court reporters that have contributed to this hysteria by failing to pursue the stories about lack of evidence of weapons of mass destruction, the disgrace brought to the military by torture sanctioned at the highest levels, and the real threats to our liberties in the form of The Patriot Act.?

Desmond Morista: ?Thank you for posting those e-mails and for the position held by Editor and Publisher for freedom of
expression. These are extremely important services to
our society.?

Luther G. Adcock, Sr.: ?Hey Greg, fuck off, you old asshole.?