Letter to the editor
This is in response to Chief Warrant Officer William Church's statement
in his letter to the editor: "You see, Mr. Zall, the primary difference is this: (A) When
a federal civilian raises his right hand, he says he is willing to WORK
for the government. (B) When a military service member raises his right
hand, he says he is willing to DIE for it."
As a six-year Navy veteran, I took an oath to "protect and defend the
Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
As a U.S. Postal Service employee, I took the SAME oath.
The words "work for the government" are not in the oath. It is the same
oath the president, a civilian, takes. Does CWO Church believe that the
president is NOT willing to die for the Constitution?
The only difference is the risk of dying. I chose that risk voluntarily
for six years. Frankly, I still have that risk. After all, if a terrorist
wanted to strike at the government, what safer target is there than a mail
carrier? He/she is only armed with dog spray, is very visible and is very
predictable.
If I'm not mistaken, it was civilians who were the targets of the embassy
bombings in Africa and the federal building in Oklahoma City.
C. Mosier
U.S. Postal Service