I would like to respond to the person that called the police on June 28, from the kiddy pool in the city park. I know that you thought that you were doing your duty as a good person and wanting to do the right thing but you caused me, the man with the pocketknife, a lot of bad memories.

If you had noticed when I came into the pool area you have seen the two children that I had brought with me, i.e. the reason for me to be staring at the children to make sure my children were being good! I wonder what your kids were doing while you were minding my problems?

Then the police show up and tell me that there is an ordinance telling me that I can’t have a knife in the park. I’ve seen no such ordinance posted anyplace, and by the way the police did not say a thing to the two families that had ten-inch knives out cutting up watermelons. Guess that you didn’t see them did you?

Now, I’m told by a lot of people that I scare them until they get to know me. I don’t see why but for the life of me I cannot see how I would be a threat to anyone that sees me today. I’m 62 with long gray hair and I’m hooked to an oxygen tank with a six foot hose. I have COPD, cancer, and a multitude of other things wrong with me, what I would worry about is if I would try to hit someone with my tank.

On the other hand I can see what is happening in this country with the present Dogs of War telling all to report anything that is out of line and doesn’t look right report it. Seems not too long ago that the same thing happened in Germany, tell the Gestapo about your friends neighbors and everyone so we can keep them in line.

Thank you again for reminding me that we do not live in a free country anymore, but in one where we spy on our neighbors and call the Gestapo up to make sure we stay within the party lines of the government. Not by the people or for the people, but as the war dogs say.

D. Schultz, USN Ret.

Oak Harbor