Editor,

In response to Michael Monson’s letter to the editor Oct. 19, I would first like to commend him on his opening statement, but then respectfully question him on his lengthy list.

A list about freedom, democracy, health, safety, residents moving due to noise, etc. plays well but needs some background to put it on firm ground.

If there is common knowledge that this is happening on a large scale then one must have concrete knowledge of its existence and then a community can rally and put its weight behind the issues to try to solve the problems.

Concrete knowledge moves a community — emotions, not so much.

One may take the time to wonder why “supportive signs are everywhere,” yet as his last comment of “noise for the rest of us” is justified.

I would like to take this time to rectify one position of Monson’s letter. He implies that the money is going to a few and the majority of residents are being left out.

To help ease that portion of his premise, I will volunteer to do the following — I will write a check for $200 to either the Seattle Children Hospital or Saint Jude Hospital, his choice, in his name, if he can explain how the Navy impaired the majority of Island County citizens’ way of life since he purchased his home and moved onto Whidbey Island.

I would respectfully request that he use facts and figures to back his claim and not emotion.

I will grant him the fact that his property value since he purchased his home in a Navy flight path has gone down but would humbly suggest that maybe 2008, as with most Island County property owners, had something to do with it.

Other then that exception the table is wide open.

If one wants to shout to the heavens instead of a simple civil debate then one might find themselves left off the horn section of the band.

Jim Pace

Oak Harbor