Editor,

The Outlying Field Coupeville disagreement sparks my interest for two reasons.

First, since 2012, I am a homeowner in Coupeville. I bought here for the natural environment and because OLF Coupeville is here.

I like the noise and enjoy watching magnificent technology manned by brave and talented American aviators.

It reminds me they are at work day and night.

I was born at NAS Whidbey and, if I get cut, I bleed red, white and blue.

Second, I lived in the Peoples Republic of China for more than 10 years. I personally observed the rise of nationalism on the mainland. It is a potentially dangerous situation being cultivated and fanned by Chairman Xi Jinping.

The recent bullying by China over the Senkaku Islands is pointing toward a much larger conflict that is going to require trained U.S. aviators to defend not only Japan, but those countries bordering China’s claim to the islands found within the boundaries of the nine dashed line map.

The Chinese public cry for revenge at any opportunity and demand muscle flexing at perceived territorial challenges by an outside country.

China is quite greedy now that they have power to challenge disputes.

This situation is not going to go away. It will escalate.

If those people who complain about noise would educate themselves on this brewing regional conflict and the coming challenge by the rise of China, and see it is our aviators from NAS Whidbey that would participate in potential regional conflicts, they may quiet down long enough for those of us, who made our homes here because of the noise, to enjoy the noise in peace.

Ralph Gamble

Coupeville