WHy I unsubscribed from the DIS newsletter

[Synonymous]

This is a copy of an e-mail sent to the DIS newsletter support this morning:

I have to write to tell you why I unsubscribed from your newsletter. Maybe you don't care, but I don't believe in keeping quiet about such things.

I think it is outrageous that you used a newsletter that is supposed to disseminate Disney World information to promote the war in Iraq. You are, of course, entitled to whatever opinion you want to hold, and to express it as you wish. But I found this to be a particularly inappropriate choice.

Glib statements about smiling Iraqi children give everyone a warm, rosy feeling about how the United States has "selflessly" sacrificed for supposedly humanitarian reasons. But the reality is that for every smiling child there are about 5 dead or maimed ones, little faces and limbs torn, bloodied and burned by bombs and bullets made in the good 'ol US of A and lovingly delivered without any thought or care about what innocents might be affected.

Under the guise of "supporting the troops," you have helped to spread the Bush administration's propoganda that seeks to sweep under the rug the horror of what we have done in Iraq. In fact, the letter you reproduced sounds strikingly similar to the fake ones the government was caught sending to newspapers around the country, over the signatures of soldiers who had no idea their names were being so shamelessly used.

I support the troops there. I support them by hoping that they will be brought home as soon as possible. I support them by hoping that we promise them that we will never again throw away their lives on a useless and immoral military adventure. And I support them by doing everything I can to make sure the people responsible for doing this to them are removed from office at the very first opportunity.

I opened that newsletter this morning with warm thoughts of Disney World. Instead I found bloody thoughts of killing and death. I'm very sorry you made this choice.

 

[HeyMickey]

Wow. If I were subscribed I would have done the same thing. Good for you.

 

[WebmasterPete]

For whatever it's worth, I'm not a supporter of the war in Iraq, as a matter of fact, I'm very opposed to it. The point of including it was that, especially during this time of year, we need to remember the men and women who are fighting that war. The man who authored the article is an army chaplain, and I was particularly moved by how he described how lonely it is for him over there, and what he does to keep going forward. The point was not to support a war, but to support our troops, and I will NEVER apologize for that. I'm sorry if you found it offensive, I knew some would, but I think a few hurt feelings are nothing in comparison to the reality that these men and women live with on a daily basis. Again, that's just my opinion.

Pete

 

[MAC3]

Good For you Pete! Let's not forget those who protect us!

 

[DoeWDW]

I've gotta agree with Pete on this one. Whether I support this administration's war in Iraq is immaterial. However, we have American citizens over there and I will support them any way I can.

 

[Big Dude]

I Remember Them EVERY Day


Adam aka Big Dude

 

[MAC3]

Thank You Adam. We need to remember them & their selfless sacrifices! I am in the process of having my family members write some letters and make up a box to send over to them.

 

[Keli]

You know, I think it's very hard for the average American to show support for the troops during the holidays. Or I guess it's that the definition of 'showing support' is so vague. I can see how someone's efforts to support the troops might be viewed by another as support for the war itself.

 

[Eeyore1954]

I totally agree with WM Pete. Seems like the OP overreacted to this article. I guess you can't please everyone...

 

[4greatboys]

I agree with WM Pete also. Our troops need to be supported everyday but a reminder during is very appropriate. The op did way over react. You can still support the troops whether you agree or disagree with President Bush.
Those of us having warm thoughts of Disney should not forget our soldiers who are far from their families and their homes.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Originally posted by Synonymous

Glib statements about smiling Iraqi children give everyone a warm, rosy feeling about how the United States has "selflessly" sacrificed for supposedly humanitarian reasons. But the reality is that for every smiling child there are about 5 dead or maimed ones, little faces and limbs torn, bloodied and burned by bombs and bullets made in the good 'ol US of A and lovingly delivered without any thought or care about what innocents might be affected.

Do you have facts to back up your ratio? Or is this just a glib statement?

Originally posted by Synonymous
Under the guise of "supporting the troops," you have helped to spread the Bush administration's propoganda that seeks to sweep under the rug the horror of what we have done in Iraq.

You should know propoganda, your post sounds like propoganda.

Originally posted by Synonymous
I support the troops there. I support them by hoping that they will be brought home as soon as possible. I support them by hoping that we promise them that we will never again throw away their lives on a useless and immoral military adventure. And I support them by doing everything I can to make sure the people responsible for doing this to them are removed from office at the very first opportunity.

It doesn't sound like your really support the troops. Oh and I believe these lives are not being thrown away. That would be the case if we were to just pull out of Iraq at this point, don't ya think?

Originally posted by Synonymous
I opened that newsletter this morning with warm thoughts of Disney World. Instead I found bloody thoughts of killing and death. I'm very sorry you made this choice.

This is how your post made me feel.

 

[Synonymous]

Pete, I certainly agree with and support your motivation as you explain it here. I just really question whether the letter you quoted was the best way to serve that purpose.

But I thank you for the thoughtful response and explanation.

 

[faithinkarma]

Synonymous

I have to admire you for voicing your opinion.

As I read threads on the DIS I am often appaled how often someone will make an innocent statement, one you would not think could cause controversy, and people jump all over them, until it degenerates into personal attacks.

For you to take a public stand on a very serious issue, knowing full well what the result would be, took a lot of courage.

 

[Bon Bon]

You opinion is welcomed, it's the American way. Although my opinion is welcome as well and here it is:

I get the feeling that you may have some pent up anger here regarding the war, and I'm sure it's justified. But I read, and rearead the newsletter this morning and could not come up with how you viewed the Chaplain's lovely letter, or Pete's sharing it, as a support for the war. I myself believe that you need to channel your anger in a more positive way (like you said, at the polls), rather than aim it at someone who was sharing a lovely story, someone on the front line. The purpose of sharing the story was to show support for our troops and the GOOD things they are doing there.

But the reality is that for every smiling child there are about 5 dead or maimed ones, little faces and limbs torn, bloodied and burned by bombs and bullets made in the good 'ol US of A and lovingly delivered without any thought or care about what innocents might be affected.

Is this helping your cause?

I pray for the safe return of our troops and commend them for the work they are doing. Our love is with them.

 

[sgtdisney]

Synonymous, your post sounds more like Propeganda than anything in that newsletter. Where do you get your statistics on the maimed and dead children?

 

[momof2inPA]

Sounds like a misunderstanding. I just scanned the newsletter for bargains and deleted. Wish I would have read it better.

 

[Synonymous]

The letter that was included in the newsletter contained a description of all the supposed good we are doing for the Iraqi people, implying that they are grateful for our invasion. The impression I got from this letter, which mentioned nothing about all the suffering or hatred our invasion caused, was that the war is a good thing.

I objected to the inclusion of such a statement in a newsletter intended to promote Disney World. Pete Werner has explained here that it was not his intent to say the war is a good thing. I still question the appropriateness of the letter, but I understand him better now.

If anyone is interested in statistics involving casualties in Iraq, I would be happy to provide them if you send me a PM or e-mail. I don't think it's appropriate to post the links here.

 

[Bon Bon]

Appropriate??

Listen, these boards are a great place to express our opinions, however unpopular they may sometimes be. Let's not let it get out of hand. Happy holidays Synonymous. Really.

 

[momof2inPA]

synonymous,

OK, I see your point. You were planning to read about Disney and ended up seeing more war. Again, I did not read the letter, and I think it's mostly a misunderstanding, but now I see you point. I also see a difference between posting opinions on the board and in a newsletter. Oh, well, no one's perfect and Pete did have good intentions.

 

[Planogirl]

synonymous, I respect your opinion and I admire that you posted later that you may have misunderstood Pete's intentions. I'm not a big fan of the Iraqi effort either but I do support the troops wholeheartedly and feel for what they must go through. I did read the letter as a commentary on what is experienced by the troops but I can see how someone could see otherwise.

Anyway, thanks for posting. It was interesting.