Andy Burton
*
Jun 28, 2011, 4:59 AM
Post #1 of 2
(1140 views)
Shortcut
|
|
US Coast Guard
|
Log-In to Post/Reply
|
|
I think people have misunderstood my remark about "jackbooted thugs" in my letter to the editor last wek. Several responses have been from sailors who noted that when boarded the USCG personnel have been invariably polite. That has been my experience, too. However, When your immaculately clean yacht is boarded from a rubber boat with black rubber fendering that leaves marks on your topsides, and combat-boot-wearing large men with guns tromp through your boat looking for drugs, the fact that they are institutionally polite is moot--I think it's pretty rude to board my boat uninvited in the first place. And I think it's time to start making a fuss
It's not the fact that the boarders are polite. It's the fact that the Coast Guard can board you at any time for no reason whatsoever. And make no mistake, they board with the threat of violence. Should you refuse to allow them to board, the ultimate result is that they will shoot you.
The Coast Guard does a wonderful and brave job rescuing sailors who get into trouble at sea. They should be and are proud of that job. I don't think the good ones are proud of boarding boats, even if they are brainwashed into believing they are doing it for our own good or to search us for drugs.
As for requiring permits to allow sailboat races, I can only add this: Once you start asking permission, you grant that entity the right to say, "no."
|
SCUTTLEBUTT
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG IN