April 5, 2007 Issue

I have a policy of not responding to letters written to The Beachcomber regarding my column. Surprisingly, the complimentary letters far outweigh the critical ones. Our editor responds to all of them in a far more eloquent manner than I could.

A letter last week however, has prompted me to respond. I am responding not because the letter was particularly unusual as critical comments go; but because it was so similar to other criticisms I have received.

It was written by a retired colonel in response to my last column criticizing our country’s involvement in Iraq and the role of Halliburton in the war. He writes in part:

“Whether the facts are true (and some are not) is immaterial. Mr. Morgan is a known left wing liberal and his views should be kept to himself. If I wanted to read this kind of article I would read (which I would never do) the NY Times.

His views are not those of the majority of citizens on NW panhandle. This is a fairly conservative and pro military area. If his restaurant depended on local residents and his views were known I’m sure he would be out of business in a short time. But just so my local friends will know I’m sending (bcc), to over twenty, his article. And I would urge them to write to you and send this to others.

I hope they pass on the fact that he owns the Harbor Docks restaurant in Destin.”

The retired colonel is correct on most counts. At the very least I am a Democrat, which in this area might qualify as “a known left wing liberal.” But, in his second paragraph he suggests that “if my views were known” my business would fail “in a short time.”

Well, for the 28 years that Harbor Docks has been in business I have made my views known on a variety of subjects to anyone who would listen. My father and father-in-law, both long time Destin residents, were civil rights attorneys when that was extremely unpopular. Our restaurant has displayed pictures of people I admire including Rosa Parks, Julian Bond, Martin Luther King, Bill Clinton and John Edwards. We also have pictures of Chubby Destin and Bruce Marler.

I even used the marquee that fronts U.S. Hwy 98 to urge “No War” in the days leading up to the bombing of Iraq four years ago. The only concern I have about voicing my opinions is that they be misconstrued to represent the several hundred employees that we have at our restaurants. My thoughts and action on issues are obviously my own. Maybe you are correct that I am a known left wing liberal. But do you really think my views should be kept to myself?”

I will continue to oppose the war in Iraq. I believe the current administration is to blame for this fiasco. While I have total and unwavering gratitude for the troops in Iraq, I have real questions as to the machinations of†the military industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us about 50 years ago. Our military leadership has assured us that we have the best trained and†equipped military money can buy.

We now find ourselves in a God-forsaken land in an urban war where primitive people are blowing themselves†up with homemade bombs. And we're getting our asses kicked.

You write that you would never read the New York Times. You certainly aren’t going to be asked to do that. You aren’t required to read my little column for that matter. However, as you probably guessed, I do read the New York Times every day. It is universally accepted to be the best newspaper in the world. I assume you think that the Times coverage of news and political stories is biased. Even if that was the case it is shame that you can’t appreciate the Times’ articles on travel, theater, food, music, and architecture. They cover these subjects in a way you won’t find in the Northwest Florida Daily News.

You obviously don’t keep your views to yourself. Why should I? Another letter critical of my writing mentioned, “72 percent of people in Okaloosa County are conservative Republicans.” Believe me, I am aware of that. However, I have always considered myself to be an American first and an Okaloosan way down the line. If 28 percent of the people in this county are not politically conservative, do they need to keep their views to themselves also?

I guess your intent in sending my last article to more than 20 of your local friends and passing on “the fact that he owns the Harbor Docks restaurant in Destin” is designed to harm my business.

A word about that. Another reason I like the New York Times, and the Washington Post, the Atlanta Constitution, Esquire Magazine, and the most recent issue of Southern Living is that they have all singled out Harbor Docks for it’s excellent seafood. Since 1979, it seems that local people have been able to overlook my political thoughts in their quest for authentic
Gulf Coast cuisine. They even like our sushi in spite of the fact that when Yoshi started here 17 years ago it was not popular in the Panhandle. Destin citizens even overlooked my political concerns during the Destin City Council election of March 2000. I received more votes than any other candidate.

Please pass on this invitation to all of your local friends who believe in a society that fosters open debate about issues concerning our nation: I would love to treat them to a bowl of gumbo and a cold beer and discuss current issues facing us on a local, national or international level.

Rest assured that even though we have different political views, I would never suggest they keep their opinions to themselves. Even though in this country — according to any poll you choose to believe — the majority of Americans are now against the war in Iraq.
As an American, you sir, are now in the minority.

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