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www.MRC.org |
| April 23, 2008 Richard Stengel Managing Editor Time Magazine Mr. Stengel, The cover of your April 28, 2008 Special Environmental Issue is appalling, and offensive to the veterans of the battle of Iwo Jima, the United States Marine Corps, all members of our Armed Services and every American who understands and reveres the sacrifice of those Marines who fought and died to raise our flag atop Mount Suribachi and to everyone who has ever stood up to serve to help us remain free. Your subsequent “explanation”, devoid of an apology, was no better. Co-opting the hallowed image of the United States Marine Corps War Memorial was horrendous enough. To barely acknowledge, and in fact dismiss, the outrage of the Marines who served there -- and that of all those who served and are serving in all branches of the military -- is worse still. The Iwo Jima Memorial is a sacred part of our national story. It is a transcendental image that represents the love, honor and respect the American people have for those who gave so much to defend us, those who wrote vital chapters in blood and sweat to ensure our American tale could continue being told. It is not a punch line to be altered on the momentary whim of journalists attempting to further pet projects. To politicize what should be – what is – an apolitical moment in time, a great one of American valor and victory, is simply and unequivocally wrong. Our intent with this letter is to elicit what nothing thus far has succeeded in securing – a full and complete apology from you and your publication to the men who served at Iwo Jima, and in defense of our nation then and now. Anything short of that belittles further the memory and the majesty of those Marines and everyone who has ever put on our nation’s uniform. L. Brent Bozell, III 
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