Shouldn’t be admired

In Mike Masterson’s op-ed “Forsaken oaths,” he states, “There are many Americans, such as those with the Oath Keepers organization, for whom pledging their oath represents a sacred constitutional responsibility. Others in today’s conflicted America do their best to discredit these members for remaining loyal to the Constitution that has served us more than 230 years. What does that say about these men and women versus those of lesser commitment who ridicule Oath Keepers for striving to live up to the words they have sworn to live by?”

Once again Mike has failed to investigate/fact-check some subjects of his writing.

Founded in April 2009 by Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers say they are nonpartisan and pledge to fulfill the oath to “defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” The organization does believe in defending the Constitution, but only as they interpret it, even if that interpretation goes against that of U.S. lawmakers and judges.

Rhodes seems to have become an advocate of Q-Anon and a believer of Trump’s 2020 election lies. On Jan. 4, 2021, Rhodes made this statement to his Oath Keepers: “It is critical that all patriots who can be in D.C. get to D.C. to stand tall in support of President Trump’s fight to defeat the enemies foreign and domestic who are attempting a coup, through the massive voter fraud and related attacks on our Republic. We Oath Keepers are both honor-bound and eager to be there in strength to do our part.”

It turns out that the Oath Keepers were the ones attempting a coup to overthrow a constitutionally elected president’s administration. Because of their disloyalty to the Constitution they swore to defend, 16 Oath Keepers have been indicted for their actions on that day.

Admire these far-right extremists and their “sacred responsibility” if you wish, Mike. As an almost 80-yearold former Marine, I will continue to despise and ridicule them as the traitors they are.

KENNETH WEBER

Greenbrier