What Happened to the USNS Gabby Giffords Thread??

[DuneHopper]

First. Strike the stupid, and newly reemphasized, convention of naming large capital ships (and a sub) after Presidents. There was absolutely nothing wrong with naming said ships after famous military battles, various states, or recycling famous names with tradition behind them, such as Enterprise, Wasp, Hornet, etc. Naming vessels after presidents just invites needless political rancor.

Next, no naming ships after ANY persons who were not in uniform for the armed forces and who didn't devote their lives to the service, gave their lives in service, or didn't win the first or second highest awards for valor. No future Carl Vinsons, no other USS Winston Churchill, no future Gabby Giffords, no future activist anybodies from any part of the spectrum. There's no shortage of towns and rivers and minor battles in and about the US to name auxiliary vessels after.

I agree, I can't imagine a ship called the the USS Obama gees id snap at that point I think.
No one was more disrespectful to the troops then he was.

I think to our Enemies. Seeing a name of a ship of a War Veteran, serves as a reminder we are powerful and have honor.
Having the name of a Liberal Sympathizer who is passive and wants to disarm our people sends a very bad message to the world.
Why don't we call them the Rainbow Fleet why were at it with Unicorns on the Bow.

Maybe if this gets enough press ( not holding my breath ) I criteria will be put in place by Congress as you mentioned Boats. This really chaffed my hide I worked over at Mare Island and saw many proud Marines and Navy personnel this make my skin crawl.

 

[Hop Sing]

From what I could find online, it appears that the naming conventions for ships by the US Navy do allow for some classes of ships to be named after "Distinguished Americans". My argument in the other thread is that Mrs. Giffords, aside from surviving a shooting, has really not done anything I would consider 'distinguished'. Prior to the shooting, she was relatively unknown outside of her home state. Her career as a politician was pretty unremarkable with no records I can find of being responsible for any great legislative victories. If anything stands out it was her push for more border security for her home state.

But the shooting elevated her to a very public figure. And she, combined with the new fame of her astronaut husband, decided to use her personal tragedy to attack/restrict the rights of law abiding citizens. She was given a bully pulpit by her friends in the media and elevated to near sainthood status because she survived a shooting. And while I bear no ill-will to her or her husband and, in fact, have considerable sympathy for what they've been through, I don't see how her personal tragedy equates to "distinguished American".

I am, therefore, forced to conclude that this action, just like the symbolic action of giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama before he'd even done anything (a prize, based on his 8-year record, I believe should be revoked), is unearned and undeserved and simply seeks to honor and elevate someone whose only real contribution now is to fight against constitutional rights for Americans. There are so many real heroes, truly distinguished Americans that will never get a fraction of the recognition that Gabby Giffords gets, and why is that? Because they're not friends with the right people, with the right influence and the right power.

So, is it 'blind hatred' to be offended by the wasted use of this great honor to someone that many of us don't believe has done anything to merit? Is it blind hatred to be angry that this person receives an honor for doing nothing more than surviving, when so many others not only survived but fought and defended valiantly the very rights that Mrs. Giffords seeks to destroy? No, I think the intense dislike, hatred if you will, is well justified because this action is wholly undeserved and quite disrespectful toward real distinguished Americans.

That is where I stand on this issue, like it or not, I find this choice to name a ship after Mrs. Giffords to be nothing more than a symbolic political ploy/favor that is based on no merit whatsoever. As an American, I find this decision offensive and dishonring to people that truly deserve it.

That was very well written - thank you for so eloquently stating your opinions.

 

[Flopsweat]

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once,....................I want a ship named after me.

The USS DuneHopper.

OK, but it needs to be amphibious so it can live up to its name.

 

[EPS]

I'll keep it short I don't have a problem naming ship's after a president but other than that they should be named after war hero 's not senator 's

 

[deadeye]

Lets stay on topic and follow the site rules.

 

[EPS]

Lets stay on topic and follow the site rules.

And what do you mean you want to just keep talking about never did anything gabby Gifford or you disagree with me that ship's should only be named after president 's or war hero 's

 

[HuckleberryFun]

USS Jimmy Carter. No matter how you feel about his politics he was a Navy Officer who served on submarines under Rickover.
Oh yeah, then President. Still alive, too. He earned it.

 

[EPS]

Grabby Gabby did nothing as a senator she doesn't deserve a ship at most she should get a park named after her right next to the border of AZ Mexico

 

[EPS]

Next we will have the USS MAYOR MURRY you know the rainbow battle ship lol

 

[Flopsweat]

Next we will have the USS MAYOR MURRY you know the rainbow battle ship lol

It will devastate its enemies with stern looks and unicorn farts.