I know we have many amazing veterans of all branches of the military here. That includes some Navy vets (my Dad and my Uncle Pat were navy signalmen in WWII. True story — my Dad was considered comatose until his brother showed up at the hospital. He told the Doctor that my Dad was fine. He was tapping questions in Morse Code in my uncle’s palm).
So, I’m reviving a young adult dystopian novel I started when I was depressed under the Bush Administration. I read in the NYT that genre (for adults) is now popular again. Also — what I wrote is more relevant today.
I have to retype the first 142 pages because the first floppy disc I saved the manuscript to is non-functional (the computer is long dead). Copyright is already filed. Ok — I still have another 100 pages on the other disc that is now saved to 21st century something and haven’t finished yet. (Where’s my editor???) Here’s the issue:
The story basically is in 2060 after everything is fucked up. The “schools” are indoctrination institutes and books have been long since banned. A couple of kids learned Morse Code via certain avenues. Soooo, I’d like to use an old Blue Jackets Manual for the code. While Morse Code is stupidly not required anymore (even though the Navy is returning to sextants) I thought it best to request permission from the Navy to use their reference to the code. Not sure if the Manual is considered a government document for purposes of copyright.
Sooooo, since chaos exists on all levels, I had no clue that we have no Secretary of the Navy. WTF? I would prefer not to do a “Dear Sir or Madam” thing and one of my whole reasons for finally finishing this book is to scare the crap out of young adults and let the Navy know they still have great skills to teach youngsters: Morse and flag signal codes, how to use a sextant, how to make a compass, how to make basic weather station stuff . . . . Come on! Our military doesn’t just kill people — they are innovators and protectors of amazing knowledge like renewable energy.
My Dad taught me how to tie knots (long forgotten — I need a young sailor to remind me :-D) but he didn’t teach me codes.
Money for big boats we don’t need but no Secretary of the Navy? Correct me, please, if I am wrong about this — and then send a young sailor over. Any advice as to whom I should send my request is greatly appreciated (re: the code — not the sailor).
I’m writing this on April 2 for a reason.