Oct 20, 2020 USA Today
‘I am an unwavering patriot’: Troy Aikman defends himself after comments criticizing flyover
“I love a flyover but it was odd to see one over a mostly empty stadium.”
Here, at Oak Bay Starfish, we blogged about this topic back in August 2020, when military aircraft spread out across America to do flyovers near hospitals to honor Doctors, Nurses, First Responders, school teachers, etc.
We Need More Military Jet Flyovers
Random Thoughts
A society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
A society where voices of dissent are not authorized.
It’s not like he was questioning why the Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.
It’s not like he was questioning why the Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record for winning undeclared wars since DOD was established way back in 1949.
Maybe all of the US should function like one, giant military base.
Freedom of individual expression could be fully controlled. No distractions. No dissent.
Maybe some veterans come off like:
Don’t say things that I disagree with. If you didn’t do time in uniform you have no right to speak out.
If you did time in uniform-you should see society as a group of first & second-class citizens.
Those who never wore a uniform are second class citizens and their commentary should be supervised by those who once wore a uniform.
From comments:
My personal take:
I’m tired of being told that the troops are in distant lands fighting for American rights and freedoms. This concept never seems to stand up to any questioning or discussion.
Local press:
“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
Military Town – Hometown Pride
September 27, 2019 Whidbey News-Times
Sound Off: Freedom doesn’t come free, and it’s sometimes noisy
“…the men and women of the armed forces guarantee our freedom…”
May 28, 2020 WMAR
Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
1967
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
Congressman Derek Kilmer:
Wars are for freedom and democracy.
Glorification of military service / total nonsense:
WA Secretary of State
“Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
Men Died For the Right to Vote?
Right To Vote Linked To Military Operations/US Troops in Distant Lands?
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms-The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, sports betting, voting rights, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.
None of these are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
Just Be Honest.
Stop with the glorification of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
More here:
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Censorship – Newspapers Suppressing or Eliminating Online Comment Sections
Veterans Support All Candidates 2020!
Soon:
Also maintaining our companion blog for now: Old Man Blog
Still active on Twitter