Some veterans come off like:
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 wear or once wore a uniform.
He has a right to an opinion, but he did no time in uniform:
Video 0:15
U.S. Space Command, Command Senior Enlisted Leader
Dave Smith
Alternative media:
Some will say The Troops defend the constitution in distant lands, but you could be scolded by veterans for questioning public policy Re: the US Armed Forces or policy coming from Presidential administrations.
1:14
JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:
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.
0:15
You do not have the right to speak out, because you never put on a uniform:
People should have an honest relationship with the US Armed Forces and be able to freely question public policy.
When news/social media posts are created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press.
How & Why the DOD Works With Hollywood
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
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.”
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.
In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.
There were none.
Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.
Related:
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Freedom Comes And Goes – Joint Chiefs of Staff Play No Part
Men Died For the Right to Vote?
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays
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.
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?
Sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution?
What becomes of American rights and freedoms and the constitution when the US returns from distant lands without a victory?
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
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