Posted on May 8, 2014
SPC Christopher Smith
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Timthumb
I just got done reading this letter in the link. I have my personal feelings on the subject, but I wanted the community view. Was this retired, triple amputee right or wrong for his comments? Should vets be able to share their strife with their leaders once they are no longer under their command?
http://www.secretsofthefed.com/triple-amputee-veterans-fck-letter-obama-presidents-day-goes-viral/
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Responses: 40
MSG Usarec Liason At Nrpc/Nara
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Actually I think he is well within his rights. As active SM we cannot publicly do what he did...if we tried we would more than likely find ourselves under some form of retribution. As a vet he is free to express his opinons that he couldn't before, and say the things that other active SM maybe thinking and cannot publicly express. Finally, he has EARNED the privilege to use the right to free speech that so many other use daily without regard to how they got it.
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CPT Brandon Christensen
CPT Brandon Christensen
>1 y
well said SFC!
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SrA Ben Barton
SrA Ben Barton
10 y
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of speech. it is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
-Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC

You're absolutely correct, SFC. Now that he's served to protect those freedoms, he is without-a-doubt entitled to exercise those rights!
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SSgt Senior It Security Analyst
SSgt (Join to see)
10 y
SrA Ben Barton Served... and sacrificed more than most of us will ever... In my opinion, he's got more right than the rest of us to exercise his freedom of speech.
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SFC Matthew Parker
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The question posed was the veteran right or wrong for his comments and should vets be able to share their strife with their leaders once they are no longer under their command?

Well yes a veteran has the right to voice his or her concerns and or opinions and I think veterans deserve to be heard.

The actual comments were biased uneducated and directed anger towards the President of the United States. Nothing the airmen said was factual or relevant to any conversation. There was no question posed or solution offered in his personal attack rant.

But if his venting helps him heal or allows him to mentally cope then he can write one hundred letters. If he can sleep better and start to forgive then he can have my key board and I will mail his letters.

We have earned the right to be heard and paid for that right with pieces of ourselves, so if not us, who? All veterans from the crazy right to the lib left and everywhere in between the political spectrum have two things, the right to express themselves and each other.

So brother, I don't agree with you but I have your back.
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MAJ Senior Observer   Controller/Trainer
MAJ (Join to see)
10 y
It was cathartic for him, if nothing else.
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SFC Matthew Parker
SFC Matthew Parker
10 y
It was 10 months ago I posted my opinion on this topic and today we are still having an open and honest debate on the question. I think the fact we are still talking about this is a victory of the former airman and the 1st amendment.
I still believe we owe a level of respect to the Office of the President of the United States and I still believe the personal hate directed towards this President to be based on reasons we as a nation should have moved on from years ago.
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CPT Ahmed Faried
CPT Ahmed Faried
10 y
good topics die hard.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
2 y
And it changed with President Trump.
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MSG Senior Counterintelligence Sergeant
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Why not? He's no longer in the service and is entitled to his first amendment rights... Lord knows he earned it!
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