Marine's anti-Obama Facebook comments fuel debate

reply to post by BoSock


so i guess there was no use doing anything at all eh?

I can understand where the military is coming from. After all, they take their orders from the top brass, no matter who is in charge at the time. If the soldiers can't respect the top brass, how can they take orders from them? I'm not saying I agree with that point of view, but I say I can understand where they're coming from, especially if it's thick-necked military hawks that are doing the thinking here.

However, being that the ultimate mission of a soldier is to fight, and kill... I personally feel it is incredibly important, even more-so than in a civilian job, that he is free to express his political views and personal beliefs without being pushed around by his superiors.

Similarly, it's for the same reason incredibly important that he is free to question the politics, policy, decisions and missions of his government, the military he serves in, and his own orders. If he can't do that, he can't function as a soldier should, because there is a large risk he either becomes a mindless killer who blindly follows orders, even illegal ones, or he will desert or resign.

It's important for the top brass, and the military, to protect the rights of their soldiers, including the right to express themselves politically. If they cannot protect that right, they don't deserve the loyalty and service of said soldiers.

[edit on 16-4-2010 by David_Reale]

The person is a member of the military. In the military there is a certain code of conduct, to include what that member is and is not allowed to do, say and how to conduct himself while being a part of that organization. The military is absolutely forbidden by military law to take part in any political dicsussion, or rally. The reason for this is to prevent misunderstandings of the military involved in the political process.
I saw an interview and listened to such, and he was advised by his superior to check the military code of conduct. He voluntarily removed down the facebook page, thus he is able to keep his carreer in tact.

ive heard some verry opposite thoughts on this particular discussion and i say keep on thinking!
i understand that to be in the milatary you should be absolutley obiediant or else the milatary cannot accomplish anything
i mean if were nuked by another country we cant just sit around wasting time at an army base saying "ok guys iraqistan just nuked us, were thinking about retaliating how do you guys feel about that?"

but i do think that a soldier should not be a mindless slave i think everyone has a right to think
"i think therefore i am"

but yeah the way we go about things are not that great either
this is what i think really happened to get the iraq war started
"mr. griffin we can see no reason for the invasion of iraq" peter griffin "well gentlemen your forgetting, whoever doesnt want to go to war...is gay" the government people "i want to go to war! i want to go to war! i want to go to war!" dick cheney "i was thefirst who wanted to go to war!!!"
lol i dont really think that i just wnated an excuse to use it

He is in the military, he doesn't have the same rights as civilians do and that includes him having a watered down version of free speech.

He isn't even a private citizen any longer, he is Governent property. He is held accountable for everything he says and does. When I was a young private a long time ago I went to Ozzfest in Phoenix and got a bad sunburn. I ended up getting a company grade article 15 for destruction of government property, 30 days extra duty and 30 days forfieture of pay.

I knew an officer back in 05 who bad mouthed President Bush. He had his commission taken away, served 30 and then dishonarably discharged.

Right now a major was in the news for refusing deployment because he thinks the President is not a legal citizen. If you look up the charges it will probably include disrespecting the President (not in those words).

Military men and women do not have the same rights as most of you do and the ones we do share are so watered down, we might as not have them.

In the military as with any job , it is frowned upon to talk negatively about your boss in public venues. You can have whatever view you want , they don't care... just don't voice your opinion in public while you're wearing the uniform. At the top of your COC is the POTUS , then the SECDEF and along down the line. It's essentially like facebooking about the CEO or President of the company you work for.

Bet he had no problem serving silently under the unelected war criminal Bush/Cheney.

Amazing how many dirtbags are in US uniforms. A lot of dirty brass.

Why are people so easily fooled by unrighteous actions committed by uniformed criminals?

Seriously, some people, namely republicans, have their priorities all messed up.

Bush sends these Marines into wars based on lies and bankrupted this country and yet these people had absolutely nothing to say.

But when Obama tries to get these people healthcare, these "patriots" have something to say about how he's BK'ing the country and that he is a socialists.

Man, people are really screwed up and has their views ass backwards.

reply to post by SeekingAlpha


ive heard both sides of the republican democratic arguement and i gotta tell you i used to be a democtrat but now i dont trust either side their both up to something if anything but i dont know

i believe george washington said to stay away from political parties

'Fuel debate'?? I think it's a heck of a lot more than that.
Marine Faces Dismissal for Anti-Obama Facebook Posts
I used to be in the US Army. I understand not being able to say what you want about those over you.
But .... I think this fella should have the right to his facebook account as he wishes.
No state secrets were given out ... I support him.