My Fellow Veterans: The #Ferguson Police Action Disrespects Every Vet’s Sacrifice

I was stationed – both at the beginning and end of my military service – at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Thanks – in large part to Fox News after 9/11 – I routinely got told “Thank you for your service.”

It’s always made me uncomfortable.

But.

The possibility always remained that I could be called up, that I could be deployed.  And I would honor that contract.  This particular quote resonated a lot with me:

“Under our system every voter and officeholder is a man who has demonstrated through voluntary and difficult service that he places the welfare of the group ahead of personal advantage.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers

And one thing that I always – always – found sacred among my fellow soldiers was this:

I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.

That, ladies and gentlemen, that is the ideal our servicemen and women have sacrificed thier lives and deaths for.

Not this:

https://twitter.com/jackfrombkln/status/499531968229683200

https://twitter.com/fxmatt4/status/499269323547222016

My fellow veterans:

Make no mistake.

With every American the police in Ferguson – or anywhere else – harass, arrest, beat, and silence, they disrespect everything that every last patriot has fought for.

With every tank in the street, with every shell of tear gas, with every zip-tied bystander, they are directly and personally insulting the sacrifice you made.

Are you really okay with the rights you dedicated years of your life being taken away from those you swore to protect?

Freedom still needs protecting.

If you also feel helpless and want to urge your senators to do/say something about Ferguson, CALL THEM: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm