STOP USING MY SERVICE AS A SHIELD FOR YOUR COWARDICE AND SEDITION

Regulars of the Frogosphere will remember some "Words Of Wisdom" from a SEAL Chief friend of mine offered in the aftermath of Operation Red Wing. He was led to write this letter to the editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune, but since there is no chance that they will print it, I decided that I would...

I am an active duty service member and have served one combat tour in Afghanistan and another combat tour in Iraq. I have had several friends and associates killed fighting this war. I have waited many years listening to other people exercise their rights, and today I exercise mine. This evening, I was driving next to the Hotel del Coronado and was deeply disturbed by an anti war protest staged on both sides of the road. People were holding all the signs we see on TV and in the paper [like] “George Bush is not my President” and others with similar statements. Additionally, they were holding a quilt with cutouts of people symbolizing our war dead from Iraq.

First, I would like to say to these people that in fact George Bush is your President. As we live in a republic commonly referred to as a democracy, and he received more votes that John Kerry, it is called a “majority”. So, ALL American citizens are obligated to refer to Mr. Bush as President.

Secondly, I have had enough of these people using my service as a shield for their seditious statements and cowardice. They claim to support us as troops but not the policies of our government. This to me makes no sense as we have all volunteered to serve, many after September 11, 2001. So, this logic does not work. And, I can tell you from personal experience that seeing these protests is incredibly painful when you are in serving in combat. I understand that most people do not read or understand history, but if they did they would understand that they are giving aid to the enemy by holding these rallies, prolonging the conflict as it emboldens the insurgency. Terrorists read and manipulate the media and apparently several Americans who truly do not understand what they are doing. Or, as I suspect, several of them do and are intentionally trying to subvert our government. The Constitution is only a piece of faded paper stating grand and wonderful ideas. But, in reality the ONLY thing that GUARANTEES your right to free speech is me and my friends who willingly, repeatedly leave our families to fight for that freedom. If you did truly care about freedom, you would pick up your rucksack and join me. If you did, maybe I could stay home for a bit and protest something. (emphasis Froggy's)

And in closing, [regarding] the quilt representing the fallen; how dare you disgrace the memory of my fallen brothers and sisters? You are wittingly or unwittingly destroying the glory they have earned. Yes, I mean glory. Glory, like Honor and Courage, are not dirty words. They mean something, something pure, something I’m afraid these people do not understand. The men and women symbolized on that quilt died serving, not complaining, so show some respect. They are not cloth cut outs to me, a vehicle for you to push a misguided political agenda, they are people, and they died for you, because you would not stand up and serve. So, put a flag outside your house; visit a veteran’s hospital, or donate money to charities that support their families. Because I will tell you this; they died, and I serve, for our Country, our Buddies, and our Families. Not your right to commit sedition.

ROGER. SOLID COPY. FROGGY OUT.

UPDATE: Just so you bedwetters out there are aware, Sedition is an actual crime 18 USC 115 Section 2388:

Whoever, when the United States is at war, willfully makes or conveys false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies; or

Whoever, when the United States is at war, willfully causes or attempts to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or willfully obstructs the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, to the injury of the service or the United States, or attempts to do so—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

Just because this law is politically unfeasible to enforce, doesn't mean that those of you that are engaging in this sort of activity are not seditious and traitorous slime. You are. If I happen down the street and see you mocking the sacrifices of my comrades, your'e likely to catch the beating of a lifetime.