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The funny thing about it is SilverWarder Send a noteboard - 21/04/2010 03:35:51 PM
They earned the uniform, period.

They have the right to free expression, period.

Everything else is bookkeeping. If it was a random bunch of guys in costumes they hadn't earned, I'd be with you calling shenanigans. I mean, war is the ultimate political point, so the politicians use their uniforms (and the lives wearing those uniforms) all the time. Why shouldn't they be entitled to their protest?


The regulations in question apply only to actual soldiers or veterans.

Anyone else can wear a military uniform as a costume or for a protest etc. As long as they are not actively impersonating someone from the military (trying to sneak onto a base or something, say) it's entirely okay. If there is some law on the books somewhere prohibiting it, it's not enforced and is effectively a blue law.

So the regs actually only apply to soldiers and veterans - and the military has the right to decide what you can and cannot do. A process which is not as apolitical as it is supposed to be.

The rules are also different for veterans of different countries of course, but that has no particular relevance to this discussion save as a reminder that the current US way isn't the only one (or necessarily the right one).

May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk.

Old Egyptian Blessing
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I'm in favor of repealing DADT, but this made me briefly reconsider beckstcw - 21/04/2010 05:29:45 AM 1395 Views
...did you read the article? They aren't in the military any more. *NM* Ghavrel - 21/04/2010 05:31:02 AM 415 Views
Really? A few months ago Lt. Choi was still in the military, I didn't realize he'd been discharged beckstcw - 21/04/2010 05:37:47 AM 902 Views
No, in or out it's a no-go Isaac - 21/04/2010 05:48:25 AM 900 Views
There needs to be a rule that stops soldiers from wearing uniforms in bars beetnemesis - 21/04/2010 06:55:37 AM 827 Views
But if you aren't wearing your uniform at the bar... beckstcw - 21/04/2010 06:58:33 AM 829 Views
You wear a big sign that says I'M AWESOME: ASK ME HOW *NM* beetnemesis - 21/04/2010 07:01:45 AM 380 Views
Grabbing a beer with the guys after work is a pretty normal thing Isaac - 21/04/2010 07:45:16 AM 844 Views
I've seen it. LadyLorraine - 21/04/2010 12:52:59 PM 829 Views
Not a very fair way to look at it Isaac - 21/04/2010 02:10:47 PM 869 Views
perhaps not on its own LadyLorraine - 21/04/2010 07:06:09 PM 803 Views
Sadly that's not that uncommon SilverWarder - 21/04/2010 07:27:45 PM 911 Views
to be honest, I've probably met plenty of wonderful military people in the bars LadyLorraine - 21/04/2010 07:41:30 PM 890 Views
Could be. SilverWarder - 22/04/2010 04:45:29 PM 829 Views
every think the problem might be the uptight college kids? *NM* random thoughts - 22/04/2010 05:10:08 PM 362 Views
Excepting possibly finals period, I'm pretty sure "uptight college kid" is an oxymoron. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/04/2010 07:07:58 PM 370 Views
uptight college kids don't go drink in Aggieville. LadyLorraine - 22/04/2010 07:17:17 PM 1057 Views
maybe I should have said stuck up college kids random thoughts - 22/04/2010 08:29:18 PM 968 Views
Uhm, no, college towns can be quite different. LadyLorraine - 22/04/2010 10:13:41 PM 784 Views
The navy and Marine do have rules against it at least for working uniforms random thoughts - 21/04/2010 04:06:10 PM 866 Views
Like Buzz Aldrin wearing his on Dancing with the Stars. Ugh. *NM* Sareitha Sedai - 21/04/2010 02:37:59 PM 388 Views
I'll bet he got permission to do that though. SilverWarder - 21/04/2010 03:26:43 PM 845 Views
well that was an air force uniform so it really doesn't count as military random thoughts - 21/04/2010 04:00:27 PM 1015 Views
I'll remind you of that next time you want air support ;-) SilverWarder - 21/04/2010 06:00:32 PM 889 Views
I am a Marine we have our own air support random thoughts - 21/04/2010 06:15:01 PM 796 Views
Yeah - some of it pretty good too but still all small stuff SilverWarder - 21/04/2010 07:26:12 PM 834 Views
The F/A18 does OK random thoughts - 21/04/2010 10:11:13 PM 764 Views
It's all right, but not the best choice SilverWarder - 22/04/2010 04:30:07 PM 830 Views
jack of all trades pretty much defines the Marines random thoughts - 22/04/2010 05:13:21 PM 1215 Views
Oh not entirely SilverWarder - 22/04/2010 09:54:21 PM 1109 Views
I second that UGH *NM* Aisha - 21/04/2010 10:30:35 PM 366 Views
Hm. That seems to violate some significant 1st Amendment rights. Ghavrel - 21/04/2010 07:00:59 PM 825 Views
you forget that the military sign away their rights. *NM* LadyLorraine - 21/04/2010 07:06:52 PM 399 Views
That's why I specified dishonorably discharged. They're no longer in the military. Ghavrel - 21/04/2010 08:43:22 PM 847 Views
*shrug* sorry, I'm a bit cynical over how much the military EVER lets go. LadyLorraine - 21/04/2010 10:13:51 PM 811 Views
Re: I'm in favor of repealing DADT, but this made me briefly reconsider Aisha - 21/04/2010 05:36:48 AM 835 Views
Not in uniform. beckstcw - 21/04/2010 05:38:50 AM 965 Views
oh puhlease Aisha - 21/04/2010 05:43:15 AM 892 Views
It's not a just a piece of clothing, but I guess we'll agree to disagree on that. beckstcw - 21/04/2010 05:45:52 AM 864 Views
I agree with you, Aisha. The Shrike - 21/04/2010 02:15:30 PM 1017 Views
and another thing Aisha - 21/04/2010 05:38:53 AM 862 Views
I'm on their side, BUT beckstcw - 21/04/2010 05:44:00 AM 841 Views
Re: I'm on their side, BUT Aisha - 21/04/2010 05:57:50 AM 904 Views
Like I said, we simply disagree *NM* beckstcw - 21/04/2010 06:35:27 AM 410 Views
Thing is though SilverWarder - 21/04/2010 03:31:05 PM 945 Views
Well... it's a military policy. If they were protesting animal cruelty while wearing it, I'd agree beetnemesis - 21/04/2010 06:53:36 AM 1044 Views
What beetnemesis said. They're not talking about rights for all gays, but rights for gay soldiers. Tim - 21/04/2010 09:54:09 AM 802 Views
Sounds a bit like they are damned either way snoopcester - 21/04/2010 11:01:36 AM 846 Views
It's peaceful and non-violent. I see nothing wrong with them making their point in this in addition The Shrike - 21/04/2010 02:12:54 PM 814 Views
A soldier protesting a military doctrine has the right. Dannymac - 21/04/2010 02:28:40 PM 919 Views
Re: A soldier protesting a military doctrine has the right. Aisha - 21/04/2010 02:34:34 PM 836 Views
they don't have the right to use the uniform to make that free expression *NM* random thoughts - 21/04/2010 02:39:45 PM 356 Views
Take it up with congress, the regulations are clear, no such right exists, it is expressly banned *NM* Isaac - 21/04/2010 02:46:14 PM 326 Views
The uniform isn't just handed to you after Basic with no strings attached. beckstcw - 21/04/2010 03:04:32 PM 933 Views
The funny thing about it is SilverWarder - 21/04/2010 03:35:51 PM 945 Views
Re: The funny thing about it is Bored - 21/04/2010 10:12:57 PM 803 Views
Actually -the question isn't right SilverWarder - 22/04/2010 04:38:03 PM 713 Views
What's bugging me is that Choi is still in Isaac - 22/04/2010 04:44:50 PM 775 Views
Is he? SilverWarder - 22/04/2010 04:47:37 PM 841 Views
Apparently Isaac - 22/04/2010 05:12:44 PM 946 Views
I think your attitude is likely to be common among active duty and vets alike. Sareitha Sedai - 21/04/2010 02:44:29 PM 832 Views
Actually, darlin', we don't have to convince them. LiterateDog - 21/04/2010 03:34:49 PM 825 Views
very true random thoughts - 21/04/2010 03:51:49 PM 866 Views
But these men didn't disrespect anything. LiterateDog - 21/04/2010 04:09:20 PM 899 Views
the problem is uniforms are about more than everyone dressing the same random thoughts - 21/04/2010 05:55:31 PM 885 Views
The statistics show that nearly 70% of Americans think gay men and women should serve openly. The Shrike - 21/04/2010 04:14:33 PM 793 Views
And going back to the Truman example, he doesn't even have to show Truman's courage. LiterateDog - 21/04/2010 04:17:02 PM 827 Views
Re: And going back to the Truman example, he doesn't even have to show Truman's courage. The Shrike - 21/04/2010 04:25:46 PM 850 Views
That dude is all talk about everything. LiterateDog - 21/04/2010 04:27:07 PM 953 Views
Well he wasn't all talk about Health care SilverWarder - 22/04/2010 04:44:39 PM 923 Views
Yes, the main thing he has followed through on is the most disastrous. LiterateDog - 22/04/2010 04:59:45 PM 695 Views
Well, I'm not convinced on that SilverWarder - 22/04/2010 10:02:58 PM 1163 Views
and I think they will get it random thoughts - 21/04/2010 06:05:07 PM 956 Views
Civil disobedience against immoral government action often involves breaking the rules. *NM* LiterateDog - 21/04/2010 03:37:36 PM 397 Views
Wow, The Shrike - 21/04/2010 04:04:42 PM 822 Views
I'm sure female protesters made a lot of people reconsider the suffrage movement. Dreaded Anomaly - 21/04/2010 04:09:37 PM 973 Views
Le sigh. The Shrike - 21/04/2010 04:16:17 PM 795 Views
The bravey of those men is exactly what that 'clothing' stands for. LiterateDog - 21/04/2010 04:20:19 PM 906 Views
The above post was sarcasm, in case that wasn't clear... Dreaded Anomaly - 21/04/2010 04:43:44 PM 890 Views
I knew it was sarcasm. LiterateDog - 21/04/2010 04:54:11 PM 808 Views
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