<p>Politics is what drives the process of civilian leadership in this country. Civilian leadership drives the armed forces. The two are very intertwined. I think a sensible and respectful discussion of politics is not harmful here. As was stated above, you can be a member of either party (or no party at all) and still support our troops. Keeping an open mind is a good trait, as long as your brains don't fall out! Part of the value of political discussion is that hopefully in the end it results in competent leaders being elected because enough information/views are shared so that people make informed decisions when they vote. </p>
<p>shogun,
your French expression reminds me that a record 86 percent of French voters turned out for their presidential election this week! My mid thinks we should tax Americans who can vote, but don't; like the Australians encourage participation in national elections.</p>
<p>gonekokonutts,
could you explain your statement:
'there are troops dying to protect your right to voice that opinion...'</p>
<p>Homer09, I'm not saying that just because people argue politics doesn't mean they don't support the troops. It just seems to me that anything these days that is discussed always comes down to politics and what "side" someone is on. What infuriates me is that people can't get over their differences -- which, if you haven't noticed, are actually very small differences -- to support one common cause without arguments. Such a beautiful and meaningful post was ruined by an asinine argument about politics.</p>
<p>usna09mom, what I meant by that statement was basically what I said. There are troops dying to protect our right to voice our opinion. Troops fight to protect American lives and the American way of life. The American way includes the right to free speech. </p>
<p>And please, don't call me a child. I'm far from a child.</p>
<p>I don't know.... seems like I had a rough day at work a few days back, was ready to complain, when someone sent me that first post.....
which i shared....
which prompted this thread...</p>
<p>needless to say, I kept my mouth shut that day, went about my business, and made the best of what started out as a nightmare....
in retrospect, not so bad.</p>
<p>but i will tell you this.
i painted the bottom of the boat this weekend, so today i can hardly move.
no complaining....because I stopped to think what our kids are doing today.
my aches and pains can't hold a candle to what they do 24/7.</p>
<p>this thread was not meant to be political.
what it was meant to do was cause us pause....
to think about the troops.
and perhaps send a prayer their way.
doesn't much matter which side of the isle you are on, or what lever you pull.
it's about them.</p>
<p>so please, can we get back to that and put the political jabs away for another day?</p>
<p>i need to get more icy hot. and advil. keeping the aches and pains to myself.
hope the troops stay safe today.</p>
<p>Navy2010- Add a hot shower or sit in the hot tub. </p>
<p>You did start such a very nice thread and I in no way thought it would take the political bent it did. I appreciate you posting it. I copied and pasted it and have hung it up within eyesight (yes, with the glasses on) of my computer. I'm sorry politics had to smudge it.</p>
<p>gonecokanutts-</p>
<p>You appear, by your posts, to be a thoughtful, patriotic young adult. What you said has some truth in it; differences should be set aside on this cause. Unfortunately, some people (and no one in particular on this thread) cannot help but put a political spin on things. They feel passionately about it.</p>
<p>There are young people and parents who come to these threads in search of guidance. Let's be a little bit more respectful to one another.</p>
<p>Ok - sometimes you just gotta apologize. I really am sorry that I added the second post to this thread. I was really trying to emphasize the whole "we'll guard the door" aspect of the poem, but since it had the "Kerry & Dean" reference, people really focused on that. </p>
<p>I should've known better. After all, I've been hangin' around here long enough to know that people get really emotional about politics, especially here. I'm an old Political Scientist from Emory University so I do tend to throw things out there which get debates started. It's a bad habit which has no place on this forum.</p>
<p>To deepdraft & davygravy: I watched the video - all of it. Unlike many of the conservatives that you referenced, I do try to keep an open mind - I like to hear all sides of an issue & then come to my own conclusions (hence the propensity to start the debates). Yes, I am a Conservative - what else would a true student of politics be?? (JK JK!). I kind of like the ideas of Free Will, Free Market & Self-determination, but that's just me...</p>
<p>...and just because we might have a bad leader, that doesn't necessarily mean we're going in the wrong direction.</p>
<p>Ok, enough of that. To Navy 2010: Please accept my most sincere & heartfelt apologies for messing up what you started as a beautiful thread. Care to start it over again??</p>
<p>Service members have a basic constitutional right to vote. They also have a special obligation to remain politically neutral under any circumstances in which their partisan allegiance might be connected to the military. Expressions of partisan support violate the military's long-standing professional and constitutional position of political neutrality.</p>
<p>Just after the end of the Vietnam War, the Supreme Court reminded us in Greer v. Spock that the military has an obligation under the Constitution to avoid "both the reality and the appearance of acting as a handmaiden for partisan political causes."</p>
<p>In a nation built on civilian control of the military, the people holding the weapons should never appear to influence the votes of the citizens they protect. </p>
<p>Secondly, partisan politics has no place in a military unit. The President is Commander-in-Chief of the military, and, therefore, directly in the chain of command. Additionally, dissident political expressions can contribute to morale issues. Lastly, personal political dissidence will erode an individual's will to fight. In this forum, consisting of future military leaders, we must be aware of this.</p>
<p>Bottom line: If you are in the military, be politically savvy and vote, but keep your views to yourself. If you are the parent of someone in the military, back off and do not participate in any political conversations in the presence of your military member.</p>
<p>
[quote]
To Navy 2010: Please accept my most sincere & heartfelt apologies for messing up what you started as a beautiful thread. Care to start it over again??
[/quote]
</p>
<p>lol!!! sure!!!</p>
<p>nice to see everyone sharing the sandbox again!! ;)</p>
<p>(nurseypoo... the hot tub...now why didn't I think of that!!!! with a glass of merlot i think.... :) )</p>