It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
—Ret. Capt. Bill Pries, JAGC, Navy
2007-01-19 09:14:58 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I am not trying to make a point.
I believe that we owe everything that we are and all that we have to the men and women who have served our country honorably over the years.
2007-01-19 22:41:57 · update #1
This statement is so true......
In response to other responders.....here is what our troops are doing for the good of Iraq....we never see this on FOX, CNN, MNBC, USA TODAY...or anywhere....it's all about the blood and guts..body counts, bombers, and so on.
Look at these links, spread them around...Let's show America and the Libs that Our Troops are WINNING....in many ways.
There are 100's of Positive Upbeat,things that are steering Iraq into the 21st century.....
GOD BLESS THEM ALL.......SEMPER FI !!!!
2007-01-19 09:41:28 · answer #1 · answered by PoliticallyIncorrect 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Amen!
What I don't understand is, why all the rants on this question? Didn't these people read the question? At no point does it say anything about doing those things being disrespectful to a soldier, only that with all a soldiers provides us, they deserve much more respect than what they're getting.
2007-01-19 14:11:40 · answer #2 · answered by NavyMomSS 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your awns er is simple sir. It is because soldiers like me sacrifice so much that all of these liberal morons can burn the flag and protest the way they do. They aren't true Americans sir. You and I are. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
-Spc Arnold Military Police Corps, US Army.
2007-01-19 14:22:56 · answer #3 · answered by Bull 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer to your question is "they can't." But.....liberals don't have a conscience. I'm sure you know that. But I and many other real Americans do. And we are forever grateful. Thank you Sir.
I salute you and all our servicemen, living and passed. Such gratitude cannot be expressed with mere words.
2007-01-19 09:58:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Strong words. I am a soldier, recently returned from the Baghdad area, and i wish people would truly stand behind us and not use us as a political tool for their ranting. Yeah, i don't approve of what is going on in Iraq, and sometimes even in America for that matter, but it is my duty, one that i signed up for, and i do it with pride. Also, i have lost friends down there, and not once do you hear about their life story on CNN/FOX or any worldwide news agencies, but if it is a humanitarian/a member of the press is killed, all you hear for weeks is about their life. Perhaps, if we knew a little about each of my fellow soldiers/sailors/marines and airmen who died down there, more people would truly understand our sacrifice for this country. Thanks.
I was referring to a woman who was with a humanitarian group, outside the wire, killed in an ambush, and we heard her whole life story, even about how she was arranging her wedding. Im sorry she was killed, but when it is a military member, all you hear is that a soldier or marine was killed.
2007-01-19 09:24:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Okay, let's draw a distinction here.
It is NOT disrespectful to a soldier to question the war that our civilian leadership sends him/her to fight. Our soldiers willingly subordinate themselves to our leaders' national strategic goals.
It is NOT disrespectful to a soldier to use the free speech protected by the Constitution that the soldier is in turn sworn to protect. Not to use it would be disrespect.
Same for demonstration. Exercise of our rights shows that America works.
Or did you think only popular speech was protected?
No no no. Doesn't work that way. Popular speech isn't something that needs protecting; nobody wants to muffle it.
It is not disrespectful to the soldier to burn the flag, incidentally. The flag is a symbol of the republic, as you'll recall from the pledge of allegiance. Our republic values freedom of speech enough to allow its symbol to be trampled upon. Even in burning, the flag shows what we're about.
Oh, you cited the quote incorrectly. Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC wrote it.
2007-01-19 09:54:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
good point, we owe a lot to our soldiers.
but consider this, if there were no reporters to practice freedom of the press, or poets to practice freedom of speech, or campus organizers to practice the freedom to demonstrate then a soldier's sacrifice would be in vain.
2007-01-19 09:27:30 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. O 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It is the soldier, not a Navy lawyer, who puts his azz on the line.
2007-01-19 09:20:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I love this quote! God Bless the USA
2007-01-19 09:28:04 · answer #9 · answered by TRUE PATRIOT 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Good quote. Thank you to all our service men and women.
2007-01-19 09:23:17 · answer #10 · answered by beek 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋