What freedom's have you protected?

This is not a HATE thread or a jab at those who..IMHO..serve their country with honor..present or past.

My humble question is...WHAT FREEDOMS HAVE YOU PROTECTED?

On many of the ATS areas I see the same line over and over...I have fought and bleed...Love it or leave it...blah blah blah.

In the context of present days abuses of the current regime...
Patriot Act www.lifeandliberty.gov...
John Warner Defense Bill www.bordc.org...
Military Commissions act www.aclu.org...

What FREEDOMS have you protected?

reply to post by cdoug1
Just to let you know, I got to ruminating on that question one day while serving in the USAF, I never was able to really answer it satisfactorily. That was part of why I did not continue my military career. But for some people, you have to understand,its just a job, nothing more. At the time I was somewhat moved by patriotism, but not for long. Some people are not in it to help anyone but themselves, and that is perfectly fine too. The military can be a very good option for some. It was for me and I dont regret it. But I could not morally continue for long, after I got what I wanted fom them, which was a free education.

You can count on an emphatic resounding 'heck yes' from me.

I have protected some of our rights specifically - right to privacy, right to due process, and the right to life (not abortion related)! Sadly, in nearly every case, I had to protect that right from people who should have known better, or were in fact supposed to be doing the same.

It's one of the driving factors in my commitment to 'speak up' despite my lack of credentials, or status, or wealth, or whatever.

It felt good to do so, and I won't stop, ever.

reply to post by spookjr


After 11 years in the AF, I found I did not like to put on the uniform anymore. It was time for a change and my enlistment was up. I decided to pursue other areas in my life. Sometimes I regret not staying in, and other times I couldn't be happier I left.

I never went overseas or to a war zone, and that may have changed my view and kept me in. I have the utmost respect for those who have gone to war zones and served there. I have helped some service members (both in and out of the service) when they have needed it.

Edited to add.

[edit on 8/13/2008 by kidflash2008]

What are the odds? 3 ex-USAF vets on the same thread back to back. Neato!

(I was in for 12 year, then I realized my job was more suitable for the unattached and unmarried youngsters of the world.)

Anyway. Interesting coincidence I think.

reply to post by spookjr


Yeah, if you hadn't of said so, we could have railroaded the (OP) in to beleiving it should just bow to the west. Thanks for the honest opinion.

Look, this is not the place, there is only going to be some liberty, some justice, for some people. If you don't feel like you are getting it your not suppose to. Example, wall st., somebody has to lose.

Its everyone who isn't getting the American way that others have not died to keep free. Are you getting the picture now. If I had of died in war it would be with the knowledge that only some of you would actually received what I died for. My boss would have made $200,000 or more anually, so according to some, 5.6m americans are getting it and 143.6m ain't. So "you are not alone"

[edit on 13-8-2008 by rightwingnut]

TY all for replying. My question…that I tried to ask…is if the rights of the citizens have been stripped away, by means of the above acts, what rights are we defending?

reply to post by cdoug1


Ah, I understand.

We are protecting the rights - actually the privileges - of the almighty corporate citizen. Rulers of all, members of the transnational conglomerate of the power hungry wealth whores who simply won't accept that the world isn't their plaything. But then, we are just cattle to them, the uneducated, unknowing masses of the unclean. So our demand of un/in-alienable rights is just noise from the herd to them.

Radical enough for ya?

Merely the presence of the US standing military deters potential invasions and attacks. The fact that it is an all volunteer force just gives it that much more meaning. To look at it another way, perhaps you should ask "What freedoms does ours (or Russia's) standing nuclear arsenal protect?"

I try to encourage the freedom to be different. I try to empower others that have the courage to be individuals. I try to help others see the beauty in being unique. I tend to believe that we need to learn to cherish what makes us different from one another. We have a lot to learn from one another if only we can muster the humility to see things differently. I love America because I believe that it tries to empower the individual.


[edit on 13-8-2008 by checkers]

Originally posted by Maxmars
reply to post by cdoug1

 

Ah, I understand.

We are protecting the rights - actually the privileges - of the almighty corporate citizen. Rulers of all, members of the transnational conglomerate of the power hungry wealth whores who simply won't accept that the world isn't their plaything. But then, we are just cattle to them, the uneducated, unknowing masses of the unclean. So our demand of un/in-alienable rights is just noise from the herd to them.

Radical enough for ya?

Yeah, you tell 'em over and over. You want an america for the po' you'd better go some where else this one belongs to the rich. Who, like you(OP) say, keep stripping themselves of their own rights to discourage, the ability to participate, of the po'.

Now your first priviledge, is not the privledge to decide what you get, but the priveledge of dying for what you've been told you can have, if you have a median income of 200,000 dollars or more. Always read the fine print. I think that's your mistake. Political rhetoric is not always easy to follow. Notice your political issues are decided by what applys to the rich as oppose to you stating this is a pertinent issue of yours. Your elected officials often tell you what they are going to do, rather than agree to give you what you ask for.

So look, simply, you never had those things you think have been stricken by policy. In affect these policies are confirming that there is no need for such rights because you'll never have that type of income before they have to kill you off in a war.

I'm just shocked at my new cynical laugh, I hope I don't turn diabolical too.

Who ever said the America was for the po'....as you put it. The constitution set "inalienable" rights that are to be had by all.

As rightwingnut points out.."Now your first priviledge, is not the privledge to decide what you get, but the priveledge of dying for what you've been told you can have"

As for deciding what I get...I already have...it's the question of keeping it.

And as for keeping it....keeping it won't happen 3000 miles away.