Dishonorable, Disgraceful, Deplorable

Join the military, defend our country, it’s people, it’s constitution and follow the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the law of the military.

When a person signs that paper, stands and pledges, give the oath, they are part of the military. A military based on volunteers, not forced, not required, volunteers making a choice of their own FREE will to defend our country and at the same time, agreeing to follow the UCMJ or be punished accordingly.

Two Navy personnel have now disrespected and ignored the oath they willingly made when joining the military. They have chosen to dishonor, disrespect and disgrace the United States of America, and to go against their oath, their promise.  Young, naïve or old and wise, it does not matter, these two Navy personnel broke their oath, they broke military law.

Why did they enlist?  Was it in their hearts to defend the United States, the constitution, and it’s people?  Or was just for the college money?  In either case, these two Navy personnel agreed to follow the UCMJ.  They did not follow the rules, “the law” of the military.

As with any “job” there are rules listed in the employee handbook you must follow.  If you choose to ignore the rules and requirements of your employer, an employer you choose to work for, you can be fired.  Are you allowed to bring your politics into the work place? Stage a protest? No you are not. If you do, you have placed yourself at the mercy of your employer, you must/should stand up for your choice and take whatever punishment is dealt to you.

Ms. Ervin, you broke a promise, your oath, you broke the trust that was bestowed upon you and you broke military law (UCMJ).  It is only right you loose your security clearance and any privileges the military has afforded you. Do not dare to whine and cry because you lost your security clearance, it is your fault. Be an adult and own what you did. You are smart enough to know what you did and the consequences that may result, do not continue to play for public support from those that do not understand or know what it is like to be put in the position you were placed in as an Intelligent Specialist.

If you cannot be trusted to obey military law, how can you be trusted with military secrets?  How can you be trusted to not follow protocols or orders if you don’t like them or if you disagree with them.

Ms. Ervin, you are not fit for duty, you are a disgrace to your uniform.

Ms. Ervin, you and the other sailor who refused to stand for the flag or anthem, need to be dishonorably discharged, immediately. I am disgusted you represent our United States Navy.

The uniform you wear and the military branch you are part of, is not an appropriate platform for your protests.

R martin

The Democrats Real Plan

Branding, front face, media exposure, popularity, well known, recognizable, are all part of a good media campaign. Is that why Hillary Clinton is the DNC party nomination for United States President?

Under normal circumstances, a person with a lot of bad publicity, and I mean a lot as with Hillary Clinton, this would not be an idea person to be the front face of a campaign. So why did the DNC really make her their nomination? Is it because she is a woman and that will bring in votes? Is it her history in politics (which is not the best according to both Dems and Reps)?

The candidate.

Hillary Clinton has the branding, well known, easily recognizable both by name and by picture, has had a lot of media exposure (good and bad) for over a decade. These reasons alone make her a good choice. Plus she has political experience, good and bad, but she has the experience at some of the highest levels of government offices. Again, these add up to a good reason for her to be a candidate.

Sell the candidate to the voters.  Get the public/voters behind the candidate, rile them up, pump them up, get them to the point the candidate can do no wrong.  Then, because of health issues the candidate, Hillary Clinton, has to back out at the last minute.  The ideal and best democrat for the position of president is…. Mr. Kaine but because he is virtually unheard of through most of the United States, on his own, he would not stand a chance to win a DNC nomination for president. But if Hillary was to back out, the DNC has the option/responsibility to choose her replacement.

Mr. Kaine has already been endorsed as Hillary’s running mate, a good reason to pick him.  Now add an endorsement by Hillary herself, all of her voters would gladly follow her lead and vote for Mr. Kaine.

Wait…

It’s to late, it’s to close to voting time because in some states absentee ballots are already mailed, in other cases ballots are already printed and about to be mailed. Now what? It’s to late to put Mr. Kaine’s name on the ballots and remove Mrs. Clinton’s. Electoral votes. That’s right, the voters themselves would not be able to vote because Mrs. Clinton’s name is on the ballot. So the voting for president is done by the electoral college which would take all of the voting for our next president out of the public’s hands. What does this mean? Politicians would elect our next president.

Scared?

Does this scare you? It should. Although the electoral votes are suppose to represent the people, if the people have not had a chance to “tell” – vote who they want, how is the electoral college suppose to know? They don’t. They vote as they please. Could they go by the last few public poles done by survey? Yes they could, but which one do they use? Not all the public poles offer the same results. As of now, depending on the pole you are quoted, Hillary Clinton is ahead or in others Donald Trump is ahead.

In essence, the politicians decide who they want for president. And we, have to live with the results. So where is the “people’s” choice? There isn’t a “we the people” choice, it would rely solely on the electoral college.

Is this the plan?

So is this the plan? Does the democrat party feel they would have a better chance of getting another democrat president into office in this manner?

By all rights, in my opinion, Mr. Kaine is a better choice for president than Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Kaine’s political views are not governed by the democrats “by laws” or rules. As a governor and senator, Mr. Kaine’s political career has show he does not follow all of the ideals laid out as a far left democrat. His ideals and past political record shows he falls somewhere in the middle and at times even agreeing with some republican views. Is he a democrat? Oh most definitely, but he tends to side with and fight for the people and what is right for the majority not for himself or for the powers above him.

Or…

Maybe it’s none of the above and Mrs. Clinton is not going to drop out of the race.  Maybe the idea behind this whole election is to position Mr. Kaine in the public’s eye for president in 2020.

R martin

My List of Disrespect

I have written about several issues, problems in America. I have written about our freedoms, our rights that are provide for us in the United States Constitution.

Looking back, I realize most of these issues stem from lack of respect, disrespecting others, those differences between you and them, those freedoms and rights provided in the Constitution. Yet how many of you will step up and claim “it’s my right to voice my opinion” “it’s my right to protest”.

You are correct!

If you said any of the above give yourself two brownie points, because you are correct, you do have those rights. But you are not the only one. Others have the same right and most importantly we all have the same rights, the right to protest, the right (and obligation in my opinion) to ensure everyone’s rights are recognized and protected.

However, no one has the right to disrespect anyone.

One of the most media saturated stories right now are athletes refusing to stand during the National Anthem. This my friends, readers and fellow citizens, is a form a of disrespect. Disrespect of our country and disrespect of each and every one of us.

Important side note.

Due to a marriage in our family we now not only root for our state teams (Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, etc.) but also for the San Francesco 49’ers. But this has all changed.

Disrespectful

Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the National Anthem and encouraged a following. No more 49’ers. NO 49’ers games will be watched in our house. No tickets will be purchased to attend any of their games. At least not until Colin is removed from the team or forced to stand respectfully during the National Anthem as per protocols and tradition.

Seattle Seahawks joined arms “in unity” as they stood (they were going to kneel but some players protested so the compromise was standing with locked arms). That is not acceptable. Traditions and protocols are clear, you are to stand, right hand over your heart, all head coverings to be removed. NO more Seahawk games will be watched in our house and no tickets will be purchased to attend any of their games.

Miami Dolphins, four of the players kneelt during the National Anthem. Use to be a team I would watch from time to time, but not now. At least not until the players are removed from the team or forced to stand respectfully during the National Anthem as per protocols and tradition.

Marcus Peters of the Kansas City Chiefs, yeah will, no more at our house.

As you see, I am not biased towards teams when they allow their EMPLOYEES/athletes to use such a disrespectful action towards our country, our military and our citizens.

Thank goodness, as of yet, no one on the Green Bay Packers (second favorite team) have pulled a stunt like the teams/athletes above.  I know there are other athletes and teams that have shown the same kind of disrespect, but this few I have listed gives you a good idea as to my stance on their actions.

It doesn’t matter

To me, it doesn’t matter which athlete, which team or which sport is involved. Keep in mind, I am a long time Seahawks fan, through thick and thin. I was at their first game, in Seattle at the King Dome. I have been a fan ever since, until now.

I’m not say these athletes don’t have the right to protest, I’m saying they don’t have the right to infringe on my right to a relaxing, drama free, sporting event. Protest on your own time in an appropriate place and in an appropriate manner. I understand what these athletes are protest, and I agree it is an issue to protest. It is being done in the wrong manner.

Owners wake up!

To the owners of sport teams, you have a right to stop these athletes protesting at the start of the game. You have a right to make them stand in a respectful way.  Read the contract you and your athletes signed. Unless you agree with their form of protest, I’m not taking the actual issue, you do have the right to make them stop. The athletes are on your dime, your time, while they are committing these disgusting disrespectful actions towards our flag, National Anthem and our country, the United States of America.

R martin

Patriot Day–Day of Remembrance

To day is a day of remembrance. Fifteen years ago we, the United States of America was attacked with great magnitude. The attack changed our lives, our sense of security and our thoughts.

Remember the fallen, our fellow citizens, law enforcement, firefighters, medical responders, private citizens at ground level trying to help and those private citizens at work and those in the towers for whatever reason.

This is our country, we were attacked on our soil. Do not forget this day, remember it, pray it does not happen again, pray for the family and friends of those we as a country lost, pray we can come together as a country to better ourselves and to better our country the United States of America.

We were attacked because of what this nation stands for; the good and the bad. Keep our fallen in your hearts, thoughts and prayers as we move forward to make change, to strengthen the good and to better the bad.

We were attacked on our soil bringing us into WW II, we came together as a nation and for decades we strived to be a better united nation. Let 9/11 be the fuel to strive once again to be a better united nation.

Remember, “United we stand, divided we fall”.

Respect our nation, our flag, our pledge and our anthem. Respect our country even during protests, make it non-violent, make it about all the people, but…  RESPECT our country, symbols and etiquette designed to bring this country together and which represent those that have served so that we may have freedoms in the United States.

R martin

Sports vs Protests–Politics

There is no place in sporting events for politics including making statements either verbal or via actions.

I for one, do not tune into a game of any sport to watch a protest. I want to watch the game, it being baseball, basketball, football, tennis, golf, car racing, it doesn’t matter, I’m not there to watch a protest.

This is the United States of America, you have the freedom to choose, so choose the correct agenda, the correct words and the correct actions.

For those of you athletes who recent chose a sporting event to “voice” your protest by sitting or kneeling for the National Anthem, you have disrespected this country, sports fans and me.

I don’t want to hear about your issues, I don’t want to hear what you are protesting, I don’t want to hear what you stand for, you lost that opportunity by disrespecting my country and me!

Wrong agenda folks!

If an athlete wants to make a statement, they need to do it on their time, not mine.  I paid money to watch the game! The average person cannot go to work and stand in protest no matter the issue (excluding work related issues or stances such as a strike). So what makes these athletes feel the have the right to stage a protest at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a game?  They don’t! It’s called lack of respect for the spectators, lack of respect for other athletes and lack of respect for the sport and the opportunity they are give to play said sport.

These protesting athletes think they have the right to interrupt my time to relax and enjoy a sporting event, they think they have the right to force their issues upon me.  They don’t! These athletes are teaching people it is okay to disrespect others.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I disagree with their plight, I’m saying there is an appropriate time and place, choose it wisely. Forcing their issues/cause does not make me want to listen and side or help them, it makes me want to tune them out until the sporting event begins. And in some cases, I will/have get up and walk out.

Protest in a positive way!

I agree we all have the freedom to protest, to air our opinions and our grievances but do it in a positive manner. If you give a speech cussing and belittling people, you will not get as much support as you would if done in a positive manner.  Think of it as a debate or giving an oral report. You are trying to persuade people to side with you and take up your cause. Positive actions create positive feedback and supporters. Negative actions create anger, bad feelings, less support and it distracts from your “fight” to bring about change in a positive way.

If your group of protesters start a riot, the riot becomes the issue, not the reason for protest. If your protest is forced upon someone, they will not support you, they will be angered by your actions.

Be respectful!

If you as a protest are respectful, more people will listen you and the facts you state. Don’t lie, or twist the facts to your benefit, respect your audience enough to be straight forward and honest. Your actions as well as your words, need to be respectful to everyone involved; fellow protesters as well as your audience.

A protest does not give anyone the right to be disrespectful. Is it common to be disrespectful? Yes, unfortunately even more so than it was five years ago. Do not disrespect traditions, protocols (such as standing and placing your right hand over your heart for the national anthem and pledge of allegiance), if you are out of the country or at an event where another country’s anthem is playing, be respectful and stand.

Think about it!

If someone approaches you to discuss an issue, a new law, better pay, equal rights, etc. who are you going to actually stop and listen too?  The person that is yelling and screaming obscenities, the person who is being disrespectful to you or your country or the person that calmly, politely explains their plight? I for one, will listen respectfully to the person that is respectful and polite.

Teach respect!

One of the major issues this country has right now is the lack of respect for individuals and their rights. Violence promotes more violence, be the “bigger man” don’t cuss back, stay calm, be respectful. People will accomplish more by showing respect, being calm and being polite. Others will learn from your actions. If you want people to treat you with respect, shouldn’t you show them respect?

Respectfully,

R martin