THE PLACE WHEREYOU PAY FOR FREE SPEECH: THE MARINES

Sgt. Gary Stein

A Marine with ten years of service decided to use Facebook as a platform for sharing his negative opinions of his Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama.  The postings were against military regulations and he had been given many warnings which he, apparently, chose to ignore even going so far to saying that he refused to follow any orders that meant they violated the rights of American citizens.  Sgt Stein had put a disclaimer on Facebook that his opinions, which included calling President Obama an enemy, were his own.  He has since apologized to President Obama and says he wishes he had expressed his views differently,   He says he wishes he could take it back and his hope is to get into talk radio.  That surely seems like a place where you can say just about anything derogatory about anyone and there is no penalty...Rush Limbaugh is still living proof of that as one example.  To read more about his trial and case which ended with him being a less that honorable discharge, click here.

His is a sad story.  He is being discharged without benefits.  Having just been diagnosed with a throat disease, I wonder if that means that he has no right to VA treatment.  If so, where will he be able to get treatment other than out of pocket fees, which he may not be able to do?

Beth Ford Roth wrote an article on the day of his discharge,m 4/25/12.He is discharged with 'other than honorable discharge'.  People do not realize the power of speech for good and useful use or for destructive use.  Just as we are not permitted to yell fire (if there isn't one) in a theater, there really are other instances when our 'free speech' is not free.  When one opens themselves up to slander charges in court is another.  No law can substitute for good judgment, tact, compassion.