The Lack of Free Speech in the Military - 668 Words

As a member of the United States military, there are times that the very freedoms that are being defended are not extended to those sailors and soldiers that are in charge of that task. One of those freedoms is freedom of speech. As a veteran of the United States Navy, I find the limitation of speech for a member of the military to be contradictory at best. The very fact that members of the armed forces cannot speak freely about government officials, as well as government issues that affect their lives, seems to be controversial because it limits one of the freedoms these sailors and soldiers have vowed to protect. To oppose the right of free speech of any member of the military takes away from the importance of the job they do. It has been argued that a member of the military should be mindful of whom they work for and the chain of command that orders come from, and that any display of dissatisfaction can be seen as disobedience or even treason. I support members of the military being able to voice their thoughts on issues that impact their lives, as well as the lives of their families. There are a few reasons why I support this. Simply put, as Americans they have the right of freedom of speech. Given the responsibilities of these sailors and soldiers in their day-to-day jobs, they should be entrusted to know what to say and what not to say. Most people take for granted the right to speak one’s mind, right or wrong, and have nearly no ramifications for doing so. When oneShow MoreRelatedHate Speech And Hate Speech967 Words   |  4 PagesHate Speech: No Exceptions for Malicious Intentions As a constitutional right, people often exercise their right to freedom of speech believing that they also have the right to voice their opinions which can be provocative to opposing parties no matter where they stand. There is a defining line between what can be constituted as hate speech and free speech. Depending on the way that it is expressed, voicing an opinion can easily be misinterpreted causing certain people to feel threatened or attackedRead MoreThe Term ‘War On Terror’, First Used By George W. Bush1316 Words   |  6 Pagescitation above is commonly used as a metaphor of war to designate the international military campaign that started after the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001 and is still going on today. Even though the expression has later been rejected by the Bush administration as well as Barack Obama (Shinkman, 2013), it has since been widely used in the media to label the political and military struggle against terrorism, particularly directed against Islamic terrorist organizationsRead MoreEssay on Pericles Uplifting Speech1598 Words   |  7 PagesPericles Uplifting Speech Works Cited Not Included To stand in front of thousands; to speak the words aimed at persuading a crowd; to believe, and have them as well, a seemingly just cause - this is what a leader must do. Every era has its trouble, its own conflict, and along with it, its own leader who will do what he can to unite his followers. In 431 BC, Athens was in the midst of a war, and from that war came a speech, said by Pericles, that to this day, remains the model for any leaderRead MoreLincolns Emancipation of the Slaves Essay1334 Words   |  6 PagesProclamation speech was actually intended for most of the people that would free the slaves, not to the slaves. According to Carl Rollyson the Proclamation was not intended for the slave, blacks, or former slaves. The â€Å"Emancipation Proclamation† speech was during the Antislavery Movement or what some people call the Abolitionist Movement, during the 1860s. The main leaders of the abolitionist movement were Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas. The point of L incoln writing the speech about emancipatingRead MoreAnalysis of the Emancipation Proclamation Speech1339 Words   |  6 PagesProclamation speech was actually intended for most of the people that would free the slaves, not to the slaves. According to Rollyson the proclamation was not intended for the slave, blacks, or former slaves. The â€Å"Emancipation Proclamation† speech was during the Antislavery Movement or what some people call it the Abolitionist Movement, during the 1960s. The main leaders of the abolitionist movement were Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas. The point of Lincoln writing the speech about emancipatingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article The Fox News Network 1327 Words   |  6 Pagespolitically incorrect expression? Cultural sensitivity is becoming an increasingly popular topic in media, on college campuses, and in the military. We now live in a world where the language we use is under such scrutiny that some are discouraged from expressing their tr ue opinions for fear of being blackballed by their peers. Not only does political correctness limit free speech, it also fundamentally transforms the way we think by avoiding the topics that some simply do not want to discuss. Political correctnessRead MoreTruman Doctrine And The Policy Of The United States1311 Words   |  6 PagesHarry S. Truman once declared, It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. (Truman Doctrine, ourdocuments.gov) This quote was given by President Truman in a speech directed to Congress in hopes that they would aid his mission and goal. This doctrine, or principle, that was expressed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947, was called the Truman Doctrine. President Truman s stance was that theRead MoreThe Causes And Effects Of The Civil War1564 Words   |  7 PagesThe causes and effects of the Civil War will be defined through the institution of slav ery, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the military leadership of President Lincoln to resolve the uncompromising political position of the South/Confederacy. Lincoln’s â€Å"House Divided† speech will be an important primary source that defines the underlying resistance to the expansion of the slave states into new territories taken by the U.S. government in the 1850s. More so, the uncompromising and an increasingly militaristicRead MoreJohn Brown Speech Analysis733 Words   |  3 Pagesabolitionist fighting for rights for slaves, lead a raid of 21 armed men on the federal armory of Harpers Ferry, Virginia, which now is West Virginia. John Brown did this in attempt of freeing slaves. The raid lasted two days, and was ended by a military force lead by Robert E. Lee. Brown was later captured and sent to prison for the charges of treason. On November 2nd, 1859, Brown gave a statement to the court addressing his action. He denied all charges, and felt no guilt about his acti ons onlyRead MoreThe United States As A Foreign Power During The 19th Century1292 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1914 President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech summarized the future of American global involvement as a whole. By defining freedom as â€Å"the supremacy of human rights everywhere† (Roosevelt 22) the framework of an American global presence was established. During World War II the growing tensions and oppression of human rights became a heavy reason for involvement abroad and by allying with Great Britain to implement military power, President Roosevelt backed his idea that universal