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Iraq veteran, activist Tomas Young dies at 34

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TheDemSocialist

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Iraq War veteran and anti-war activist Tomas Young has died at the age of 34. One of the first to openly oppose the US-led war after being paralyzed while deployed, Young spoke to many, including RT, about why we should demand more of our leaders. RT’s Manila Chan has the interview.
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[h=1]Video @: Iraq veteran, activist Tomas Young dies at 34[/h]
RIP. A great activist who was one of the first to speak out against the War in Iraq.
 
I wonder if he had come back whole had he had the same feelings?
 
CRUE CAB said:
I wonder if he had come back whole had he had the same feelings?
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Who knows? But there are plenty of able bodied veterans with similar stances.
 
CRUE CAB said:
I respect them, but they knew when they took the oath they would perhaps face a war time situation.
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True. But people can change with life experience.
 
CRUE CAB said:
I respect them, but they knew when they took the oath they would perhaps face a war time situation.
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Yes - but that doesn't mean that they can't form an opinion in response to the government's decisions. No one says 'without question' - If anything, their opinions matter more.

Soldiers have the basic right to object to the leadership when leadership has gone too far and violated their core beliefs.

Otherwise - you have the platform for Nazi-ism where, no matter what, you have no choice and must comply. We are not a totalitarian regime, here.

Now it might violate CODE - it might bump them ranks or get them discharged, but it's still their 1st Amendment Right.
 
Kal'Stang said:
Life changes doesn't null oaths. ;)
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Did he not fulfill his oath? No oath I ever took stated I couldn't protest once I was discharged and a private citizen again.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
Yes - but that doesn't mean that they can't form an opinion in response to the government's decisions. No one says 'without question' - If anything, their opinions matter more.

Soldiers have the basic right to object to the leadership when leadership has gone too far and violated their core beliefs.

Otherwise - you have the platform for Nazi-ism where, no matter what, you have no choice and must comply. We are not a totalitarian regime, here.

Now it might violate CODE - it might bump them ranks or get them discharged, but it's still their 1st Amendment Right.
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True First Amendment means you will face no discipline for your speech or spoken opinion. So your last line is wrong.
 
Let us try to remember and respect all those who served, not just the ones we agree with.
 
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BrewerBob said:
Did he not fulfill his oath? No oath I ever took stated I couldn't protest once I was discharged and a private citizen again.
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Never said he didn't fulfill his oath or serve with honor or not. Just that every serviceman that enters the military knows that there is a chance they will find them selves in harms way.
Maybe never, maybe as soon as they get out of basic.
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
Let us try to remember and respect all those who served, not just the ones you agree with.
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I do respect him, but I also have to wonder about his motives. Personal or not. I have nephews that came back from war with real issues and injuries. They ask for and receive nothing. Other than what the VA gives in loans and education.
Then I have a couple that never were deployed anywhere outside of a state side desk and receive checks every month for various nicks and cuts. Yes that small.
 
Wasn't it Ann Coulter who found a way to berate a triple amputee? Some people really are classless.
 
CRUE CAB said:
True First Amendment means you will face no discipline for your speech or spoken opinion. So your last line is wrong.
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Why is it wrong?

A hiring and employing entity has the right to let go of employees who don't support them and who speak out against them. And those people have the right to not support those decisions and speak out against them.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
Why is it wrong?

A hiring and employing entity has the right to let go of employees who don't support them and who speak out against them. And those people have the right to not support those decisions and speak out against them.
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He wasn't let go. He was injured and discharged.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
Yes - but that doesn't mean that they can't form an opinion in response to the government's decisions. No one says 'without question' - If anything, their opinions matter more.

Soldiers have the basic right to object to the leadership when leadership has gone too far and violated their core beliefs.

Otherwise - you have the platform for Nazi-ism where, no matter what, you have no choice and must comply. We are not a totalitarian regime, here.

Now it might violate CODE - it might bump them ranks or get them discharged, but it's still their 1st Amendment Right.
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Er.... no. Once they are out, certainly. But so long as servicemembers are in, they don't get 1st Amendment rights to the extent that they use their position and experience to further political sentiment. You cannot, for example, attend a political rally in uniform, use your identity as a selling point when advocating a cause, or use your government email address to solicit donations for a candidate or party. You also are not authorized to publicly go around criticizing your chain of command in any manner likely to lead to damage to good order and discipline.

You give up part of your 1st Amendment rights when you sign the dotted line. It's part of the deal.
 
BrewerBob said:
Did he not fulfill his oath? No oath I ever took stated I couldn't protest once I was discharged and a private citizen again.
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Did I say that he couldn't protest or anything like that? I was just making on comment on what you stated, nothing more. ;)
 
CRUE CAB said:
True First Amendment means you will face no discipline for your speech or spoken opinion. So your last line is wrong.
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You give up that right when you enlist or are commissioned.
 
I remember my mom telling me, after I had already been to Iraq both in the initial invasion and then very early in the occupation, that if I went back again and died there, she'd protest it. Otherwise, she could be on board. I couldn't stop laughing: "Mom, either it's a good action or it's not, whether I die or not has nothing to do with it. I know you're gonna be emotional as hell, cause that's who you are, but at least try to be rational before you go off the rails!"
 
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