ASB: “I think it defrauds those who have actually earned the right to wear those ribbons. “
That’s why I made the point about causing veterans (of which I’m one) discomfort. Sorry, but I don’t think it should be a crime to offend someone.
This is a slippery slope. The US Constitution is either the law of the land, or it’s not. You can’t go about subverting constitutional protections in one case (that you think is worthy) and then start complaining about ignoring it in other cases.
As I wrote, the burden should ALWAYS be on the state, not the individual, to prove something isn’t a protected right. If in doubt, I side with liberty. That sometimes includes allowing things I personally disagree with, because it’s in the greater good of limiting the state’s power.
I agree with you on equal protection under the law. Look at the thread asking if Muslims should be allowed to become U.S. Citizens.
But in this case, I think there is authority under the U.S. Constitution for Congress to forbid the wearing of ribbons and medals unless actually earned.
The U.S. Congress is the authority when it comes to the Federal Armed Forces. The Constitution gives them this authority under Article I, Section 8:
To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;
Under this authority, Congress has the right to regulate who can wear specific ribbons. This also gives them the authority to say who cannot wear the specific ribbons.
As I said, bragging and shooting your mouth off is not of concern. But the actual wearing of the ribbon does fall under the authority of the laws of Congress under the Constitution.
At least that’s my view of it.
That’s why I made the point about causing veterans (of which I’m one) discomfort. Sorry, but I don’t think it should be a crime to offend someone.
Unfortunately, many of these knuckleheads make disparaging remarks about the armed forces.
Remember Jesse MacBeth? He washed out of Army Basic Training, went home and became the star of a newspaper article when he described his exploits as an Airborne Ranger. He became the toast of the anti military crowd. He claimed that his team would grab entire families and kill them one by one until the got the information they wanted. Journalists and communist groups repeated MacBeth's claims without any attempt to verify the info. He was finally busted when real Rangers investigated his claims and exposed him as a fraud. He was never punished for his slander, but he did a few years for receiving VA benefits through fraud.
How about Scott Beuchamp? He was a journalist who joined in order to lend credibility to his hit pieces against the American Military in "The New Republic" online magazine under a pseudo-name. In his articles he claimed to have worn a child's skull as a hat, mocked a female burn victim with his buddies in the DFAC and used "illegal 'square backed bullets' in his Glock." When the Army tracked him down and investigated these and other claims, they determined all of his articles were lies.
These jokers, and others who denigrate American war-fighters, not only tarnish the reputation of true Soldiers, they also give ammunition to America's enemies both foreign and domestic.
Now for the reality check; if some clown in a bar spins a tall tale about humping a ruck in the mountains in Afghanistan so be it. He'll get busted sooner or later. However, if some lying weasel sits in a bar and claims he was in the Army's super secret squirrel corp, and his team killed children and planted evidence to frame al Queda...that's a whole different story. He needs jail time.