Anybody who has served in the military knows that Article 34 and possibly others can pretty much get you thrown out for nearly anything. I was counseled for a potential article for getting a sunburn prior to an obligatory Jump Tower training exercise. So, like a good little paratrooper, I took extra strength Tylenol and yelled a little louder.
I can’t really relate as I didn’t have time to buck anything, let alone be political, when I was in.
But I just can’t take “Screw Obama” as anything worthy of kicking somebody out. I find it laughable and capricious.
Say it was in 2003, and the Marine had said “Screw Bush”. Or if it was the Civil war and he had said “Screw Lincoln”.
>But I just can’t take “Screw Obama” as anything worthy of kicking somebody out. I find it laughable and capricious.
It underscores a way of thinking that, sadly, is VERY entrenched into people’s minds. (Laughable and capricious is a GREAT descriptor.)
It has to do, ultimately, with authority; allow me to illustrate with “the law.”
New Mexico has the following in its Constitution:
Art II, Sec 6, No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms.
There are, however, big signs saying “No Firearms, violators will be prosecuted” on the state, county & municipal courthouses. There is no actual statute regarding this, and EVEN IF THERE WAS it would be in violation of Art II, Sec 6. (County and municipal courthouses doubly because of the second sentence.)
Now, what would happen if I were to open carry into the municipal courthouse? I would be arrested and charged.
But under what authority? The authority of “DO AS I SAY! I HAVE A GUN!” obviously, as the state’s legislature, nor the county, nor the city has the legitimate authority to make (or enforce) such a policy.
I bring this up because it’s not [just] about the law; it’s about power. It’s about control. It’s about the appearance of authority without the legitimacy.
*THAT* is why the laws are so complex, convoluted, and given to arbitrary enforcement.
Lots of things are. Defining what is and isn't detrimental to 'good order and discipline' will never be a sergeant's job. Ignoring 'counseling' for an apparently capricious reason is the reason this guy got bounced. He got what he wanted, and will likely get the OTH upgraded to a general but for a good while he'll be screwed. The Corps isn't a debating society.