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Stolen Valor - a crime or free speech?

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!, May 12, 2011.

  1. Stitch

    Stitch Active Member

    Sterner is making an emotional argument instead of a legal argument. I think the vast majority of the population agrees that claiming you've been awarded medals or have military experience is horrible. Sterner, though, is wrong when he said those who "steal valor" claim it with impunity. They don't.

    As a society, we can shun these people by not employing them, not renting apartments to them, refusing to do business in any fashion with them. Shunning should be practiced more in our society. It's an effective tool for those who the free-market to reign supreme.
     
  2. three_bags_full

    three_bags_full Well-Known Member

    I roll my eyes every time someone tells me, "I was in the Special Forces."
     
  3. YankeeFan

    YankeeFan Well-Known Member

    Idiot:

     
  4. bydesign77

    bydesign77 Active Member

    So when he got the picture in the flight deck, was the plane on the ground? Cause you don't have to sweet talk then. But if it's in the air, there are a hella lot implications there

    Either way, what a douche.
     
  5. YankeeFan

    YankeeFan Well-Known Member

    The Navy has stripped the Silver Star from Wade Sanders:

    So, who's Wade Sanders?

    He's just the guy that vouched for the veracity of John Kerry's war stories in the face of criticism from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. He also introduced him at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

    Sort of calls into question his defense of Kerry.

    Oh, and he's in jail for possession of child porn:

    Sounds like a swell guy.
     
  6. DanOregon

    DanOregon Well-Known Member

    the phrase "protecting the integrity of military medals" made me laugh. If somebody claims a medal for monetary gain? Charge them with fraud.

    Hell - do we charge everyone who went along with awarding Pat Tillman a Silver Star?
     
  7. three_bags_full

    three_bags_full Well-Known Member

    The Department of Defense Ethics Regulation specifically prohibits service members from flying in first class while in uniform.
     
  8. three_bags_full

    three_bags_full Well-Known Member

    As someone who has been awarded two valorous medals (Air Medals with valor), I don't laugh at the phrase at all. In fact, I take it pretty fucking seriously.
     
  9. YankeeFan

    YankeeFan Well-Known Member

    Wade Sanders Silver Star seems pretty odd on its face.

    He got it upgraded from a Bronze Star while working at the DoD in 1992.

    TBF, is that anywhere near normal? It was long after the fact.
     
  10. three_bags_full

    three_bags_full Well-Known Member

    Sounds a little fishy to me.
     
  11. DanOregon

    DanOregon Well-Known Member

    I have total respect for you - medals or no medals. Anyone and everyone who serves in the military deserves respect - I've read too many stories about service members denied certain medals and others who were awarded them for dubious purposes (LBJ comes to mind - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/jul/06/internationaleducationnews.humanities. I have a bigger problem with people with authority undermining the value of medals than I do some hopeless idiot.
     
  12. three_bags_full

    three_bags_full Well-Known Member

    It's not about respect for me, and I hope I didn't come off sounding like I was fishing for a compliment. It's about respect for the system and protecting its integrity.
     
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