- Joined
- Oct 15, 2017
- Messages
- 6,772
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
I think that means that if you want to say something or do something (make a sign with your hand) to express yourself, you are free to do that. If you are peaceably assembled (say, at a football game) when you exercise that freedom, I think that all the conditions have been met.
Now, if you're in the uniformed service of our nation, it is an entirely different matter (at least to me). Members of all branches of our military are held to a higher standard of professionalism. This is how it should be. Were I an officer there at the time, I would have had a conversation with the cadet(s) involved and told them in no uncertain terms that they were not to do things like that in public. Actually, they should already know that, so my ire with them would be justifiably serious. Would I have punished them or seen to it that they were punished? No. I think that my talk with them (along with their immediate superiors) would be punishment enough, and that would be that.
I think that means that if you want to say something or do something (make a sign with your hand) to express yourself, you are free to do that. If you are peaceably assembled (say, at a football game) when you exercise that freedom, I think that all the conditions have been met.
Now, if you're in the uniformed service of our nation, it is an entirely different matter (at least to me). Members of all branches of our military are held to a higher standard of professionalism. This is how it should be. Were I an officer there at the time, I would have had a conversation with the cadet(s) involved and told them in no uncertain terms that they were not to do things like that in public. Actually, they should already know that, so my ire with them would be justifiably serious. Would I have punished them or seen to it that they were punished? No. I think that my talk with them (along with their immediate superiors) would be punishment enough, and that would be that.