RANGER AGAINST WAR: We Happy Band of Brothers -- Not <

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

We Happy Band of Brothers -- Not

I didn't start a war. Nobody died
--Rafael Nadal
, on putting his loss to
100th ranked Rosol into perspective

_________________

The Tallahassee Democrat ran an article 9 July about the fraternity to be found at the local Post No. 13 of the American Legion (Veterans Helping Veterans). Of course, in order to feel the love, one needs to be accepted as a member of that brotherhood, which Ranger was not.

He expressed his consternation with his exclusion from the group in a response, which the paper did not publish; we will do so here:

Dear ed.,

Though the American Legion performs many charitable acts for veterans, the group is not the all-inclusive "band of brothers" the writer portrayed.

This veteran had a different experience with our local American Legion Chapter.

The Executive Committee, in secret session, rejected my application for membership. As a retired U.S. Army officer and Vietnam veteran who receives Combat Related Special Compensation for 100% VA disability, one would think I would qualify for membership in this congressionally-chartered veterans organization.

The local chapter refused to explain their decision to me in either verbal or written form. Off the record, a member expressed to me that my anti-war stance was the cause of their decision. Freedom of speech -- the thing we combat vets put our lives on the line for -- was being sanctioned in their dismissal of my application.

I believe the bible and the Constitution are not entwined. I am not homophobic and do not hew to a hard right-wing political view, all of which are contrary to the prevailing notions of what a servicemember should believe according to fraternal organizations like the American Legion. I believe our nation's strength lies in democratic thought.

Like all veterans -- but not all American Legion executives -- I fought for my freedom to dissent.

Dissent is not unpatriotic.

--James Hruska

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6 Comments:

Blogger Ghost Dansing said...

nice letter Jim.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 5:27:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is your VFW chapter like?

Jay in N.C.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 10:03:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Jay,
i don't know about the VFW.
I only wanted to join the Am Leg. b/c i hang out at a coffee shop co-located with their lodge.
jim

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 8:35:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger FDChief said...

The Legion has a pretty long and nasty history of being a bunch of Yankee Doodle Brownshirts, jim. I doubt you would have liked it there, anyway.

Just sayin'...

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 1:57:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

Chief,
the only reason i want membership is to use their shitter, which is ALWAYS cleaner than that of the coffee shop.
i feel that i've earned the right to shit in a red/white/blue environment.
jim

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 3:47:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger FDChief said...

Well, I've always felt that the Legion was shit, so, there.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 6:30:00 PM GMT-5  

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