In an impassioned and at times furious speech, departing Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley defiantly proclaimed that the US military does not swear an oath to a “wannabe dictator.”
It was a bitter and pointed swipe that appeared unmistakably targeted at former President Donald Trump, who has in recent days accused Milley of “treason” and suggested that he should be put to death for his conduct surrounding Trump’s bid in 2021 to remain in office despite losing the presidential election.
“We are unique among the world’s militaries,” Milley said. “We don’t take an oath to a country, we don’t take an oath to a tribe, we don’t take an oath to a religion. We don’t take an oath to a king, or a queen, or a tyrant or a dictator.”
So… if they don’t swear an oath to a country, to whom are they sworn?
The Constitution…
United States Army Oath of Enlistment
“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God”
and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me
They may not swear an oath to him, but they do swear to follow his orders.
Does no one remember Captain John Sheridan?
Do not follow illegal orders.
I think about the overall “President Clark” scenario a lot more these days, after the last former president.
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While I question the intelligence of the MAGA crowd as well, I feel like I have to constantly remind people that the other half of the people who would vote for him are really voting against neoliberalism, even tho they can’t describe it as such.
They’ll say globalism, they might even take a swipe at wall street or corporations. NAFTA, “Elites” etc etc.
They’re struggling just like everyone else due to late stage capitalism and they don’t care how it ends, just that it does.
Mind you theyre also statistically white and think they’ll be in the in group when our money becomes less valuable than toilet paper and weather it all fine, which is delusional.
There’s the haves and the have nots. Even security for the rich, after the walls fell, will still be servants, not equals.
I say all this so those inclined can see there is actually a good amount of material we all agree on, and if you can approach it without instigating their pearl clutch reflex, some can even be brought into the light.
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That’s not a solution and you know it. I feel ya my man, I do.
You don’t need sympathy for them. You don’t need to forgive anyone for them - you do that shit for yourself, so you’ll be free of the negativity of their weight and move forward clear of them.
Don’t let them define the limits of your virtues. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are (which is essentially the same thing). That’s for you to tell them.
Most are probably a lost cause. Not all, for sure. Look at them like you would a wounded animal and for reasons we don’t know they blame us. It’s much easier to understand and anticipate, therefore mitigate the pain they’re choosing to propagate. But over generations…we can teach their children tolerance. And patience. Hence their war on education (the ones showing up at PTA meetings, not the ones trying to loot the budget).
I’m one of the first to respond to fascist violence with violence. Fighting nazis is a great family tradition of mine, going back 80 years. I’m no Gandhi, MLK. I’m much more aligned with Malcolm and Hampton. I’ll let the Gandhi’s have the mic and lead from the ideals, but while theyre sheparding the high road, I’m defending on the low road.
I say that because if the answer is to just damn half the population, then you’ve got to put more effort into your answer. Or just do what I do, which is let others more eloquent elucidate. I don’t need to sway anyone’s opinions, hell sometimes I’m the last person who should have the mic. Knowing this is a strength, not a weakness.
What I do know is that Hate isn’t the way. Every spiritual or moral teacher in history has said the same thing. But I don’t need hate to fight, simply resignation to the task at hand, like putting down a wounded animal. If anything it makes me more cognizant in the moment.
