Before joining the military, a person should be fully aware of what they’re getting themselves into. Joining the military could either haunt a person for the rest of their lives or give the person courage along the way. People should step back before they proceed forward when making a life changing decision like this because realizing that they’ve made a mistake already in, could cause a lot of problems for them in the future with the military and the U.S. government.
Ehren Watada joined the U.S. army at first with enthusiasm to defend his country against terrorism, but then refused to fight, taking a moral stand. He would not take part as a soldier in combat, breaking his eight year contract in which he had only served two thus far with the U.S. army. He now faces possibly seven years of jail time for questioning the purpose of the war in Iraq and President Bush’s decision.
It’s incredible to see righteous actions of one person challenging the government. The accusations brought against him came from a speech he gave to defend his reasons why he wouldn't fight. Watada’s voice isn’t as loud to reach a revolutionary stance for the government, but it has done something to trigger the government’s reaction because they have limited his free speech. If they entitled him to the full free speech he deserves, it might cause a wayward United States. I guess that’s just the way things have to be in this country.
If they did allow total free speech, words would turn into stronger words of opposition, which would then make the U.S. result in a violent, uncivilized society.
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This is a tricky one, I think that she shouldn't be punish for speaking his mind BUT in the other hand he did take the oath which means you represent the United States Army (and the country, sorry I can't think of the entire thing right now). You sign a contract and you are expected to oblige by it. If you change your mind in the middle of your service because you think it's wrong all of the sudden they are still under contract and if you break it, you face the repercussions like everyone else regardless if it's a moral reason or not. I give him credit for standing up what he believes in, but it will come with a price, like all things but I won't get into that now. :)
Now, this situation would have been a totally different response if this were a soldier who got drafted, but he volunteered.
The reason he's facing 7 years is for breaking a contract I think and not so much speaking out against the war. But speaking out against the war I don't think he'd get 7 years, maybe reprimanded, maybe a dishonorable discharge for serious cases or someone who wants to just be a jerk to people, but I'm not 110% sure on it...you might want to check out the code of conduct book or something. But yeah I'm rambling now so I'll stop. :)
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http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/npsm18
actually, the 7 years penalty to his disloyalty is for breaking his military contract and for breaking his loyalty to the nation. The military could have just discharged him, but since his words of defense went against the government further penalties were added to his case.
i never considered to think about the war from a soldier's point of view.
i agree that ehren watada should be penalized because he did take an oath. if he wasn't prepared to follow through on that oath, he should have never taken it.
its part of the responsibility that comes with becoming a soldier and serving our country. I think he should be penalized, but not by imprisonment because i wouldn't consider his negligence to follow through on an oath to be a crime.
What do you prospose should be his punishment then? Refusing to do a job isn't a crime, but it's a reason to get fired. He faces imprisionment because of his opposing words against the war in Iraq. That's what he's being charged for.
He's not being penalized for speaking out, he's being penalized for being a coward. Why would you enlist in the military if you are not ready to fight the war? That's what a military does. Ehren Watada is a coward and ought to have his citizenship taken away and banished for such treachery. If every single American soldier did what Watada did, it would not be okay. This country will fall into Bin Laden's hands again. What he did is not okay and he should be punished accordingly. He's being charged for refusing to go to war when he's deployed, not free speech.
It's not just a job, he signed a contract with the military.