Saying something dumb or out of line in a speech is not necessarily demonstrating disrespect toward the Commander in Chief. The mainstream liberal PC press made a mountain out of a mole-hill. They might sell more papers, or get a catchy sound bite for the news this way, but that's about it.
If every speech a military leader made were examined under a PC microscope, very few would pass muster. Free speech is alive and well in the U.S. military, something apparently the mainstream press wishes to end.
Answering the call with a "yes sir" from the Commander in Chief doesn't mean every politically incorrect opinion you have should match his precisely. They aren't politicians, they are military leaders who sometimes speak like a football coach in order to motivate and engage the young men and women under their stewardship. In this case, the general was speaking to a religious group and invoked a religious connection to the war on terror. His opinion may be shocking to some, but it's an opinion shared by many Americans. Shall we now have the press follow every military leader into every church meeting in America, in order to enforce their PC standard of conduct?
What's disturbing about this episode is to see the willingness of those in the press and elsewhere, who supposedly champion free speech rights, to desire their strict enforcement doctrine toward those in the military.
Rumsfeld, who is a straight talker, understands people have opinions which are not necessarily aligned with the Presidents and they sometimes desire to share them. Imagine our military operating in a different cultural atmosphere.
Lastly, if you haven't seen the outstanding movie made by Ted Turner "Gods and Generals', I highly recommend it. It links to this story rather interestingly and showcasts how America's religious roots as a nation, have played a role in many of our military leaders decisions. |
