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Geer Comments On Firing From @Stake
dwbryson writes "Last week Dan Geer, co-author of the CCIA Microsoft security report, was fired from @stake for expressing 'values and opinions [of the report] not in line with @stake's views.' Now Geer has been talking to eWeek and comments on his dismissal."
I spent 8 years in the USAF. I completely disagree with that statement.
It might be worth stressing that US military members do give up many of the rights they have sworn to protect. They becomes something other than a US citizen. But they do have certain rights and duties.
You, as a member of the US military, are not allowed to attend political events or make political comments in uniform. Doing so would imply an official position of the US military. But you are (or at least should be - I certainly was through my career) encouraged to take part in the political process. That includes being involved in legal political activity, holding a personal opinion of our political leaders, and voting - be it for or against a sitting president.
Go ahead. Hold the opinion that Bush is a moron. Devote some of your off duty time to campaign against his office. Get up in front of people and state your opinion without rank or tittle.
But he is still Commander in Chief and you will follow all lawfull orders coming from his office.
One final comment - just because you are in the military, it does not excuse you from the duty of having your own mind. I'm not sure what branch you are in but in my training the concept of a lawfull order was stressed again and again. One is required and duty bound to review all orders given by superiors and ensure that they are, in fact, lawfull orders. In short, one is responsible for one's own actions.
I had a few superiors in my military career that seemed to forget this concept. They took every utterance of a political leader on CNN as both as binding as an order and a personal guide to their own opinions. These are the ones I most fear. Thankfully they were few and far between.