Sedition Or Free Speech?

A few days ago, four U.S. Representatives and two U.S. Senators, including Arizona's popular Senator Mark Kelly, released a video telling U.S. military members to "refuse to follow illegal orders." They didn't say what orders those may be. They didn't even tell our military members they need to be very careful and be sure an order is illegal before they refuse to follow it. They said "We've got your back."

The military Oath of Enlistment includes the statement "I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me." The oath itself doesn't mention anything about legal or illegal orders. That topic is covered The average military member, particularly enlisted members, have no idea what orders from their superiors might be illegal. What these elected officials don't say is that if a service member refuses to follow an order because he/she believes it to be illegal, they'd better be 100% sure, because they're likely to face court martial, where they'll have to prove the order was illegal.

The six elected officials say "We've got your back." No, they don't. Not one of them will be present during a court martial of someone who refuses an order. Not one.

Of course, the six elected officials say they were merely exercising their First Amendment rights. But is that accurate considering what they said?

Merriam Webster defines sedition as "incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority."  The six elected officials were careful to use the words "illegal orders," but the purpose of the video was to turn the military against the President, which is the very definition of sedition. The punishment for seditious behavior by civilians is up to 20 years in prison. Military members can be executed if convicted of sedition. That's the law.

President Trump published a couple of things about it on Truth Social. He said "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He's correct about the punishment for military members. Democrats in DC and the left-wing media immediately began saying "Trump wants to kill his opposition!!" Of course that's untrue and a gross exaggeration of what Trump said. But the affect on the leftists and Trump haters was immediate. Democrat representatives said this morning they talked to the Sargeant of Arms to "insure nothing happens to those six members." Apparently they think Trump has put out a hit squad or something. They're ridiculous. 

Trump also said "It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand - We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET."

I must agree. They should all be arrested and charged. The former military officers like Mark Kelly can actually be called back to active duty and be court martialed. Then they can try to explain how their words were not intended to turn the military against the President.

Thoughts on the Superbowl Halftime Controvery

I don't watch football - haven't for at least three decades. So I don't really care about the Superbowl or its halftime show. But it seems to me that after the NFL began winning back fans when they put a stop to players disrespecting our national anthem and our flag, hiring an entertainer who is going to perform the entire show in Spanish, when only 14% of Americans speak the language, will only push people away again.

I am fully aware that Bad Bunny is an American citizen, being from Puerto Rico. I know it well. I lived there for four years and spoke Spanish fairly fluently by the time I left. I loved it there, and would have stayed if my job would have promoted me within. But to get that next promotion I had to leave.

I loved the beautiful Isla del Encanto... the people, the beaches, the food, and yes... even the music. I joined several "parrandas," a musical celebration of Christmas, while there. But I was immersed in the culture and lifestyle. I guarantee the large majority of Superbowl fans haven't experienced that. Many don't know where Puerto Rico is, let alone that it's a U.S. territory and the citizens are Americans. Even some law enforcement officials don't know that.

I wish Goodell luck with his choice, although I believe it may hurt the league rather than help. Superbowl fans might actually like the music if he sings. The Latin music from the island, particularly salsa and merengue, are catchy and fun. It can make you dance involuntarily. There are also pop stars like Ricky Martin, Olga Tañon, Ednita Nazario, Menudo, and others, whose music is easy on the ears, even if you don't understand the words. I bought one of Ednita Nazario's CDs while I lived there. I still have it someplace.

If Bad Bunny spends the entire show rapping I think overall the show will fail with average fans of the game. The average American has little interest in Spanish language rap. 

In the words of the great Dennis Miller... "Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."

Will The Hatred Increase?

It appears the exploding Tesla truck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas was an intentional detonation. The truck was loaded with firework mortars and fuel cannsters and appears to have been detonated by the driver. The truck was rented through the same app as the truck in New Orleans. 

In comments on various articles about the incident, people are saying "This is a perfect example of what's going to happen with Trump in office." These comments could come from either side. Trump haters and leftists in general believe Trump's presidency will be evil, and possibly violent. They blame Trump himself.

Trump supporters understand that any violence directed at the Trump administration, and the U.S. in general, will come from two major sources... American leftists and radical Islam. Leftists hate Trump because he stands for everything they hate: pro-life, free speech, two genders, protection of women from sexually confused men, legal immigration, etc. Muslims hate him because he doesn't tolerate their violence - he eliminates it. ISIS all but disappeared under Trump, only to resurge under the Biden administration.

I personally believe in the next four years America will see a large increase of open hatred from the left, directed at Trump and his supporters. From left-wing politicians to the obviously hate-filled left-wing media, this country, in my opinion, is going to be more divided than ever... and likely more violent. I hope I'm wrong... but the left's response to Trump's reelection, so far, seems to point in that direction.