Tag: Military

In the meantime we'll just keep reminding folks what a self serving donkey this guy is.  He has been no friend to Michigan, no friend to our economy, and no friend to our military.

"Recently, I wrote a blog about concerns expressed by former Professor of aerospace engineering, William Kauffman. He has asserted, and has been saying for several years now, that the University of Michigan, and other universities in the United States are transferring sensitive military technologies to Chinese Nationals who are enrolled as students.

...

According to a report just issued by the U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION, "Chinese military writings advocate attacks on space-to ground communications links and ground-based satellite control facilities in the event of a conflict. The report noted that in [two] instances, "The responsible party achieved all steps required to command the satellite but did not issue commands."  "

Of course if all they want to do is pirate the NBC broadcast of 'Parks and Rec'  then "so what?"

Last year's Michigan Supreme Court race featured a fairly clear choice between rule-of-law judges and empathy judges.  The former discern the law and apply it as they find it; the latter rule based on personal whim and feeling, contorting the law to fit their preordained results.  

Sometimes, the rule of law is painful to watch, but it is in these moments when it is most needed.  Judges don't get to make only the easy calls; they have to make tough, occasionally excruciating decisions.  This is the situation that confronted the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Snyder v Phelps, the anxiosly awaited First Amendment case addressing picketing by the Westboro Baptist Church.  The Court issued its opinion today, available here.

Here are the facts, from the case syllabus:

For the past 20 years, the congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church has picketed military funerals to communicate its belief that God hates the United States for its tolerance of homosexuality, particularly in America's military. The church's picketing has also condemned the Catholic Church for scandals involving its clergy. Fred Phelps, who founded the church, and six Westboro Baptist parishioners (all relatives of Phelps) traveled to Maryland to picket the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq in the line of duty. The picketing took place on public land approximately 1,000 feet from the church where the funeral was held, in accordance with guidance from local law enforcement officers. The picketers peacefully displayed their signs--stating, e.g., "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "Fags Doom Nations," "America is Doomed," "Priests Rape Boys," and "You're Going to Hell"--for about 30 minutes before the funeral began. Matthew Snyder's father (Snyder), petitioner here, saw the tops of the picketers' signs when driving to the funeral, but did not learn what was written on the signs until watching a news broadcast later that night.

Snyder filed a diversity action against Phelps, his daughters--who participated in the picketing--and the church (collectively Westboro) alleging, as relevant here, state tort claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, intrusion upon seclusion, and civil conspiracy. A jury held Westboro liable for millions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages. Westboro challenged the verdict as grossly excessive and sought judgment as a matter of law on the ground that the First Amendment fully protected its speech. The District Court reduced the punitive damages award, but left the verdict otherwise intact. The Fourth Circuit reversed, concluding that Westboro's statements were entitled to First Amendment protection because those statements were on matters of public concern, were not provably false, and were expressed solely through hyperbolic rhetoric.

Held: The First Amendment shields Westboro from tort liability for its picketing in this case.

Watch this video until the very end as it has a significant message at the end for all of us - no matter where we live.

God Bless the USA and our mighty men and women of the military who fight the good fight EVERY day.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in comments.

I'm looking to get one of the OH-58s from my unit to do a static display.

Thousands of National Guard volunteers, spouses, and soldiers/airmen from across the country met in Dearborn this week to learn about serving our military families.  From as far away as Alaska and Guam, these patriots are putting their families on the line to defend our freedom.  They are so proud of our country. Behind the smiles of these wonderful folks is a very real understanding of sacrafice and bittersweet pride of having a deployed soldier far from home.

Most people are not aware that after out military was gutted by Clinton in the 1990's, we have had to rely very heavily on National Guard units to fight the war on terror (or whatever they are calling it these days).  But there are actually very few who answer the call to service in our military. It has been equated to taking one person and standing them on the 50-yard line of a packed U of M stadium, tying one hand behind their back, and giving them the charge of defending everyone in the stadium.  

Our National Guard and Air Guard leave their jobs, school, and their families to answer the call again and again.  I am so proud to be a soldier's wife. For all of you who support the Guard and their families in big and small ways, Thank you!