Monday, September 26, 2016

Navy sailor joins Kaepernick

Facts For Working People  commends this sailor for her courage and speaking the truth.

My fellow Americans,
I have been proudly serving in the US Navy Reserve Force since November 2008. I have pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and to spread freedom and democracy around the world. I will never waver from that pledge. On September 19,2016, while in uniform, I made the conscious decision to not stand for the Star Spangled Banner because I feel like a hypocrite, singing about "land of the free" when, I know that only applies to some Americans. I will gladly stand again, when ALL AMERICANS are afforded the same freedom. The Navy has decided to punish me for defending the Constitution and has taken away my equipment I need to do my Naval job. It was my pleasure serving my country, I love it dearly, that is why I must do this for you. I will keep you all posted on what happens next!  Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Janaye Ervin

The situation is such in the US that what Kaepernick started is beginning to worry the ruling class a little, it is spreading.  There is so much discontent in US society as the rich continue to amass fortunes as workers and the middle class are being driven to third world conditions. Student are working full time jobs while trying to make it through college. Student debt stands at around $1.2 trillion and is being passed on to parents. There are almost daily mass killings as the pressure builds up.  The austerity will continue as the US is forced to pay for its corporate wars by cutting living standards art home even deeper.

More white Americans are also joining the protests against police murders and the general beefing up of the security apparatus.  What was very worrisome for the 1% last week was that a curfew that was called in the wake of the Charlotte protests was simply ignored. Not a good sign for the ruling class.

During the Vietnam War, it was the degeneration in the military that played a role in the eventual defeat of US imperialism by the Vietnamese. Officers were assaulted and there were many publications opposing the war published among the troops. It's hard to stick out a war, to kill others and to risk one's own life when there appears to be no threat to ones way of life and you're stuck in a jungle 12,00 miles from home.

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