Freedom of Speech Debate: Marine Wrong About Constitution

COMMENTARY | According to the Associated Press, a U.S. Marine sergeant has come under scrutiny for posting on Facebook that he would not follow orders from president Barack Obama, the commander-in-chief.

While Sgt. Gary Stein later softened his language, his actions have sparked a debate about the freedom of speech rights of members of the military. Stein and his supporters argue that constitutional rights trump all, while others say that wearing a military uniform in any official capacity means you should not be allowed to use speech to besmirch the military or its chain of command.

I agree with those who claim that constitutional rights depend upon one's role. A member of the U.S. military should not be allowed to defame the military, for obvious reasons. In a career field where unit cohesion and trust is paramount, it is in bad form, and perhaps even damaging to safety and security, for members to be allowed to freely criticize others. Historically, poor unit cohesion and lack of trust between soldiers and officers has been a significant reason for military defeats. In World War I, for example, the Russian army was widely known for its poor morale and lack of trust and camaraderie between soldiers and officers.

Military examples aside, one's freedom of speech rights also depend on one's position of trust or leadership in society. Some people hold positions of power where they should not be allowed to say whatever they wish while in their official capacity. A government official, while on the clock, should not be given a free hand to criticize other officials and thereby sow fear and anger among the public. A teacher, such as myself, should not be able to turn the classroom into his or her political podium.

Like Stein, I myself have political opinions and would like to voice them. Unlike the scrutinized Marine, however, I only express such opinions outside my range of official duties. Making my opinions known in the classroom could cause students to tailor their writings to try and appease my grading pen, unfairly curtailing their own opinions and perhaps making me an oppressive indoctrinator. I do not wish this, nor should anyone who values the Constitution.

My freedom of speech, and that of other people who hold power and authority over others, should be curtailed on the job so that others can enjoy their own freedom of speech more freely.

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Freedom of Speech Debate: Marine Wrong About Constitution