I didn't misunderstand, and I apologize if I was unclear. I do not begrudge this woman for her opinions. In fact, I applaud her for speaking her mind in the United States, where you are supposed to be able to speak your mind without fear of retribution for your opinions. I think it's disgusting she was fired, that is not what I fight for. I fight for her right to speak her mind, to criticize me. I am a public servant, she is a member of the public, her taxes pay my salary. She has the right to speak her mind. I am not offended, or hurt, by her criticisms. I have suffered and endured far worse, I assure you. In case it is all still unclear, I agree with you in this particular case.

Many of my above points where to disprove the myth that the military somehow reaps great monetary benefits by simply being military. I should not be given such leniencies, but nor should college students, firefighters, and police officers.

I am not a hero, I am not privileged, I am not a god damned messiah. I am a man, with a job, same as anyone else.

I may not agree with what she has said about the military, but I applaud her for speaking her mind, and I will give my last dying breath defending her right to speak freely without repercussions.

If she was working for the military, I can somewhat understand being fired- nobody likes being badmouthed by their employees.

Welcome to Eagleland!

Right, so if you want to keep the job that feeds your family, you better not have an opinion!

She's right.. The troops are the biggest welfare queens out there.

And this is why I never post anything political on my Facebook (... though I don't post on my Facebook profile at all).

The way I see this is we all have bigoted and other such thoughts at one point or another for some reason or another heck I know i've thought and said things that would get me in trouble in the wrong company. If you wanna say it fine its you're right to do so but don't come crying when people who don't agree with your views get pissed at you.

For example look at it from the perspective of the employer. If one of your staff is posting all over the internet they hate the army in a 3 page essay or making raical slurs what are you going to do? I know i'd fire their ass despite the fact some of their thoughts may or may not have crossed my mind at some point or another because it could effect mine and my family's lively-hood. It may seem hypocritical to some but I see it as just thinking about the consquences of what you say before you say it. You wanna say what you want whenever you want fine thats your right but don't expect no come-back when you plaster it over the internet for millions of people to see. Use a little god damned tact FFS.

Dear GraniteSoldier

If you read my OP what I clearly said was I dislike ANY institution that sets itself as being exempt from all critical commentary(be it the military- US or UK-, the State of Israel, the Church of Rome, the religion of Islam, the late unlamented USSR to name but a few). Yes, Meaghan May's unflattering Facebook posts about the US armed forces may have offended some, but surely if the military cannot take some criticism(fair or unfounded) then one wonders how they can put up with the rigours of combat. Yes, military service even in formal peacetime is a risky business but given that the armed forces(at least in a Western democracy) exist to protect our freedom(including freedom of expression one assumes), I feel that it should at least cut its critics some slack!

Terry

You don't like the military? Cool beans for you. You may not like me, but I will fight till my last breath defending your right to not like me.

As for these so-called "freebies" civilians talk about, allow me to drop some knowledge if you would indulge me. My college ID netted me bigger discounts overall than my military ID does now. My father-in-law is a firefighter, and he gets the same discounts, sometimes better if he's saved that particular business from a fire, as I do. Again, still not as much as my college ID netted when I was working on my degree.

Should this woman have been fired? Abso-f*ckin-lutely not. It is her right to speech as an American citizen. Her private opinions, and private life, should have no impact on her professional standing.

Like I said, you may not like me. You may spit in my face. You can curse me for what I do, but I defend your right to do so and will give my last preserving your right to do so. I am no hero, I'm just a guy who goes to work.

I think the CIA is useless.

Come at me, bro!

That's...just plain bad.

This.

You are entitled to your own opinions, but watch what you say on a social network.

Some things can piss people off, and it can hurt the business you work for.

People should be allowed to post their opinions as they damn well please. What a pathetic situation. The fact that if this is true. But its not the first time we have heard about something like this and won't be the last.

What was her job?

I am not saying this was a fair decision, that her employer made...it wasnt. But, if you work in the private industry (not sure of the employment circumstances in this instance), and not a city, county or state sponsered organization; you are subject to their, sometimes, very biased rules of conduct. If they felt she was misrepresenting their organization; they did, unfortunately, have the right to terminate her employment. When working in the private industry, it is important to be careful what you post online, espeically if there is no anonymity. Like i said, it was a $&!t call, but it was their's to make. I do feel bad for Ms. Mays, though.

In regards to the various opinions on the US Military; people are allowed to feel however they want.

If your company can monitor your social media then you should be careful what you post. Freedom of speech keeps you out of prison it doesn't guarantee employment.

Glad I don't have a Facebook account. I'd be in prison for my opinions.

-200000000000000 faith points in humans

Freedom of speech, nope.

Freedom of Speech is practically dead in the U.S. anyway.

A person can't criticize the government, their boss or anyone who isn't white and male.

A sign of the times if ever there was one, by all means have opinions just keep them to yourself.

Land of the free

I get what you are saying and I agree. I think its in large part due to how media and the US goverment is painting up the military.