The coronavirus pandemic has thrown the American people into high-tension mode. They have to walk a fine line standing high above a fatal fall. Americans balance caring for their families, trying to deal with the COVID-19 infestation, and worrying about their income or lack thereof. All this and a film of grief is thrust over them as 146,103 loved ones die from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Google statistics. It can make Americans feel as if they are walking through mud and getting nowhere.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump had a temporary conversion from a naked-faced sinner to a born-again masked man. Of course, he is no Lone Ranger as he claimed, no Tonto either.
A new video captured uniformed Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Sarah Dudrey after she got out of her car and started shouting at a group of pro-Trump protesters. The one-minute video showed her shouting at a group of individuals, according to The Navy Times.
‘Fuck Trump!’
Given that she was in uniform at the time of the confrontation, the California command started an investigation. It was not clear what began the altercation and incited the 24-year-old woman to get in the face of individual flag-waving individuals. She shouted:
‘Fuck Trump! Fuck you!’
Dudrey, 24, deployed double middle fingers to the incensed protesters several times throughout the encounter. Yet, it was her appearance in uniform that really incited them. One off-camera voice called out:
‘Shame on you.’
Another protester yelled out:
‘Take the flag off your shoulder!’
American inspired signs and paraphernalia show bright red against her camouflaged uniform. One woman sat with an American umbrella and a sign that read “no more house arrest.” An additional protester shouted:
‘Learn how to act in a fucking uniform, you fucking piece of shit!’
A fourth voice rang out:
‘Who’s your commanding officer?’
The petty officer deployed double middle fingers to the incensed small group. Then, she went back to her car and gave one last shout of farewell:
‘Fuck Trump!’
She is assigned to Naval Base Ventura County about 15 miles the altercation.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned the military that they should avoid making political statements, according to The Navy Times.
Navy Spokesperson Melinda Larson said that her command was advised about the video on Sunday. The investigation into the petty officer began on Monday. Larson sent an email that read:
‘The Navy is a proponent of free speech and active-duty members are free to participate in protests during their off-duty time. However, Navy members are not authorized to wear military uniforms while engaging in protests and voicing personal opinions.’
Larson continued:
‘After a thorough inquiry into the matter, the Commanding Officer will make a determination on what actions are warranted.’
The spokesperson said:
‘The heart of the matter is we want to the military to be apolitical. We basically want the military to sit on the (political) sidelines because we have civilian control of the military, rather than military control of the government.’
An attorney specializing in military law Eugene Fidell said:
‘[Any form of] in-uniform politicking has long been considered a no-no.’
Asked what he would say to other uniformed service members compelled to confront protesters with whom they disagree, Fidell offered simple advice applicable to any American in these divisive, tribalized times:
‘I’d invoke an Army phrase: “drive on.”‘
Superiors encourage troops to “vote and can attend protests while not in uniform.” Fidell said:
‘[A] KEY NORM OF OUR SOCIETY…IS THAT THE MILITARY SHOULD STEER A WIDE BERTH AROUND ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH PARTISAN POLITICS.’
He urged the Navy to advise her:
‘Somebody ought to take her aside and say, you know, it’s a good idea to keep your political views to yourself while you’re in uniform. I think she’d get the message.’
Every year, the members of the Navy “undergo annual ethics training that covers political involvement.” This is the offending video:
This video showed up on Facebook:
https://youtu.be/KuLegTc6MLYc
Twitter world was all over this video. Take a look at how Americans responded:
Navy vet who clashed with federal officers in Portland says he wants to use attention on him “to refocus this whole discussion back to Black Lives Matter.”
“If I had been a black veteran…do you think I would have gotten as much attention as I did?” https://t.co/XACljcApBe pic.twitter.com/MG2ZMK0Sru
— ABC News (@ABC) July 23, 2020
Twitter world was all over this video. Take a look at how Americans responded:
Navy Seal Jonathan Gilliam called for her court-martial:
‘This terrible excuse for a service member, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Sarah J. Dudrey, should be court martialed and dishonorably discharged after serving her sentence.’
Featured image is a screenshot via Twitter.
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