Comments on: “Army Live” responds to Milbloggers “Silence”

By: pseudonym

pseudonym — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:15:58 +0000

Well I am Glad that CJ spoke out, it shines a light on a huge growing issues that happens everyday to families across America who are non military and our school systems. Parents rights are being violated.
I have watched the PTA video. This was a public forum held by th Parent Teachers Assoc. How in the world does this affect a person job, moreless a job in the military? What cause did the school have for going to his employer? What was the purpose??? I have a good idea and it seemed to work is the sad part.

I’m proud of CJ for standing up for what he believes in. What American’s believe in. I am Proud that we do have military who still stand up and fight for our freedoms, not only in Iraq, but here at home.
His action were no different than any other parent who is envolved in their childs well being and education. If parents can not advocate for their children then who will? It’s our job as parents to be envolved and work with the school sytem, but how can parents work with a system who isn’t willing to work with Parents????

“It’s about parental rights and the limits of our educators in dealing with parental concerns, especially when those parents are in the military.”

This is NOT ABOUT how to blog and keep safe while blogging,
THIS IS about A RIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN…and the Retaliation that comes from it.

By: Lindy Kyzer

Lindy Kyzer — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:04:13 +0000

Thanks for the post, Cindy. CJ – I like you, too. CJ – I’ve had no contact with your chain of command. And to clarify, my post was not intended to be any kind of response to your situation – becuase my knowledge and awareness of it is limited to what I’ve read in the blogosphere. It was a response to the day of silence and a way to get discussion going – because John Donovan’s post pointed to more widespread problems in the milblogosphere and I’m definitely not aware of those. I’ve had no contact with your chain of command and from my foxhole it remains a chain of command issue – my office is not involved, and NO ONE asked me to write that post.

My guidelines are ideas that I support – and that I’ve supported since I started working for the Army. They’re not for everyone. I know some folks hate the idea of writing under a pen name, and I stated it up front. The ideas were meant to get some discussion going, and I’m glad they are. I stand by them as my ideas, and ones I support.

My job before working for the Army was in politics – that’s how much I love it, and I have strong opinions. But, for the sake of my job and the variety of people I encounter, I keep a lot of those opinions to myself. It’s not just the Army that’s encountering this issue – fortune 500 companies and the business world is, as well. We know our Soldiers are our best spokespersons and we want you to tell your stories. But we do have guidelines, UCMJ and OPSEC – and that does mean that you’re held to a higher standard. Anyone with the military is and should be. (To clarify Cindy, per OPSEC guidelines you should tell your commander you’re blogging but that’s not filed away into a military record).

Again, I don’t know the details of your situation so my post is in no way a response to those, CJ. But I really do stand by the four points I outline as good rules of the road to consider – they’re ones I would follow if I was working for the Army or a defense contractor – or in my old post in politics. They don’t hinder freedom of speech – I still think I’m pretty opinionated.

Thanks for writing. Anyone who wants to discuss further or talk about something off line is welcome to contact me at lindy.kyzer@us.army.mil. I love our Soldiers and our milblogging community. I support your right to tell your story absolutely – those fighting to protect our freedoms don’t check theirs at the recruiting office – but I also want to keep you professionally and personally safe while you’re doing it.

Thanks again, and Happy Holidays.

By: pseudonym

pseudonym — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:56:11 +0000

CJ,

I’ve been wanting to tell you, but scared to….that during a educational meeting for my son in Nov. 2009, the cops were called on my husband and I.
I am not military nor is my husband. We did not do anything wrong except disagree about our son’s educational plan in a very civil manner. To me I feel like I have been violated. My whole person and being has been violated. The humility I felt and still feel, the lack of being able to ever walk into my son school again and participate in his education. The right to feel that I can advocate for my son.
This is a tatic the school system did to get me to SHUT UP and GO AWAY!
It’s sad that when thinking of it, that our military can not stand up to this type of issue. These are the very issues are fathers fought for.

I know you and I aren’t the only ones this is happening to, the question is how long are the school systems going to be allowed to get away with this type bullying the parents. And who is going to step up for us and our rights if not the military and YOUR BOSS?

By: WhiteRose

WhiteRose — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:27:01 +0000

I don’t know that statues you are talking about, but you know I love you and your family CJ. My comments were not meant as a dig in Lindy, but more about the absurdity of her post. Maybe she was dictated to, if so that is sad. I didn’t agree with everything the last administration did and most diffidently don’t with the current one. But it does seem to be that President Obama has some tender skin. Makes me wonder how he made it this far in politics. I have found that it doesn’t matter how much or how little you are in the public eye or how good or bad your actions are, there is always going to be someone that is going to run you down for it. When you start trying to silence the nay-sayers, you just make everyone think that they are right and/or you have something to hide. Such is this administration and the Huntsville PTA!

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:14:33 +0000

I love Lindy, I really do. She’s an awesome gal who truly respects our troops and milbloggers. But, I can’t help but think that she has been filled with bogus information from my former command in writing that post. She hit all the points they used from their completely twisted IG “investigation.” Because I know Lindy, I just get this strange feeling that the post was dictated to her.

I understand the limitations. If Soldiers weren’t allowed to discuss their political leanings, we would have no need for an AR 600-20 to discuss political actions. There would be no need for a 1344.10. It would be as simple as “Soldiers cannot publicly discuss their political ideologies, especially if they are leaders.” Discussing politics wasn’t a big deal under the former president. He had thick skin and could take criticism. Our military is under greater attack today than the dark days of President Clinton and THAT is what is happening to milbloggers.

No, I won’t use a pseudonym. I’ll take responsibility for my writing.

By: “pseudonym”

“pseudonym” — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:10:10 +0000

In the American Dream, first expressed by James Truslow Adams in 1931, citizens of every rank feel that they can achieve a “better, richer, and happier life.”
The American Dream is rooted in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence which states that “all men are created equal” and that they are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights” including ” Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” According to the dream, this includes the opportunity for one’s children to grow up and receive an American education and its consequent career opportunities. It is the opportunity to make individual choices without the restrictions of class, caste, religion, race, or ethnic group.

This is what our 4 fathers fought for and yet it’s being taken away without a battle? How is this?

So what I’m hearing is if you are in the American Military, then you loose your freedom, or at best… your rights as a Parent, and the right fas a parent to advocate for their children due to military rank?

I’m sorry but it’s my opinion this sounds much like the slavery….You do as I say and get to the back of the bus please!