fett on 13/10/2009 at 00:25
The fact that someone like this gets locked up and Dick Cheney still walks free is exactly the fucking root of the problem in America
Enchantermon on 13/10/2009 at 05:50
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
Anyway, frankly, I fail to see how the law is constitutional.
While I certainly disagree with what this guy did and I don't want to minimize those who truly did sacrifice, I'd have to go with this. As I understand it, he didn't try to falsify legal documents; he's just a boy who cried wolf and got a lot of attention for it.
The fraud thing is a little interesting, though. If the money really all went to helping veterans and not into his own pocket, can fraud be claimed on him? If he used some to repay campaign expenses, then maybe.
Quote:
"The one thing he robbed from every veteran that comes out now is credibility."
I don't get this. Even if one person lied about military service, that has no bearing on whether or not other people are lying. It's not as if his actions have now opened the doors for others to do it as well. It's always been a possibility; we're the ones who have always chosen to believe those who call themselves veterans. All this does is bring to light the seed of doubt that was already present but perhaps completely ignored.
Also, on "stolen valor": how do you rob others of something there is an infinite and unmeasurable amount of? It's not as if "valor" is a zero-sum game. His claim to be deserving of valor does not remove valor from others and give it to him.
theBlackman on 13/10/2009 at 06:15
In the main, he was just the little boy in the locker room trying to impress everybody, who was still a virgin but bragged about all his imaginary conquests.
Unfortunately, it did belittle those who truly earned the honors.
Enchantermon on 13/10/2009 at 06:29
The thing is, I don't see how. If anything, it makes me appreciate more those who actually did earn the honors. I'm not going to think less of other veterans because of what he did.
Briareos H on 13/10/2009 at 06:47
Y'know America, it's very hard not to call you retarded when you keep doing shit like that. Please stop.
hopper on 13/10/2009 at 10:25
Why don't you just pass a general law that incriminates Being A Dick About Things We Care About? Cos this is just a special instance of that general case. As a bonus, you'd avoid the logical pitfall that defines assuming something nobody can own as "stealing".
fett on 13/10/2009 at 13:59
Quote Posted by Briareos H
Y'know America, it's very hard not to call you retarded when you keep doing shit like that. Please stop.
Oh, don't hold back. We totally deserve to be retarded.
I'm moving to Denmark one of these days.
Thief13x on 16/10/2009 at 02:59
(
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1015/breaking50.htm)
What the hell?
So the women hires a limo to drive her to the Burlington Coat Factory...
announces she won the lottery and will pay for everyone's stuff up to 500 bucks...
Takes the limo to the bank and returns empty handed...
is turned over to the police after not paying the limo driver and charged with...
Quote:
three outstanding warrants for aggravated menacing, misuse of a 911 system and causing false alarms.
After a bunch of people start a riot, trash the store, and make off which a bunch of free stuff. Of course the cops didn't arrest any of them :/
... nice
Stitch on 16/10/2009 at 03:03
lol
Rug Burn Junky on 16/10/2009 at 04:51
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
Anyway, frankly, I fail to see how the law is constitutional. First Amendment is pretty heavy from a legal standpoint (at least in theory), and is there to protect unpopular speech. The classic "yelling fire in a crowded theatre" example directly threatens the physical safety of others. This just upsets people, or is emotionally wounding, which (from what I've learned in my 1.5 classes involving freedom of expression) isn't really enough to override the absolutist "Congress shall make no law" language of the First Amendment. And I don't think it would fall under "fighting words" (which is a pretty rickety construction in and of itself).
There are constitutional issues, but at the end of the day, the First Amendment protects ideas, not knowing falsehoods.
