Political Issues

[SaskChuck96]

I'm feeling like I have some stupid questions but I think this one might be different.
I have a cousin who is now married to a Marine in the states. Her husband says they have some unwritten rule that you don't get political, if you have an issue with government keep it to yourself and see what happens next election. He doesn't discuss political issues at all, he has no opinion on whatever is going on. Politics just never enters his mind.
I was wondering today after talking to him if there was something like that here, where politics is not your problem. I would assume having an opinion would be valid since politics affects The Forces greatly. It could just be a marine thing.
Thanks for putting up with me.

 

[mariomike]

I was wondering today after talking to him if there was something like that here, where politics is not your problem. I would assume having an opinion would be valid since politics affects The Forces greatly.

You may find these discussions of interest,

CF Pers and national political involvement 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/36903.0
2 pages.

Keep Politics Away From Forces 
http://army.ca/forums/threads/91014.0
2 pages.

Politics and the Military 
http://army.ca/forums/threads/1806.0
2 pages.

Running for political office while in the reserves?
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:UrBUsK8fm5UJ:https://army.ca/forums/index.php%3Ftopic%3D117776.0+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca

etc...

 

[Loachman]

And the Politics in 2017 thread at http://army.ca/forums/threads/124900/post-1476470/topicseen.html#new, to see how freely we debate political issues...

 

[Fishbone Jones]

And the Politics in 2017 thread at http://army.ca/forums/threads/124900/post-1476470/topicseen.html#new, to see how freely we debate political issues...

:goodpost: :rofl:

 

[SaskChuck96]

Thanks for the great responses.
How would a bill, like M-103 sit with Forces members. As I see it our purpose is to defend Human Rights and The Freedom of Canada, M-103 is a violation to the freedom of speech and expression. I can see why it was written but I can also see that it will be incredibly easy to abuse. I feel I would be more supportive of it if I felt it was more inclusive but it seems like it could favor one or two groups more than others.

 

[Kat Stevens]

That's got it's own thread, too.

 

[a_majoor]

Thanks for the great responses.
How would a bill, like M-103 sit with Forces members. As I see it our purpose is to defend Human Rights and The Freedom of Canada, M-103 is a violation to the freedom of speech and expression. I can see why it was written but I can also see that it will be incredibly easy to abuse. I feel I would be more supportive of it if I felt it was more inclusive but it seems like it could favor one or two groups more than others.

You always have your right as a Canadian citizen to speak and be heard on this and any issue, you just cannot do it as a uniformed or self identified member of the Canadian Armed Forces. We are not apolitical creatures as individual service members, but when acting as a service member you not only represent the team, you are the armed power of the State, and any implication that you do not support the State or are at variance with the lawful authorities which command you as a service member has serious consequences for the public's trust and support for the Armed Forces.

Your Marine friend has taken this idea more to heart in being overtly apolitical (and indeed most people are actually not political at all), but it is good advice for you to keep your politics to yourself when in uniform (or even among civilians who know what you do), know and understand the rules and regulations about political activity in uniform and comport yourself in a sensible manner.

 

[mariomike]

How would a bill, like M-103 sit with Forces members.

Motion M-103
http://milnet.ca/forums/threads/125203/post-1476546/topicseen.html#new
2 pages.

 

[The Bread Guy]

And the Politics in 2017 thread at http://army.ca/forums/threads/124900/post-1476470/topicseen.html#new, to see how freely we debate political issues...