Lighten up on Marines

Dear MRFF,

I have to comment on the grandstanding being done by Mikey Weinstein about the supposed SS flag.

To bring attention to the similarities of the banner displayed by the Marines in the photo, and the NAZI SS logo may be helpful as an education and reminder. But remember that today’s Marines were born years after the war and the atrocities committed by the SS. Schools today don’t do a great job of teaching accurate and complete history.

To demand punishment of these Marines is grandstanding and over the top. Educate and help, but don’t until it is clear that they are promoting Nazism, etc., don’t become as harsh and hard as the SS were themselves.

(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),

I understand that the historical significance of the SS lightning bolt symbol are not particularly well-known to a lot of people. In this particular case, though, the symbol is a part of the Marine’s hate group training and is already supposed to be prohibited. The leaders who allowed this can’t hide behind ignorace – the flag in question was ordered from a Nazi paraphenalia website. I agree: educate the ignorant, but those who knew what they were doing need to be held accountable in accodance with the existing military regulations on this subject.

Dustin Chalker
MRFF Non-Religious Affairs Advisor