Veteran Denied Access To Son's Grave
A Marine veteran whose anti-terrorist and anti-Islam vehicle decals hindered him in visiting the grave of his fallen son at Arlington National Cemetery has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the military order which rebuked his display of the decals. Jesse Nieto, a 25-year Marine veteran, served two combat tours in Vietnam. His youngest son, Marc, was one of the seventeen sailors killed in the terrorist bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in October of 2000. Since 1994 Nieto has been a civilian employee at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
In 2001 he began displaying various decals on his vehicle expressing sentiments such as “Remember the Cole, 12 Oct 2000,” “Islam=Terrorism” and “We Died, They Rejoiced.” On July 31, 2008, two military police officers ticketed Nieto for displaying “offensive material.” After Nieto refused to remove all allegedly offending decals from his vehicle, the Base Magistrate issued a written order ordering Nieto to remove his vehicle from the base until all decals were removed. The order banned his vehicle from all other federal installations, and reportedly prevented him from driving onto the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
There should be anger and outrage at this. There should be a great cry from the ones who claim to champion free speech. Where is the ACLU as this man's rights, ones that he actually fought for, are trampled upon. No more political correctness, no more being careful not to offend anyone, and no more giving up freedom so that someone else doesn't feel offended. What happened to American men being able to stand up for what they believe in? Why are we denying the father of a slain sailor his right to free speech?
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Other Opinions
Outrage. Who could I contact about this travesty of justice. what is the phone number of the base commander at Camp Lejeune? Any who read this should call and express their disappointment with this commander that is more wimp than warrior.
Did the base commander ban the political stickers or the rainbow colored peace symbols? Who commands this base? Surely not a Marine.
I can understand why the base doesnt allow for offensive stickers on cars. Its not as if they were peace stickers or sincere signs of loss. This article gives the impression that he was strictly banned from his sons grave site when he was actually banned from the whole post. Military personal can get into trouble for such related activities and as a civillian working on a military institution he must abide by their rules. If the stickers were keeping him from his sons grave site, then why were the stickers so much more important than visiting his lost son? I understand his grief and anger, but rules are rules no matter who you are.
No he is wrong. You can feel that way all you want, but when you are on a government owned base or any Armed Forces installation, you don't do that stuff. The Armed Forces are to be non biased, non political. Do it somewhere else. Sorry to say it but remove the bumper stickers and get over the racist slander. Your spreading hate just like our enemy. That is why he and his vehicle were banned.
To repeat what Col. Bridges said, Did the base commander ban all the other political stickers? Hmmm. I seriously doubt it. And to Tami his stickers are a sincere sign of loss. His son was killed in the U.S.S. Cole attack. that is why he has those stickers. You people were so up in arms about freedom of speech when you wanted to bad mouth our soldiers and our President, So why aren't you defending this fathers right to freedom of speech. He defended yours.
And yes the base commanders actions did prevent this man from visiting his sons grave, as his order banned him from all military installations. His son is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The man is "a civilian employee at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina." So maybe you should reread the article.
At least this man has the cajones to accuse his sons murderers in public instead of the cowardly politically correct way that our nation is going towards.
You will never understand how this man feels and I don't expect you to, but he has the same right to freedom of speech as the Gay, Lesbian, PETA, code pink , and any of the other crazy groups out there. At least his message is one of personal loss and sacrifice mixed with righteous anger. So I hope he keeps his stickers and files charges against the base commander. I know I would.
As a Vietnam Vet I know how this guy feels - it seems like every organization gets away with everything - but when a military person gives their life we are not allow to express our feeling - He called it what it is Islam =Terrorism
and we continually give them a pass or make excauses for them.
Being retired Navy and stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville at the time of the Cole bombing. The feeling of seeing the Cole pulling back into Mayport is a feeling that I don't wish on anyone! I support Mr. Nieto and his right to express his feelings anyway he wishes
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