Sgt Michael James Stokely, killed in action near Yusufiyah Iraq on August 16, 2005 would be terribly upset and would feel dishonored for you to use his name or initials in any way that would show a lack of support or respect for the chosen service and sacrifice he gave this country and the cause of freedom for the Iraqi people and his own country. Mike Stokely felt he was serving for the right reasons and he willing gave his life just because - just because he wanted to protect his family; just because he cared about his friends and would rather fight a war there than here; just because he believed in the order of our country whereby the civilian government - elected by the people - leads and the military obeys their lawful commands, including he lawful orders of my son's chosen commander in chief, President George Bush, who acted with Congressional approval and fiscal authorization; just because he wouldn't let his "guys" - his fellow soldiers go it alone; and just because my son believed the Iraqi people should have what his own had - freedom.
My son fought for freedom of speech, including speech that was not in agreement with his views and mine. However, freedom of speech does not mean you or I can totally disregard the feelings of others. I ask you - how would you feel if I made a traveling exhibit that forced your dead loved one to be a part of a show of support for a war you exercise your right to be against. I dare say, you would be most offended and upset.
Therefore, I urge you to protest to your heart's desire; speak out against the war and disagree with me and my son and the views we held together; but, please have the courtesy and dignity to respect his good name and not use it for expressing your viewpoint. Mike Stokely didn't force you to go along with him; you should not now be selfish and disrespectful and force him to be a part of your exhibit, or any other soldier for that matter.
Thank you very much,
Robert Stokely
proud dad of SGT Mike Stokely KIA Iraq 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
A soldier proud to go, prouder to serve, and who willing gave his life for his country and the Iraqi people, and who would do it again!!!
I took the liberty of stopping by the Instead of War website and found that there isn‘t a leftist anti-American group that they aren’t willing to pair up with to denounce the Administration and America. Every plea for action is accompanied by a damnation of the US as the root cause of all that is wrong in the world.
Well I believe that Mr. Stokely is right when he writes
“protest to your heart's desire; speak out against the war and disagree with me and my son and the views we held together; but, please have the courtesy and dignity to respect his good name and not use it for expressing your viewpoint. Mike Stokely didn't force you to go along with him; you should not now be selfish and disrespectful and force him to be a part of your exhibit, or any other soldier for that matter.”
So true Mr. Stokely, when I last checked the War in Iraq/Afghanistan had not caused the reinstitution of a draft, no one is being forced to join the Military and yet re-enlistment goals have been exceeded by all of the services and enlistment goals have been exceeded by the Marine Corp and Air Force. While Army enlistments haven’t been breaking any records, they are still enlisting men and women who know all to well that they may be and most likely will be going into a war zone in the very near future. No matter how bad you wish to believe it, no one is being lied to at the recruiter’s office.
The names of the hero’s may be a matter of public record but to use them in a means that demeans their honor and service is simply wrong. As Pam at Iraq War Today wrote they have slipped lower than could be possibly imagined. Is it because the dead can not speak out against their cowardly and selfish acts that they use the names of the dead instead of signing their own names to their anti-American drivel? Not in my name never had more meaning than it does now, for you do not speak for me, nor do you speak for the dead Soldiers, Sailors Marine’s and Airmen that have died to protect your freedom of speech.
If you don’t think that our Military men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan and in bases all over the world are not protecting your rights as guaranteed in the Constitution of the US then let me remind you what our enemies do to those that they disagree with.
Yes, your rights are being protected by the very institutions you despise and loath. Instead of War is another left leaning communist front group that is only interested in turning America into another Soviet Union. They would do well to review history and remember what happened to that institution when socialism was allowed to run to its inevitable end.
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