Going Silent for CJ

As a military spouse, we’re often expected to just show up to functions, look good next to our soldiers, smile, and nod when appropriate. I’ve never been this kind of spouse. I’ve always been the one to question policies and procedures when they seem ate up like a soup sandwich. I’ve always tried to do what’s best for ALL soldiers and their families, not just my own. Surprisingly, my big mouth is one of the reasons my husband loves me. Sure he’s been told that he “needs to control” his wife, but he also sticks up for me to his superiors. He’s told them when I’m right, and he’s encouraged me to keep fighting the good fight when there is one. When I worry about publishing something on this blog and run ti by him, he always says to me, “Why am I working so hard to help protect our freedom of speech if my own wife can’t exercise that right?” Honestly, without my husband’s love and encouragement, this blog would not be.

Then I told him what I had read about CJ, a milblogger who people are trying to silence because he tells it like it is. I think the military is being hypocritical. They say “tell the story” and that’s why they’ve allowed soldiers access to social media. The message now is “Tell the story, but sugar coat it to make us look good all the time.” That’s not right. Military life has its ups and downs just like anything else in life. The big difference is most of us also have to deal with government bureaucracy bullshit on a regular basis no matter soldier or spouse. And that’s exactly what it is – bullshit.

Now, I missed the Wednesday day of milblogging silence for CJ because I’ve been supporting another military spouse who just lost her child. So today, Thursday December 17, 2009 is for CJ and the rest of us in the military community who tell it like it is. Keep doing what you do.

Press release:
DATE: 15 DECEMBER 2009

MILBLOGS GO SILENT FOR FELLOW BLOGGER

Milblogs Go Silent
On Wednesday 16 December 2009, many milblogs — including This Ain’t Hell, From My Position, Blackfive, Miss Ladybug, Boston Maggie, Grim’s Hall, and those participating in the Wednesday Hero program — are going silent for the day. Some are choosing to go silent for a longer period of time.

The reason for this is two-fold. First, milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hostility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.

The catalyst has been the treatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham of A Soldier’s Perspective (http://www.soldiersperspective.us/). C.J. has earned accolades and respect, from the White House on down for his honest, and sometimes blunt, discussion of issues — particularly PTSD. In the last few months, C.J. has seen an issue with a local school taken to his command who failed to back him, and has even seen his effort to deal with PTSD, and lead his men in same by example, used against him as a part of this. Ultimately, C.J. has had to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense in this matter.

An excellent story on the situation with C.J. can be found at Military Times: http://www.armytimes.com/offduty/technology/offduty_blogger_120809/ While there have been new developments, the core problem remains, and C.J. is having to raise funds to cover legal expenses to protect both his good name and his career.

One need only look at the number of blogs by active duty military in combat zones and compare it to just a few years ago to see the chilling effect that is taking place.

Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.

On Wednesday 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Those participating are urging their readers to contact their elected representatives in Congress, and to let their opinions be known to them and to other leaders in Washington.

Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December. The issues go beyond C.J., and deserve careful consideration and discussion. We hope that you will cover this event, and explore the issues that lie at the heart of the matter. Contact the milbloggers in your area or that you know, and hear the story that lies within.

A Partial List of Participating Blogs:

This Ain’t Hell http://thisainthell.us/blog/
Boston Maggie http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/
Blackfive http://www.blackfive.net/main/
Miss Ladybug http://miss-ladybug.blogspot.com
Drunken Wisdom http://beerbrains.com/
Grim’s Hall http://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/
Frommyposition http://frommyposition.com/
CDR Salamander http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com

Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write “Grisham Legal Fund” in the memo line if you use this option.

Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to you. Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something
about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit.

The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be
lost.

Mr Wolf
Blackfive.net

Related posts:

1. The Military Giveth and Giveth Up the Ass
2. Military Gets 50% of Tax Dollars
3. My Name is Published Again
4. Affected
5. Military Teens Coping with Depolyment

Category: Army, military