Military Connections
Service members are in a tight spot: it’s illegal to refuse legal orders, or to follow illegal ones. The distinction can tie courts up for weeks. They need to know we have their back. Send a text or take a veteran friend to lunch. If you have estranged military family, use birthdays or holidays to send a donation to a military organization that will let them know your gift.
Why we do it:
Militaries run on rule and order. Rank confers respect and an assumption of competence and ethics. While corruption exists in any organization, Trump has shattered that trust by replacing top military leadership with men loyal only to him. That puts all our troops in a difficult situation: they can no longer rely on the training and ethical guardrails of the system to prevent illegal orders from being issued. They are personally liable for executing illegal orders, but liable in the military criminal system for refusing orders. It’s not an easy choice, but we can make it easier by letting them know we’re here.
Military defection is almost always fatal to regimes. We want to rebuild human connections now. If you have friends or family in service, reinforce those relationships. Remind them, and yourself, that we’re all people doing our best. If you’re estranged, start small and avoid politics. Send a holiday card or chatty email. Ask how they’re doing. If they’re far from home, consider sending a care package. (How about locally made foods, like honey and jam from the farmer’s market?) Let service members know you care, even if your politics historically differed. Many conservatives are disturbed by how this regime wants to use the military, too.
Cultural sensitivity is the first step in alliance, and many Americans hold misconceptions about military protocols and culture. Most service members joined believing they were part of something honorable. Many aren’t sure what to do now—the states are high. Is there someone who might be willing to educate you? Remember that asking someone to educate you about their culture is labor: they are doing you the favor. If you have a trusted veteran friend, ask if they’d be willing to talk with you about some of the things happening. Listen more than you talk. Be respectful, even when you disagree or think they’re wrong.
Service Members:
Groups exist to help you determine your rights and responsibilities. Here are two well-reputed groups, outside the military chain of command. You can safely reach out to them for clarity:
