General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Fuck. [View all]justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)seems to be missing a vital element. This soldier volunteered for those deployments by continuing to re-up his commitment to the military and thus to "protecting" America. Another element that seems to be missing from your statement is that this soldier may have felt he *was* protecting America--personal choice and all that.
I have no dog in the hunt about whether the President should have honored him or not, because contrary to the OPs belief, it is supposed to be an honor to be invited as a guest to the SOTU. And I'd also guess that he was aware of what the President intended with his invitation to the SOTU, and though so many here are outraged, he apparently wasn't because he didn't decline the invitation. It seems the Sgt. felt it was important for him to be there and be the face of what 10 deployments and unending war can do to a human being. That's my take anyway.