Last night, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Morris County voted 6-1 to condemn a mock war crimes trial of the President held in Parsippany High School as "highly inappropriate and inimical to our national interest."
While they have the right to make such a statement, I wonder whether it's appropriate to use their status to make borderline traitorous comments. These freeholders seem to forget that Sept 11, 2001 changed everything. We were attacked by vicious killers intent on changing our way of life. The Commander in Chief responded by sending our brave men and women to fight the terrorists and spread freedom around the world. While our troops die by the thousands, the Freeholders of Morris County sit in their comfy chairs in their air-conditioned room and condemn the expression of the very freedom our troops are commanded to spread and defend.
There are more appropriate and respectful avenues for addressing concerns over the freedom of speech than by codemning it in a public meeting of the freeholder board during a time of war.
The actions of these freeholders are harmful to our national interest for the following reasons.
Their statement undermines the office of the Presidency at the very moment our nation is at war.
Their statement undermines the legitimacy of our troops, who currently service in harm's way at the command of the President of the United States.
Their statement is disrespectful to the young men and women who have paid the ultimate price in this war on terrorism because it suggests they gave their lives for liberties that we reject at home, rather than to defend and spread the freedoms we hold dear.
Despite their best attempts, the freedom of speech remains. Hopefully our troops won't hear about what they've done. Let the freeholders know how you feel: jgarifo@co.morris.nj.us.
