As much as I enjoy your posts, I encourage you to take the weekend off. The entire weekend! Going to a funeral is tough work. At 88 I can speak with some authority. Going to a funeral AND writing a quality paper is asking too much. I would offer the same advice to your daughter. I think you both are breaking some sort of labor law. And by Monday, Trump will have committed so many stupid and illegal things that it will be extraordinarily difficult to narrow down what you want to write about.
I grew up in an air force family. My Dad retired from the RCAF with the rank of Air Commodore, which I think is roughly equivalent to a one star general. So while I recognize Major Watson's sincerity and his desire to speak out, I think doing it in uniform was a step too far. The military should never be politicized, in your country or mine, and in fact that is one of the issues we should all have with Trump - he is politicizing the military. So those are values I learned from my Dad, but I never served, so here's an opinion piece from a four star general who did, Mark Hertling.
Sorry, but the military has been politicized under the current administration, and it has been commiting war crimes. Sometimes you have to do what is right. These are not normal times.
As I said in my comment, but two wrongs don't make a right. I encourage you to read Mark Hertling's essay, he makes the case far more eloquently than I.
I read the article. I put Jason Watson in the same category as the six Democrats who made the video about not following illegal orders. The pilots firing on boats in the Caribbean should have disregarded their orders.
"I was just following orders" didn't play well at Nuremburg.
Fair enough. I completely agree with you about the Caribbean exercise, and if I remember rightly the Admiral in charge resigned when it started. I don't think he spoke about it, but it seems he looked at an illegal order, said no, and ultimately resigned. The six Democrats who made the video are no longer serving officers and were not in uniform, that's the difference. It would have been entirely appropriate for Major Watson to resign his commission and then become politically active, but not while he was in uniform. My Dad drummed that into me. I don't know if you're old enough to remember the Avro Arrow - an all weather interceptor that would have been a game changer - cancelled by the Diefenbaker govt as being too costly. Dad was a serving officer at the time and couldn't express an opinion outside the house, especially not in uniform.
Now that I’ve definitely entered the age known as “Codger” , I must admit that making “Good Trouble” has been in my bloodstream for a very LONG time‼️
It behaves a lot like an incurable virus…and it was very likely contracted by me during the “March on Washington” in 1963 - while standing in a huge, densely-packed crowd gathered around the - now infamous - “reflecting pool” applauding and cheering the speakers appearing on that day of major protest in Washington DC.
Every time I wake up feeling as emotionally charged as I was that day I count as a blessing!
As much as I enjoy your posts, I encourage you to take the weekend off. The entire weekend! Going to a funeral is tough work. At 88 I can speak with some authority. Going to a funeral AND writing a quality paper is asking too much. I would offer the same advice to your daughter. I think you both are breaking some sort of labor law. And by Monday, Trump will have committed so many stupid and illegal things that it will be extraordinarily difficult to narrow down what you want to write about.
My best to you and your extended family.
I grew up in an air force family. My Dad retired from the RCAF with the rank of Air Commodore, which I think is roughly equivalent to a one star general. So while I recognize Major Watson's sincerity and his desire to speak out, I think doing it in uniform was a step too far. The military should never be politicized, in your country or mine, and in fact that is one of the issues we should all have with Trump - he is politicizing the military. So those are values I learned from my Dad, but I never served, so here's an opinion piece from a four star general who did, Mark Hertling.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/when-conscience-conflicts-with-commission-military-uniformed-protest-trump-major-jason-watson
Sorry, but the military has been politicized under the current administration, and it has been commiting war crimes. Sometimes you have to do what is right. These are not normal times.
As I said in my comment, but two wrongs don't make a right. I encourage you to read Mark Hertling's essay, he makes the case far more eloquently than I.
I read the article. I put Jason Watson in the same category as the six Democrats who made the video about not following illegal orders. The pilots firing on boats in the Caribbean should have disregarded their orders.
"I was just following orders" didn't play well at Nuremburg.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/26/us-military-kills-four-boat-strike-caribbean
Fair enough. I completely agree with you about the Caribbean exercise, and if I remember rightly the Admiral in charge resigned when it started. I don't think he spoke about it, but it seems he looked at an illegal order, said no, and ultimately resigned. The six Democrats who made the video are no longer serving officers and were not in uniform, that's the difference. It would have been entirely appropriate for Major Watson to resign his commission and then become politically active, but not while he was in uniform. My Dad drummed that into me. I don't know if you're old enough to remember the Avro Arrow - an all weather interceptor that would have been a game changer - cancelled by the Diefenbaker govt as being too costly. Dad was a serving officer at the time and couldn't express an opinion outside the house, especially not in uniform.
Not being Canadian, I'm not familiar with the Avro Arrow, but I see no reason anyone should protest a financial decision.
We will probably continue to disagree about Watson. But hats off to your dad for his principles.
The paragraph that begins "Here is the whole rotten arrangement..." is classic Geddry. Acutely observed and presented in words that shake us awake.
Now that I’ve definitely entered the age known as “Codger” , I must admit that making “Good Trouble” has been in my bloodstream for a very LONG time‼️
It behaves a lot like an incurable virus…and it was very likely contracted by me during the “March on Washington” in 1963 - while standing in a huge, densely-packed crowd gathered around the - now infamous - “reflecting pool” applauding and cheering the speakers appearing on that day of major protest in Washington DC.
Every time I wake up feeling as emotionally charged as I was that day I count as a blessing!
We CAN fix this 👍‼️🙏👍 folks…
Thank you for keeping this front and centre.
Best wishes to you and your family
Civil disobedience is less of a problem than civil obedience. Thanks for that, Mary.
…and again…”it’s all relative ..” was it Robinson, Einstein , Mr Watson ? Truth and Justice matters…..