Rights Vs. Duty
Whenever someone attempts to make a political position an entitlement, things get hairy. This reader-submitted post captures the conflict of soldiers refusing to get vaccinated. Is it their right?
It always amazes me to see how folks try to shoehorn their worldview into some entitlement position, or worse, act as though their rights are being violated. The following reader submission was so good I am reposting with their permission. They did not require attribution. To the submitter, some edits were made for clarity.
This is absurd garbage. It's true that when you join the military, you do not give up all your rights. But they are SUBSTANTIALLY curtailed subject to the requirements of the service.
Soldiers 1st Amendment right are restricted. They can't say all kinds of things publicly or in uniform without facing punishment. During times of conflict, there are things they can't say at all—censors read their mail!
How about the 4th Amendment? Does your drill instructor want to look in your footlocker? Your CO wants you to empty your pockets? They don't need a warrant. You have ZERO expectation of privacy once you join up.
What about due process? The military has a long history, especially in times of conflict, punishment without any trial—even summary execution!
The Supreme Court has long held that the reduction of rights of soldiers is Constitutional because of the unique nature of the military. As long as the requirement furthers a substantial military interest—discipline, readiness, protection of sensitive information, whatever—that requirement justifies the infringement of a soldiers Constitutional rights.
The Court has made rulings on conscientious objectors. But these were people whose religious beliefs forbade the killing of any person. So alternative service was permissible for them.
But even that wasn't unlimited. For example, if you had a religious believe that you rest on the Sabbath, sorry, you don't get to take the day off.
And these people can actually point to a well documented, organized religious doctrine. What's the fucking doctrine they are referring to here? I don't believe in vaccines? Where is that in any bible? They only believe in natural healing?
If that's the belief, they're unfit for military service. Because they're all liars, when they take a bullet, the first thing out of these Navy SEALS mouths is "Corpsman!" Not "I'm hit, but it's okay! I have an immune system!"