I find the above story troubling on several levels.
1.) Was the guy speaking about actual physical actions, or was he speaking metaphorically?
2) The government arresting someone for what they say, rather than what they do: He spoke about a revolution and severing heads. I've heard a bazillion people talk about "cutting heads" when people get fired or indicted. Did the guy start stock-piling large amounts of food, weapons, ammo, or illegal materials like bomb ingredients, or just run his mouth off on Facebook?
I guess this is the most of it. I think it's right to flag speech like that and watch for a pattern of activities that would indicate intent to carry out such actions. We don't know at this point if that was the case here, the story doesn't give us enough information.
It's an interesting era we live in. Neither individuals, nor groups, nor e en governments can keep things hidden for long. I think it's going to take a long time for that to translate well in a society like ours, but I also think that in the long run, the transparency will be a good thing.
Still, I hope that it comes clear whether tis veteran was actually dangerous, or just speaking his mind, and I fervently hope that the authorities clear his name if it was the latter, with full compensation for time lost. After all, getting it wrong should be as expensive a mistake for a government agency as it is for an individual, in terms of monetary compensation.
They should have to pay to fully publicize his innocence, and compensate him for any lost wages or property in-full if he's not carried out any such actions and is only expressing opinion. He should be in a place where he can do no physical harm if he was amassing the means to conduct terrorist acts.
It's a razor-thin line being walked here, steel shoes and a perfect sense of balance are required.
Dan Stafford
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