Like many of you, I had the unfortunate experience of watching a video of Frederick Stanley Jones delivering a speech on Memorial Day filled with hate-filled rhetoric. After carefully rewatching and reflecting on Stan Jones' troubling words and many people asking me my thoughts, I feel compelled to respond and hope someone can share my message with him. On a day meant to honor and remember the brave men and women who have selflessly served our great nation, many veterans, elected officials, and members of the public were presented with a speech that, instead of uniting us in gratitude and reverence, had the opposite effect. Instead of a day where we set aside our differences and come together to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate …show more content…
Stanley Jones behavior contradicts the principles of equality and freedom and goes against the very teachings of Jesus Christ, whom he claims to follow. Jesus Christ in the Bible preached a message of inclusivity and acceptance, emphasizing the importance of treating others with kindness, respect, and …show more content…
It reinforces my commitment to fight for a nation where every citizen is valued and respected, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is a fight for the true ideals that our Military upholds—equality, justice, and freedom for all. My duty as a veteran and an ally is to speak out against injustice and fight for a society that embraces diversity and equality. As someone claiming to love this country and honor our fallen veterans, Mr. Jones's speech is especially troubling. Memorial Day is a solemn occasion that should transcend political divides and unite us as a nation. It is not a day to spew his brand of divisive religious and political rhetoric but to reflect on the sacrifices made by our servicemen and servicewomen and express our gratitude for their selfless devotion. The fact that elected officials, fellow veterans, and others in attendance stood up and clapped for Mr. Jones's speech is deeply concerning. Our elected officials are responsible for representing all of the people they serve. Endorsing such discriminatory speech undermines their trust and perpetuates division and