In my almost daily visit to Google and all things touching on the Medal of Honor, the last few weeks have produced a disturbing story.
It involves the battle at Wounded Knee, or if you will... the Massacre at the same place.
Regardless of which side you are on, there is no doubt that over the decades of battling with the American Native population, both sides have at times performed less than honourably. But it is the issue of Medals of Honor that I address today's blog.
Twenty Medals were awarded to members of the 7th US Cavalry for this incident in December of 1890. Hundreds of natives were killed, many being women and children with many being shot in the back.
Over the years there have been many demands that all 20 of these medals should be rescinded. The last few weeks have seen several Democrats give notice that if elected President they will see to it that the medals are revoked.
Several comments of late tend to suggest that the move is more one of gaining native votes, rather than righting any wrongs.
THE MEDAL OF HONOR IS NOT A GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.
One might want to ask each of these democrats were they stood on this issue over the past few years before their Presidential runs began. What evidence is there that they gave a hoot about the matter before recent days or months.
But that aside, they and their parties have been quite vocal about the constitution when the opposite party violates same, on a regular basis.
Yet then their promised actions, if elected, will also violate the constitution.
This blog is almost seven years and 500 blogs long. Within the first 2 months of its existence I starting bringing you stories about the 27th Maine and a few dozen others, the Purge of 1916-7 and how the entire purge of over 900 medals were revoked... ILLEGALLY.
That subject has been commented on dozens of times in this space and remains unchallenged by anyone of authority.
Bureaucrats, rather than Congress decided some of the aspects of the Purge. Soldiers who wore their MOH's for over 50 years had them taken away. Families were robbed of their heritage, and many suffer to this very day.
The Constitution guaranteed these men and one woman the right to proper notice, the appearance in a court of law, the ability to give evidence and be heard by their peers before any such action could have been legally taken. None of this was done. There is much more to that story but I will not repeat it since numerous blogs have already brought you this story.
That being said, the wannabee Presidents all... have said nothing whatsoever that I can find in the press about the Constitution and the Rule of Law with regards to these 20 medals, 2 of which touch on Canada.
If you know any politicians in the US, please send them the link to this blog.
Before any medal is revoked they ought to do their homework first. And part of that homework is to have someone officially appointed to represent the medal holders and their descendants as well as those from the native side for any hearings, BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS ON REVOKING MEDALS. Decisions that should be made by the courts, not politicians. Nor public opinion.
On another matter, there were quite a few stories about the Purple Heart last month, which was great.
Trouble is of about 20 I saw, all but one says that the first Purple Heart went to General MacArthur. True if you think only of the date of the medal being presented. But, as regular readers known the first medal went to PEI Canada born Beatrice Mary MacDonald who's deed predated MacArthur's.
Too bad all the stories could not have shared that with you!
See you in 2 weeks,
Bart
It involves the battle at Wounded Knee, or if you will... the Massacre at the same place.
Regardless of which side you are on, there is no doubt that over the decades of battling with the American Native population, both sides have at times performed less than honourably. But it is the issue of Medals of Honor that I address today's blog.
Twenty Medals were awarded to members of the 7th US Cavalry for this incident in December of 1890. Hundreds of natives were killed, many being women and children with many being shot in the back.
Over the years there have been many demands that all 20 of these medals should be rescinded. The last few weeks have seen several Democrats give notice that if elected President they will see to it that the medals are revoked.
Several comments of late tend to suggest that the move is more one of gaining native votes, rather than righting any wrongs.
THE MEDAL OF HONOR IS NOT A GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.
One might want to ask each of these democrats were they stood on this issue over the past few years before their Presidential runs began. What evidence is there that they gave a hoot about the matter before recent days or months.
But that aside, they and their parties have been quite vocal about the constitution when the opposite party violates same, on a regular basis.
Yet then their promised actions, if elected, will also violate the constitution.
This blog is almost seven years and 500 blogs long. Within the first 2 months of its existence I starting bringing you stories about the 27th Maine and a few dozen others, the Purge of 1916-7 and how the entire purge of over 900 medals were revoked... ILLEGALLY.
That subject has been commented on dozens of times in this space and remains unchallenged by anyone of authority.
Bureaucrats, rather than Congress decided some of the aspects of the Purge. Soldiers who wore their MOH's for over 50 years had them taken away. Families were robbed of their heritage, and many suffer to this very day.
The Constitution guaranteed these men and one woman the right to proper notice, the appearance in a court of law, the ability to give evidence and be heard by their peers before any such action could have been legally taken. None of this was done. There is much more to that story but I will not repeat it since numerous blogs have already brought you this story.
That being said, the wannabee Presidents all... have said nothing whatsoever that I can find in the press about the Constitution and the Rule of Law with regards to these 20 medals, 2 of which touch on Canada.
If you know any politicians in the US, please send them the link to this blog.
Before any medal is revoked they ought to do their homework first. And part of that homework is to have someone officially appointed to represent the medal holders and their descendants as well as those from the native side for any hearings, BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS ON REVOKING MEDALS. Decisions that should be made by the courts, not politicians. Nor public opinion.
On another matter, there were quite a few stories about the Purple Heart last month, which was great.
Trouble is of about 20 I saw, all but one says that the first Purple Heart went to General MacArthur. True if you think only of the date of the medal being presented. But, as regular readers known the first medal went to PEI Canada born Beatrice Mary MacDonald who's deed predated MacArthur's.
Too bad all the stories could not have shared that with you!
See you in 2 weeks,
Bart
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