Back in the day, the term “Chickenshit” was an operative word. It meant that the government or the military was using some obscure technicality to mess with your life. This brave Marine is choosing to protest the needless war in Iraq and the government is threatening to take away his Honorable Discharge status because of his actions. We read numerous articles citing the comments of various retired generals and admirals who are critical of the administration and their Iraq policy but I do not see anyone threatening to take away their six-figure pensions… The powers that be realize that they cannot suppress the freedom of speech of high ranking retirees with cheap threats but they are not afraid to try and intimidate the protests of their less visible enlisted counterparts.
Repression of dissent for technicalities = “Chickenshit”
