| Subject: |
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Discount Mats |
| Name: |
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Phil Palm |
| Date Posted: |
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Jan 23, 07 - 6:21 AM |
| Email: |
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blameline@yahoo.com |
| Message: |
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I received information from Snopes.com, which is a site that investigates internet rumors. One that passed my way involved a 1st Cav soldier from Iraq, so I took an interest in it. In a nutshell: a soldier in the 1st BCT, 1st Cav Division contacted a company in Wisconsin called Discount Mats about shipping sleeping mats to Iraq. The response the soldier received was inflammatory and completely inappropriate to one of our servicemen. The entire story is at http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/apo.asp .
When I first noticed the story, it was unconfirmed, so rather than hit the ceiling, I inquired to a company called Discount Mats as to their side of the story. I have not received a response as of yet. It turns out that I was not the only one to check. According to Snopes, there were so many people sending emails to the company that the site had to be shut down.
Since that time, Snopes has confirmed that the email exchange did happen, and that the employee responsible is being dealt with. Still, I believe that there are a few things worth noting:
1. That the soldier has received an offer from a different company for sleeping mats
2. The soldier has also received a number of emails of support.
3. The company has not apologized for the incident (that I have seen or heard)
The reason I think this should be brought forward is that the president of the company complained to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal that some of the complaints he has received are threatening in nature. I don't support this action, but do believe it's well within our rights to not do business with Discount Mats (not that I probably would anyway), until they offer an apology and show a different business practice.
I do believe in their employee's right to express their individual opinion. In fact, I along with every veteran I know, would fight to the death for the right to express an individual opinion. Still, the company needs to realize that there are soldiers putting their lives on the line for their right to do business and to express an opinion.
But that's my view from the cheap seats. |
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