A company that REALLY doesn't support Soldiers

[Top]

just got this from Fox News

[ftp]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,245718,00.html[/ftp]

WOW and employee did it... HMMMM  ;D :

AL

[squid]

CAN'T PULL IT UP......TELL THIS OLD SQUID THE STORY.. :-/

[basspro05]

I couldnt pull it up either, but i searched fox news, and basically a gentlemen serving our country in the roughest part of Iraq sent a letter to discountmats.com asking if they would ship mats to them, because the sand they sleep on has mites and other disease carrying bugs, and they replied no, if you were sensible you would pull out of Iraq

[Top]

Sorry, here is a cut and paste of the story:

An American GI assigned to one of the harshest posts in Iraq had a simple request last week for a Wisconsin mattress company: send some floor mats to help ease the hardship of sleeping on the cold, bug-infested ground.

What he got, instead, was a swift kick from the company's Web site, which not only refused the request but added insult to injury with the admonition, "If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."

Army Sgt. Jason Hess, stationed in Taji, Iraq, with the 1st Cavalry Division, said he emailed his request to Discount-mats.com because he and his fellow soldiers sleep on the cold ground, which contains sand mites, sand flies and other disease carriers.

In his email, dated Jan. 16, 2007, he asked the Web-based company, registered to Faisal Khetani, an American Muslim of Pakistani descent:

"Do you ship to APO (military) addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for ships to APO first."

On the same day, Hess received this reply:

"SGT Hess,

We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.

Bargain Suppliers

Discount-Mats.com"

Khetani on Monday told FOX News that the person responsible for the email reply had been fired. The Web site, meanwhile, has been temporarily taken down.

Hess emailed that he has since found two mat suppliers willing to ship to an APO address in Iraq.

FOX News' Douglas Kennedy contributed to this story.

[mjhutch1116]

We are a free country so while we can disagree with the opinion of that company.   We cannot condemn them.  Really all they have done is lose some business from the soldiers, and after the story gets out they will probally lose a lot more.  Whether or not it is right or wrong for the soldiers to be in iraq.  It is not the soldiers fault they are there they are just following orders like all good soldiers do.

Matt

[basspro05]

These people using their freedom of speech, should definetely not be bashing troops who are defending their freedom, whether you agree or disagree with the war, you have to support the troops.

[Deuceu72]

These people using their freedom of speech, should definetely not be bashing troops who are defending their freedom, whether you agree or disagree with the war, you have to support the troops.

Well Said!

[squid]

I AGREE.....

I WAS SUPPORTED WHEN I WAS OVER THERE, AND I SUPPORT THEM NOW.

AND THEY HAVE IT WORSE THAN I DID.  WE ONLY GOT SHOT AT BY THE IRAQI TROOPS....THESE GUYS NEVER KNOW WHO IS SHOOTING AT THEM.

[Matt Fly]

I could understand them saying "we don't ship to APO addresses", but the rest is uncalled for.

I hope it costs them some business.

Matt

[Dan:]

wow. That is ridiculous.

[Siebert Outdoors]

How could you not support the troops.  They have no say whether they go or not.  Its our politicians that we voted in.  If you have a problem with the war vote for someone else.  Dont take it out on the troops.  

Climb out from underneath the rock you have been living and realize there is a bigger world then yours.  If it wasnt for the guy fighting for our freedoms we would be in the same boat as alot of these other countries with no rights at all.

Thats they type of response they would have gotten from me if I would have been that soldier.

[Troutfisher]

Well said. I agree. You may not agree with the War on Terror, but you should certainly stay behind our President and figures of authority in Government, and most especially the brave men and women serving overseas for our freedom.

[chitwnbass]

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this war and especially about stories like this. First off I'd like to say that American service personnel have had to perform an extremely dangerous job in an extremely harsh environment and for this they should all be commended.

Why are these troops sleeping on the floor?  Why do they have to order their own sleeping mats? Why does a private company have to ship mats to soldiers?  Why is it so terrible for this person other than from a customer service standpoint voice their objection to the war?  

I have a few thoughts on this unbending support for the Troops issue.  Lots of people in this country don't support this war and don't believe there is a reason we should continue it.  Why is it wrong that some of these people don't support the people involved in it. We have the right in this country to disagree with our governments actions just as we currently have the right to choose to serve or not to serve in the armed forces.  I can understand why people in the Vietnam era and prior felt it was improper to not support military personnel.  A majority of people during these wars were essential forced into service for their country.  While I can see why disagreeing with the actions of a person who was drafted is not right why is it wrong for someone to disagree with a person who freely chooses to perform.

These are just some thoughts I have when I read stories like this and the starbucks story.  I'm sure these will get a lot of people's feathers ruffled and that wasn't my intention. I just want people to think beyond their own personals views and see things from different sides.

.

[Troutfisher]

why is it wrong for someone to disagree with a person who freely choses to perform

It's not necessarily wrong from a legal standpoint, but as a person, it's just plain rude and disrespectful to dishonor the troops who are fighting for you and me alike.

[Siebert Outdoors]

What really ruffles my feathers is what I posted before.  Putting the blame on a private first class that has no control on what he was told to do.  The blame goes to the commander in chief AKA President and other officials, Senate, and House.  These guys make the decesions not the soldier.   It doesnt matter if someone is for it or against it to me.  I just hate when they take it out on the soldiers.  Its disrespectful.

Why are these troops sleeping on the floor?  Why do they have to order their own sleeping mats? Why does a private company have to ship mats to soldiers?  Why is it so terrible for this person other than from a customer service standpoint voice their objection to the war?

I dont mean to pick or grip just thought I should answer.

My cousin was in the Airborne Rangers for a few years.  Some of his stories he has told me are out there.  They would go on a mission ,  they only had what they could carry Ammo or mat.  I know where my choice would be.  They couldnt just pull over and stay at the local motel 8.  On the voicing thier opinion.  Voicing it to the wrong person.  Whats he going to do.  Like an X marine I know says.  " I was just a ground pounding grunt"  "I shot at what shot at me"  

I'm not saying that the soldiers have everything they need because I'm sure they dont.

[Guest avid]

I understand your anger sarge, but it is not the company that doesn't supprot the troops, by firing the moron who wrote the email, they made it clear that he was not speaking for the company.

I think it's a tough break for them.

They made it clear in their response that the person responsible for the email was fired. I suspect that a full text of his (Mr. Khetani's) words would condemn the irresponsible behavior of this former employee, and even include statements of support for the troops.

I'm sure the website was taken down due to his server being overwhelmed with condemantions, some of which were no doubt racist and threatening.

I don't know what his personal position on the war might be. But he is a businessman and now his business is ruined because some stupid CS rep used Mr. Khatani's business website to broadcast his personal views.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Now everyone knows where I stand when it comes to supporting our troops.

But if you read the full statement, it says the employee responsible was fired.  Think about it, If I get into it w/ a customer while delivering a package, and I happen to be anti-war, and say somthing, knowing her son is serving, .....is UPS the devil?  Not really, they had a bad seed and it was removed.

I may not know the whole story but does this make sense

?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

oops sorry Avid,....

  ...................................what HE said. lol

[Replica.]

Does anyone here feel that the employees First Amendment rights were violated?.  I heard some people on cable news arguing that his right to free speech was violated.

[Top]

OH I am not mad... far from it...believe me I get "lectured" all the time over how this war is wrong yada yada yada... as IF I can do anything about it... I was just driving the point home that while some companies choose not support soldiers by their "policy" here was a company that not only crossed the line but jumped over it...

just like everyone you are who you work for IE: this guy that posted that response on the website was literally speaking for the company... just like if I were to come out and just say someone off the wall I am looked at as a "soldier" not as AL  so yes LBH sometimes UPS IS the Devil hahahhahaha

In a world where there IS a lot of ill feelings against our Muslim brothers and sisters I feel that when things like this happen it just causes that much more ill feeling... its sad and of that there is no doubt

AL

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I guess it depends on the level of the employee, If it were said by a driver to someone in a neighborhood, it's one thing, an isolated idiot but if it's a corporate suit giving a speech to the United Nations on global commerce, sure.

[cart7t]

Does anyone here feel that the employees First Amendment rights were violated?.  I heard some people on cable news arguing that his right to free speech was violated.

He voiced his opinion. His employer also has the right to terminate him if, in his opinion, he offended a customer to the point it was a fireable offense (which this was).  Justice was served.  

[Guest avid]

Does anyone here feel that the employees First Amendment rights were violated?. I heard some people on cable news arguing that his right to free speech was violated.

This is a fair question, but his rights were not violated.

Had he made that statement on his own, even in public than that would clearly be a first amendment issue.  But when he used a response to an email directed to the company, and injected his ignorant and inflammatory views via a company response, he was in fact NOT speaking as as individual, but as an agent of the company.  In that case he is obligated to keep his personal views to himself and follow company policy.  His right to free speech was clearly NOT violated.

[Catt]

Exactly what Mr. Avid said  

[squid]

Does anyone here feel that the employees First Amendment rights were violated?. I heard some people on cable news arguing that his right to free speech was violated.

This is a fair question, but his rights were not violated.

Had he made that statement on his own, even in public than that would clearly be a first amendment issue. But when he used a response to an email directed to the company, and injected his ignorant and inflammatory views via a company response, he was in fact NOT speaking as as individual, but as an agent of the company. In that case he is obligated to keep his personal views to himself and follow company policy. His right to free speech was clearly NOT violated.

AVID IS SO CORRECT ON THIS.

WHEN I WAS OVER THERE...BACK IN THE DAY...LOL...WE HAD GUYS WRITE LETTERS TO COMPANIES ASKING FOR THINGS...AND SOMETIMES WE GOT THEM...LIKE SUNGLASSES...IE...GARGOELS(sp?) OAKLEYS, AND SO ON...AND WE GOT THEM.  BUT BEING THE DOC WITH A MARINE SCOUT PATROL...NO WAY WAS ANY ONE OF US GONNA ASK FOR A MAT.  WHERE WOULD WE CARRY IT?  

WHEN IT GOT COLD OUT THEY ISSUED US SLEEPING BAGS...AND SOME HEAVIER CLOTHING...THAT WAS IT.

THE EMPLOYEE GETTING FIRED WAS A GOOD THING.  NEVER SPEAK ON BEHALF OF YOUR COMPANY WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THEM FIRST....BIG NO NO THERE.

TO OPEN A CAN OF WORMS HERE.....I AM ALL FOR US BEING THERE....THE IRAQI PEOPLE..MOST OF THEM...WANTED OUR HELP AND ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR IT.  IT'S THE ONES WHO WANT TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE NOW GOVT THAT WANTS US OUT AND SHOOTS AT US AND EVERY IRAQI WHO STANDS UP FOR THEIR FREEDOM.  I HAVE FRIENDS OVER THERE WHO SAY IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT WHAT WE HEAR OR SEE IN THE NEWS.   THEY REALLY DO WANT OUR HELP.  

JMO

SQUID