Steve Smith
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2008
- Messages
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Type 1: Stolen valor. The wearing of insignia of some association (regimental, masonic, philanthropic, etc.) which one does not have the “right” to wear, as determined by that association. Alternatively, consciously purchasing "fakes".
'Stolen valor' is a grossly overused term, and I disagree with the use of the term for the types of examples mentioned above. If someone is somehow representing that he is a recipient of an award which is received for heroism, then I get it. If you are fasely claiming to have received a Navy Cross or a Congressional Medal of Honor then that is stolen valor.
Beyond that, people need to lighten up. A kid wearing a few camouflage uniform items is not necessarily claiming to be a veteran or military hero. He probably just thinks the stuff is cool. I know that if a kid is wearing an old-style flight jacket with a B-25 patch on it he is not claiming to have flown on Doolittle's raid. Someone can wear a Marine Corps Emblem t shirt without being a Marine, just like you can wear a New England Patriots shirt without having played for the team.
Wrongful appropriation, but not 'stolen valor' because IMO there is no valor implied, is when you are wearing full uniforms. Or if you are wearing something which expresses or implies rank, example: a military issue flight jacket with a name/rank patch and/or a squadron patch. Even in these two examples I see it as just being goofy or in poor taste and I'm certainly not interested in calling anyone out about it.
And while we're at it, let's get over this dumbass practice of calling every run of the mill veteran, cop or firefighter a hero.