I've worked with Marine veterans to document & report active duty Marines who participated in Charlottesville and other active duty military members who posted pro-Nazi material. There are veterans who are fighting fascists not excusing them. Excusing Platner is an insult to them.
Apophatically
Showing respect to the point of refusing to judge someone’s questionable actions is a version of what George W. Bush called “the soft bigotry of low expectations.” This attitude reduces an incredibly diverse group of individuals to the “broken veteran” cliché.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Graham Platner’s defenders are playing into a dangerous stereotype about Americans who have fought in war.
