An American Way Forward

As the 2024 election draws near, conversations surrounding freedom of speech and political perspectives are heating up. For many, this is just another election cycle—but for veterans, it strikes a different chord.

Having dedicated their lives to defending the very rights at the heart of our democracy, including freedom of speech, many veterans view the upcoming election with a sense of both duty and reflection.

Veterans come from diverse backgrounds and hold a wide range of political beliefs. This diversity mirrors the very essence of freedom of speech—they may disagree on policies or candidates, but they stand united in their defense of our right to have differing opinions - at least that is the case with the hosts of The Slide podcast and the Collective Perspective podcast.

Watch the Video

Episode 5: Unity Between Rivals: An American Way Forward

In this episode of 'The Slide' podcast, hosted by Tavares Bethel, listeners are treated to candid conversations with Jeff Aldrich and Travis Eadens from the Collective Perspective Podcast. The conversation shares their experiences as veterans of the United States Navy and exchanges a friendly banter between Army-Navy rivals.  They also discuss the impact of military service on personal beliefs, the importance of open dialogue about politics and societal issues, and the role of media in shaping public perception.

This episode contains explicit content. Viewer discretion is advised. The intention of The Slide podcast is not to offend but to provide real conversations into topics affecting communities within the United States. The opinions contained within this episode are solely those who have expressed them. Proceed only if you are comfortable with potentially sensitive topics.

See Time Stamps for this video at the end of this article.

A Call for Respectful Discourse

As the election approaches, some veterans feel disheartened by the polarization in political discourse. They acknowledge the growing tendency to shut down opposing views rather than engage in constructive debate. For those who fought for the right to speak freely, this shift can feel like a betrayal of the values they served to protect.

Why Freedom of Speech Hits Home for Veterans

The First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, is often considered one of the most fundamental rights in the United States. For veterans, who have served to protect this right, the election season represents a time when their sacrifices are in the spotlight. Whether or not they agree with the political views being expressed, many veterans hold strong to the idea that every citizen should have the right to voice their opinion.

For some, this becomes a personal and emotional experience. Having seen the consequences of restricted speech in countries they’ve served in or near, they appreciate how essential it is for people to express themselves freely without fear of censorship or oppression.

Through friendly banter of their own, these veterans talk about the difference between rivalries and the unity we need in our country throughout this episode.

"The difference of today and how people are against each other in that way - in that civil matter. You think about it. You have sports. I'll never be a Jaguar fan, but I don't hate you for being a Jaguar fan. Nor do I hate you for being in the Army, because at the end of the day, I like football, and I love my country. ~ Jeff Aldrich, Collective Perspective Podcast Co-host

Challenges in Today's American Society

Yet, can one argue the flip side? Do we abuse our rights of freedom of speech - particularly through social media channels? Currently, we are experiencing political rivalries that have spun out of control between many on the Red and Blue teams. The amount of rhetoric that we are barraged with on a daily basis can seem overwhelmingly dire at times. We have seen a rise in political violence with the assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump. We are exposed to demeaning and threatening remarks spewed widely across these channels - remarks that forebode more violence and unrest on the horizon if certain results occur in the upcoming election.

Throughout this episode and on their own podcast: The Collective Perspective Podcast, Jeff and Travis share their thoughts on these societal ills, particularly emphasizing the lack of genuine communication driven askew by the power of the media and a few affluent interests. Jeff and Travis argue that the media and these billionaires shape public opinion and control narratives that separates people, preventing genuine conversation and understanding. They see podcasts like The Slide and The Collective Perspective as powerful counters to this trend, offering platforms for unfiltered discourse.

Reflecting on the workplace taboo of discussing politics and religion, Tavaris highlights that we've also built these constructs into our society to prevent a common understanding. While these topics historically have not been seen as polite conversation, he challenges our thinking and believes that having open discussions are crucial given that topics such as politics and religion govern people's lives. Avoiding these topics in the workplace where we spend most of our time only perpetuates societal divisions.

The majority of the relations that you will form will come from work. Your work environment is governed by politics, and the people in the environment are governed by the morality that will be extended to an environment that was governed by a church. So without these systems operating at optimal efficiency and working together, communicating... that's why our society is trash right now, right? And no one really wants to attack the solutions. ~ Tavares Bethel, The Slide Host

Both Tavares and his guests advocate for freedom of speech and the necessity to communicate respectfully, even when disagreements arise. Their conversation begs the question of how can we move forward if we confine ourselves to polite conversations in person, but destructive ones online?

Engaged Civic Duty

As we head forward toward the 2024 election in November, veterans play a vital role in reminding us of the importance of freedom of speech and political engagement. Their service underscores the weight of these freedoms and the responsibility that comes with them.

Whether through their votes, voices, or actions, veterans continue to defend the very rights they once fought for. This episode of The Slide encourages all people - veterans and civilians alike - to engage in thoughtful, respectful, and informed political discourse. Plus the friendly banter between our Army and Navy brothers give us a great reminder and nudge that even if we play for different teams, we can still unite behind a worthy cause: America and the country that our veterans and service members have fought hard to defend for centuries.

About the Collective Perspective Podcast and our Guests

On its third season, the Collective Perspective Podcast is on a mission to bring together diversity in thoughts to create real and meaningful progress.

As veterans, they believe every American should feel heard, valued, and respected regardless of their political ideologies or backgrounds. The podcast serves as a platform to bridge divides and unite communities in search of common ground.

The hosts of The Collective Perspective podcast strive for truth and understanding in controversial topics and believe that fact-based research and respectful dialogue will inspire others to come together as one collective voice working towards compromise and solutions rather than division and conflict.

Jeff Aldrich

Jeff is a Navy veteran of the Gulf War, a sound engineer and account manager with Guitar Center Pro. Jeff is the co-host of the Collective Perspective podcast.

Travis Eadens

Travis is a Navy veteran of the Gulf War. Travis is an experienced traveling nurse. Travis is the co-host of the Collective Perspective podcast.

Check out https://mtsjax.fm/collective-perspective to learn more about the Collective Perspective Podcast.

Episode Notes

Veterans' Voices: Bridging Divides and Sharing Perspectives

This episode provides a unique opportunity to hear candid banter between veterans and aims to model unity and bridge societal divides.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:55 Meet the Guests: Jeff Aldrich and Travis Eadens

01:41 Military Backgrounds and Experiences

04:20 Joining the Military: Personal Stories

07:42 The Importance of Unity and Communication

09:48 Challenges in Society and Media Influence

11:52 Freedom of Speech and Political Views

28:46 The Role of Childhood in Shaping Society

30:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts