An Open Letter to Sarah Palin January 21, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Bristol, charity, Palin, PTSD, Recon, Sarah, sniper, Track, USMC, VA
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Dear Mrs. Palin,
I am a former US Marine and US Navy Officer with a Combat Action Ribbon as well as service connected disabilities. I am also a Republican. I have also served with, and am friends with, dozens of combat veterans who suffer daily from various injuries and wounds to include PTSD. I recently read your comments related to PTSD in which you attempted to excuse your son’s arrest on domestic abuse charges and firearm charges by referencing his supposed PTSD. Based upon your previous comments I am not surprised that you would choose to use this very serious condition as a political football and, once again, attempt to divert blame from your own family’s abhorrent, violent behavior.
In 2014 your entire family was involved in a late night ‘drunken brawl’ at a party in which Track Palin (the accused domestic abuser) was involved in a bloody fight. While you publicly stated how proud you were at your children’s violent actions, maybe this should have been a sign that Track has a problem. It is certainly curious that you did not feel the need to reference his supposed PTSD in this situation and instead stated: “…my kids’ defense of family makes my heart soar!” Maybe, instead of encouraging Track’s violence, you should have taken the opportunity to get him help. Maybe, instead of being the result of PTSD, your son was simply trying to uphold the stated Palin family values and “…make your heart soar” by abusing a woman.
PTSD is stigmatized in the media and not well understood by the general public. An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide every day in the United States. This is nearly 8,000 veterans who take their lives every year. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) stated: “Every day in the United States, 22 veterans succumb to suicide — losing their personal battle to invisible wounds of war.” Veterans who have willingly given so much in service to their country should not have to bear the burden of being further stigmatized by your ignorant and foolish statements.
While I do not propose to speak for all veterans, I am clearly not alone in my views regarding your unfortunate statements. They were unfortunate for the many veterans who face further disdain and discrimination based upon your inaccurate and ignorant portrayal of those who suffer with PTSD as well as the causes of the condition.
While I would personally prefer that you simply avoid public life and simply fade away, if you insist on trying to use your “celebrity status” for a cause, please educate yourself on the facts of PTSD and try to help veterans by using your significant influence in a more productive, and less political manner. There are a number of veteran’s organizations to which you can donate time, money and energy to make a difference. Two organizations you may want to consider is the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation and the Recon & Sniper Foundation.
Regards,
Chris Mark
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 
Mr. Mark,
First and foremost, thank you, sir, for your service. My father, now deceased, served in WWII and I have a grandson in the National Guard. My dad used to have dreadful dreams. I have to believe he suffered PTSD before anyone knew what that was! If not for you and the many brave men and women, we would not have the many luxuries we do as Americans.
I also sincerely appreciate your post. I, too, wish Sarah Palin would simply “fade away”. As a female, I find her inappropriate and inarticulate rantings offensive and a poor example of a role model for women of all ages; but as a mother, I find her behavior appalling and her “reaction” to her own child’s abusive and disrespectful behavior (to another human being…not to mention, a woman) bordering on abusive in its own rite. The fact she still has a voice at any level is incomprehensible.
I am a Democrat, and while there is an apparent “impasse” among the parties, I continue to hope that our United States of America can move beyond the current state of hate and selfishness. I believe there is a middle ground that would benefit all Americans and would prove the blood, sweat & tears of our service people is not in vain.
I appreciate you sharing your voice and send
Peace and Light to you and yours.
Respectfully
Deb Fritz
As the sister of a fallen marine (Vietnam) and having a brother that served in the Navy, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service. Semper Fi my friend.
As the sister of a fallen marine (Vietnam) and having a brother that served in the Navy, I thank you for your service from the bottom of my heart. Semper Fi my friend.
Thank you Mark for your service and for your ‘Open Letter to Sarah Palin’. I’ve shared your letter and have asked others to share it too. My comments on FB: I have a brother who was drafted during Vietnam, an ex-husband who joined the Navy and served two tours in Vietnam where he lost many friends doing river patrols, a nephew who with 18 years of service is still serving our country after many, many tours overseas, and another nephew who is about to graduate as an Army Ranger. Thank you to all who proudly serve in the military!!! Chris Mark got it right in his ‘Open Letter to Sarah Palin’ – she just needs to ‘fade away’!
Nicely stated response…thank you
Thank you for writing this letter in response to a loose cannon and seemingly uncompassionate, narcissistic, and clueless human being. Thank you for who you are and for what you have sacrificed to defend the nonsensical reality of war that destroys, piece by piece, all of the humanity of the human race. Stay strong and continue to share your convictions and wisdom with all human beings, even those people who seem to be being entertained at the expense of the unimaginable pain and grief other human beings are suffering through. With appreciation, Shari
as an observer, I cannot understand why some in the public dislike Sarah Palin so much….. it’s not like she is a hag feminist and communist/islamist sympathizer like Clinton….. and as for unwed mothers, my goodness, most of Hollywood is an unwed mother/father… and as for egregious crimes against society, nothing she or her kids could ever do would come close to the 55 million abortions that have happened in North America., or come close to the manipulations of the elite of America, the EU, etc. I think women are jealous of her natural good looks and her ability to speak ‘off the cuff”, she is smart, and American first. I don’t get it.
yes, I agree that you definitely don’t get it
Well, Jean for starters: She quit after serving only two years as Alaska’s governor. She is basically an incoherent public speaker. her children act like trailer trash and she blames it on anything but their upbringing, Her grasp of reality is tenuous at beast and she would rather throw grenades than deal with anything that disagrees with her distorted view of the world. I suspect you get your “news” from Fox and Rush and distrust the mainstream media.
Please don’t lump us folks who live in trailers with Ms. Palin… Trailer trash stands head and shoulders above what she stands for. Thanks.
If you think Sarah Palin is smart, there’s really not much use speaking to you because you’re living on Bizarro world.
Because she is an idiot and an attention-whore.
Smart? She couldn’t name a single Founding Father other than Washington during a Glenn Beck interview. She thinks the Pledge of Allegiance was written by the same Founders she cannot name. It was not even written in the same century! She also thinks it mentioned God in its original form. (it did not!) In short, she is either ignorant of American history, or she is trying to convince the world she is ignorant of American history! Either way, the effect is the same.
Essentially a failed public servant and lousy mother, she is only in the limelight because she has a vague physical attractiveness. If she looked like Madeleine Albright, we’d have never heard of her.
She is shallow, bitter, has appeared to be drunk while giving speeches. Not qualities I desire in a leader.
Hi Jean,
I wouldn’t say it’s ‘some in the public’ who dislike her. I would say a majority of Americans share a disdain for her seemingly drunken spewing of incoherent phrases, her ignorance, her inadequacies as a public servant, etc.
Please, don’t defend someone whose sole purpose in life is to make herself a reality TV star. We need real stars… leaders with integrity, stature, real smarts and the experience to do the job. Sarah is one of the greatest examples of what we don’t need…
And, regarding your statement concerning Secretary Clinton being a Muslim sympathizer, perhaps you should walk a mile in the shoes of devout Muslims who share many of the same views concerning family, religion, community and country. They are beholden to all, and have the same rights and protections as you and I, as citizens of the USA.
JD
Jean….you can’t be serious. really. you have too much Kool Aid in your system. this gentleman wrote an eloquent letter in the hopes that folks like you that PT
SD is NOT a political football. it is a serious problem that crosses political lines. i’d call you an idiot, but that wouldn’t be fair to idiots.
silly woman
Wow. Just…no. You’re not paying attention.
And to the marine, thank you, sir.
Well when your Christian daughter…whomis the spokesperson for abstinence…gets pregnant for the second time out of wedlock…ummmm, yeah…that is a problem
Jean Robertson: Correct me if I am wrong but does she not pander to the public by the means of “GOOD CHRISTIAN VALUES”? It doesn’t matter what everyone else does, she and her family invoke “CHRISTIAN VALUES”. Her daughter as had 2 children out of wedlock as she instructs children on the values of abstinence, she talks about her son’s PTSD and blames it on the POTUS, exactly when was he sent over seas and when did he return. Now out to the light is the story that e never saw combat. wats that about?
You’re right, you don’t get it!
Thank you Sir
Chris–I can only hope that Ms. Palin sees your letter and learns from it. But based on her history, I doubt she will. And blaming President Obama for the issues her son has when it was a President from HER party who got us into that mess in the first place was also offensive. I can only hope she brings Trump down with her.
Thank you Chris…..both for your service to our nation and for straightening out Ms Palin!
Ed Savage
San Diego, Ca
Thank you Chris, very well said.
Thank you for a extremely well written letter. Unfortunately, she won’t understand it. Your service to our Country is greatly appreciated, and God Bless you..
Who the ____ are you to comment? Are you a known leadership figure in the USA? Or not?
Are you suggesting that only ‘known leadership (f)igures should be able to comment on a politician? Wow…your grasp of our system is unbelievable. I am a US citizen and I have a blog. I can comment and opine on any person or subject I so desire. As you likely are unclear….the 1st Amendment protects that RIGHT…any further questions?
Bravo!!
Who is he to comment? He is a US citizen. It is his right and responsibility to comment and question our leaders. They work for us.
Are you questioning Chris’ right to comment? Strikes me that it’s not only his right to comment, but that he’s obliged to do so when he hears politicians ‘manipulate the truth’ in such a way.
Sarah Palin is a troubled person. She quit her job as Alaska governor to make more money. Not to be more “effective” like she stated in her speech. The people of Alaska are probably better off but the people that voted for her were ripped off by her. She was elected to fight for them but when the chance came about to enrich herself she dropped them like a bad habit. So now she’s stuck pretending she might get back into government, which she won’t do as long as she thinks the money will still be coming in.
She doesn’t really care about the subject of PTSD. From what I understand her son didn’t even see any combat. So unfortunately she won’t be taking Mr. Mark’s letter into consideration. But I am glad he wrote it.
Excellent response Chris. I have long considered Sarah Palin to be a blight on society and a perfect example of how not to parent your children. She is physically and mentally unable to accept responsibility for her own family’s moral and ethical shortcomings.
What’s obivous to me is your all Obama supporters with your head in the sand thinking he’s done a good job with this country. Maybe you should vote for Hillary who cares for nothing but for herself and Bill and all the money they have hidden in off shore accounts. Wake up people.
Have you forgot who sent your ass to war GEORGE BUSH,people just don’t get it GEORGE BUSH lied you in to that terrible war
“…sent your ass to war.”? There has not been a draft since 1973. Every military member volunteers to ‘go to war’. My own experience was under President Clinton. Does this change your perspective?
We went willingly and look at the votes to send troops. Majority votes came from the democratic side public records look it up.
Off topic much?
Brent, can you tell me how your life is worse that it was when he took over in 2008? And do you honestly think Hillary is the only one in this race that doesn’t have offshore bank accounts? Trump? Perhaps it is you that needs to wake up.
[…] Source: An Open Letter to Sarah Palin […]
Thank you for your service to our country and for this eloquent message. My father and uncle were veterans, along with other family members. We lost one member at the Pentagon on that September morning. Every time that woman and that presidential candidate open their mouths they do nothing but disparage our country and sink to lower depths. She could do more to help her family by getting help for them and for herself. Thank you again.
Very well stated! Thank you for the letter and thank you for your service to our country. My husband is a Viet Nam veteran and a Bronze Star recipient. I too wish Sarah Palin would disappear.
Chris Mark. Why are you a Republican? Please wake up.
To suggest that my leaning toward the Republican side somehow makes me ‘ignorant’ is offensive. I could ask “why are you Democrat”. I am sure you would have an answer that I would not agree with. It is this type of divisive rhetoric that our country can do without.
Exactly. I might not agree with your lean…(i.e. Republican), but I can agree with your comment. Too often, we, as Americans, assume that only OUR side has the right answers. This cannot be further from the truth. We MUST work together. If we can’t, we are doomed. BTW…I am Democrat.
Damn Chris, you are quite the word-smith. I wish there wasn’t a two party system, it quickly divides us all. I hope Palin reads your letter, and even if she doesn’t, you’ve obviously reached a lot of people in a short amount of time. All the best.
I am also, technically, a Republican. I do not vote that way most of the time due to the direction the party has taken since 2008. However, politics aside, you wrote a reasoned and well stated letter here. Those who are trying to make it even more political than Mrs. Palin already has need to try and take their party politics out of things from time to time. If more people could do that, and stop this fanatical, almost religious devotion to political parties (neither side seems to be able to admit the mistakes their party of choice has made over the years and there are plenty to go around without a doubt!) maybe we could work to better this country for all of our citizens!
Thank you for your service and your well thought out response to Mrs. Palin. I am sorry that she seems to be a standard representation of the Republican party these days and I’m sorry that you will likely catch flack from Republicans and Democrats alike for this for one reason or another.
I could not agree more! Thank you for the response!
Chris Mark your letter touched me,I’m.Glad someone like you have guts to educate ‘Palin, but,if she likes to join REPUBLICAN PARTY AGAIN let her do so. ENCOURAGE her to exercise her freedom.of Speech. Thank you.
Beautiful articulate statement, sir
Excellent response to Ms. Palin’s rhetoric. Will she read it? Possibly. Will she learn anything from it? Doubtful. What is equally frightening is the number of people who believe she would be a great choice for VP…. only a heartbeat away from the Presidency. I hope your letter and more like it will get America to wake up.
I’d like to add the EOD Warrior Foundation (eodwarriorfoundation.org), and The Real Warriors Campaign (real warriors.net) to Chris’ suggestions of worthy organizations dedicated to helping those members of our armed forces who suffer from PTSD, and I’d also like to direct you, Ms. Palin, to ptsd.va.gov, and afterdeployment.org, two very worthy organizations that strive to help our veterans with PTSD while also educating the public on what PTSD is and is not. Education is a powerful tool, which can increase not only your knowledge base, but also your credibility…
Thank you!
My brother in law became “one of the 22” last year. Thank you for your service, and your letter in his defense. You are a true hero.
Thank you Chris for you letter to Sarah Palin. Anyone that thinks she is smart has serious issues themselves. She needs a book to teach when to speak and what not to say.
Have you ever thought about taking basic English courses? Ones that teach one to match subject and verb? I don’t necessarily like Sarah Palin but your rant made me laugh.
I have looked for more ‘basic English’ courses in my doctoral studies and cannot seem to find any. Come to think of it, I can’t recall many in my MBA or BA, either. Gosh, my sincere apologies for “making you laugh” with English error on a f’n blog post.
…says the man who forgot to capitalize his last name.
Thank you for your service, and THANK YOU for saying for what so many of us are feeling. I too have a brother who is a veteran of The current war that suffers daily from PTSD. It is a serious condition and shouldn’t be taken lightly or used as an excuse. It breaks my heart to see fellow Americans say such absurd statements the truly know nothing about, especially when they are in the public eye.
Well said – stay strong and thank you!
Thank you for your letter and, most of all, for your service to our country . . . both are greatly appreciated. Your letter is beautifully written, but I’m afraid Sarah Palin will never be able to comprehend your words and their meanings. I am mortified to think of her and Donald Trump trying to run this country . . .
My thought was , does her son really have PTSD ? my next thought was , who am I to question whether he does or not. Meanwhile Hillary is under investigation by the FBI for mishandling secret information, putting our security at risk. No one seems to care !
Mr Mark, I don’t care if your political leaning is as a Martian, when you are right, you are right. Thank you, sir, for your service and I hope that you got some satisfaction out of your open letter, because even if Palin were to read it, and had a dictionary handy, she’d never understand it.
THANK YOU CHRIS!!!!! For serving your country and protecting our freedom AND for this lettering putting Palin in her place. Like you, I wish she would fade away, far,far away. GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
Exceptional letter and more people to read and share it, more importantly someone needs to get this letter directly to Ms. Palin and more importantly to Mr. Trump. A relationship with Palin will only hurt his campaign and if he has any doubt about that, he can simply and Senator McCain.
Mr. Trump, distance yourself and your campaign from Ms. Palin, let her fade quietly into the Alaska Sunset.
Thank you for your service.
J. Shanks, USAF retired
I would suggest both Palin and Trump fade into the sunset. They are both pompous gasbags with not one creative idea between them on how to solve this nations ills. All they are good at is pointing out the frustrations of a nation that has had 8 years of living under a man who was, and still remains, a man who was never qualified to be president. I hope America gets its head on straight and finds a REAL candidate to run for president or we are all doomed.
Very well written sir. If she doesn’t get a clue from reading your letter, she never will. Thanks for your service as I can also relate to such behavior as well as you. I served in Nam and there are issues from that war as well.
Dear Mr. Mark,
I basically agree with your statement regarding the Palin behavior being blamed on PTSD.
As a former Vietnam Combat Marine with service connected disabilities, I find it hard to comprehend why so many of our service members are diagnosed with PTSD.
I certainly would not take Senator Blumentahals word that 22 veterans per day are committing suicide. Senator Blumenthal pleaded guilty to false valor as he lied about his service in the Marines during the Vietnam war, and his figures on suicide related deaths out number the number of casualties during the war.
Politicians shouldn’t justify behavior on service related injuries, instead they need to train our troops in the art of war, not the art of political correctness.
Thank you for your observation and support of our troops.
Well said Chris!!! Thank you for your service and for continuing to stand up for what is right!
People who are talking about why people are jealous of Sarah Palin, why Chris is Republican, who sent who off to war are completely missing the point of this letter. Sarah Palin’s son DID NOT see combat, Chris Mark and his comrades did. Sarah Palin is almost making light of PTSD because her son got in trouble with the law and has violent tendencies. She should have nipped that in the bud some years ago instead of celebrating it.
Thank for standing up to the hype about being a man and the manipulation of the importance of PTSD. For too long this country has down played PTSD’s impact. Way too many men and women who served us are punished for the effect of their service. Using PTSD for selfish reason serves no one.
Glad to see that most of the comments support your POV, Mark. There’s hope yet. Republican or Democrat does not matter. Everyone should read the Preamble to the Declaration and realize that it is time to throw everyone out and start over. There is now a political class in America, not a political republic as was originally conceived (For the People, By the People) http://users.wfu.edu/zulick/340/Declaration.html
Mr. Mark, how dare you try to serve yourself up as somebody of worth by stating you are a former Marine and Navy Offucer with a Comba Action “Ribbon” and service connected disability? To a layman that may sound like you were a grunt and possibly wounded in combat, to the rest of us that means you were merely present when gunfire was exchanged and is your disability “Combat Related”? Don’t try to play yourself up so you can bash someone you obviously have disdain for, because that is not honorable! Be a fucking MAN and say I dislike this lady and don’t appreciate what she says, unless that is if you are suffering from COMBAT RELATED PTSD, then yes, you can sound off like you did. Otherwise, don’t act like you know anything about this lady or her family other than what you have read in the Liberal Media! You disrespect The Corps, The Navy, and all Military Members by trying to paint yourself as something you are not to validate you fucking opinion!
Once again I have to remind some simpleton to use “the Google”. Since you are unaware, the Navy and Marine Corps identifies those in ‘direct combat’ with what is known as a CAR (Combat Action Ribbon) It is a “by name award” and requires more than merely “being present”. I never said I was ‘combat wounded’. This would have said something like: “I have a Purple Heart” or “I was combat wounded”. See the difference? If you had spent 5 minutes doing research instead of pounding inane comments out on your keyboard like a caffeinated monkey you may have masked your ignorance. So..if my PTSD is ‘combat related’ then my opinion is validated? Next time, before you comment, do just a bit of research so you don’t look so foolish.
21. Chris, very well said but unfortunately on deaf ears. Mrs. Palin couldn’t possibly understand nor accept that her life and that of her family’s mirrors a typical TV drama which fortunately for the stars can go home to sanity. It may be best if you created a comic book that she could look at to understand her brainless actions.
I am a Marine Mom….. and as they say once a Marine always a Marine. That is my son he has served in Iraq and beyond. Never knowing where he was at times or his well being as a mother I worried daily. I AM THANKFUL my son came Home. He brought a buddy back with him full time. Many know him his name is PTSD. I will say as a mother yes I tell my kids to stand strong and have each others back but never to the point of DV (domestic violence ). I raise my sons (6) to never lay a hand on a woman. Thank you everyone for your sevice. I pray for all our service ppl to come home safe and God protect and heal all with PTSD.
TY, ALWAYS A MARINE MOM
You sir are greatly appreciated and are very respected to what you have said to Sarah Palin she’s a nuisance to society and you my dear have just put her in her place where she belongs. She needs to realize she can’t keep making up lame excuses for her family.Own up to it and get out and go away already.
Thank you Chris for sharing your heart. I am from Alaska. I was hoping she would let Track be a man and deal with the consequences and take full responsibility for his actions. I am a mom too and my boys will take responsibility for any coward acts like beating up a woman. The other responders are idiots and trying to politicize this. This is about letting a man be responsible.
You sir are greatly appreciated and are very respected to what you have said to Sarah Palin she’s a nuisance to society and you my dear have just put her in her place where she belongs. She needs to realize she can’t keep making up lame excuses for her family.Own up to it and get out and go away already.Nobody wants to hear anything she even has to say and she looks like a fool.She needs to see that her family is not normal and they have issues.
Thank you for your service to our country, sir, even though it means defending the ignorant people like Sarah Palin.
I’d like to thank you Mr. Mark for your service and all the enlisted men & women and all the veterans old and young for protecting and fighting for our freedom as Americans and so that others may have an opportunity to have freedom as we do.
I’m am not a veteran but I too suffer from P.T.S.D. and I have found that unless you experience it, you really don’t understand. Many don’t understand what P.T.S.D. sufferers go thru on a day to day bases. The nightmares, the reliving of the traumatic event , playing like a movie or clips from a movie in your mind on a endless loop that you can’t turn off . And how some look at you and think your making it all up.
I read your letter and many of the replies that followed and I’d like to share my take on all of it.
And Again this is just my take on what I read.
Why do some of you want to make this into a political thing? Because Ms. Palin is public figure? If Ms. Palin wants to use P.T.S.D. ,whether it’s right or wrong , as to why her son behaved as he did, shouldn’t she want to be knowledgeable about this disorder and educate people on it. Bring more awareness that this is a REAL disorder that people suffer from?
What does it matter if your a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?
As Americans shouldn’t we all want the best American who is best for the job? An American with morality to distinguish between right and wrong, with mutual respect given to and received from each of us? No matter what party they belong to, or what race or color, male or female, young or old, rich or poor?
We all need to quit putting people into groups and we all need to stop putting labels on everything.
We should all strive to be HUMANS first
and AMERICANS second.
Sarah is fool she has no place to speak. About anything important, wish she and her family would go away. Thank you Chris for your service to our country.
Thank you Chris and all of those who have answered the call to protect our country…I hope that one day there will be resources and a support system for our veterans when they return home from combat and can no longer actively serve our country. Hopefully the billions or trillions of dollars spent on wars can be changed to being spent on abolishing homeless veterans, creating recovery centers for our vets those who suffer from PTSD and other mental illnesses . As for Sarah Palin, I have no words.