Thread: Support the Troops?

For quite sometime I always told people I did not support the war, but I support the troops.

I started to think about that statement about three or four months ago and I began to wonder if I really believed it. What does support the troops really mean? Hiding behind a flag while waving it yelling some kind of idiotic statement designed to make the pro war crowd feel good about themselves? Wearing an American flag pin on the lapel of my jacket? Buying a cheap plastic "I support the troops" ribbon magnet and putting it on the bumper of my car? To me they're hollow statements of patriotism that many Americans hide behind in the hopes that they(statements) will somehow clear their(Americans) conscience. So I decided to stop saying it, because I felt no matter what I did it wouldn't and never would be enough. I then stated that feeling on a post and was called unamerican (a false accusation that I consider another hollow statement of patriotism).

There's two ways to "support the troops".

You either beleive their effort is futile. In which case you should be demanding their IMMEDIATE return, and screw the Iraqis and their camels.

Or you believe the mission is acheivable, and should be demanding that the United States engage in a full, 100% effort to make that happen.

I'm in the second category.

Damn few people have the honesty to claim the first category.

The rest of you asses are playing politics with American lives. Aren't you proud?

Originally Posted by steezer

For quite sometime I always told people I did not support the war, but I support the troops.

I started to think about that statement about three or four months ago and I began to wonder if I really believed it. What does support the troops really mean? Hiding behind a flag while waving it yelling some kind of idiotic statement designed to make the pro war crowd feel good about themselves? Wearing an American flag pin on the lapel of my jacket? Buying a cheap plastic "I support the troops" ribbon magnet and putting it on the bumper of my car? To me they're hollow statements of patriotism that many Americans hide behind in the hopes that they(statements) will somehow clear their(Americans) conscience. So I decided to stop saying it, because I felt no matter what I did it wouldn't and never would be enough. I then stated that feeling on a post and was called unamerican (a false accusation that I consider another hollow statement of patriotism).

Great post. I don't think one has to say "I support the troops" to support the troops. You know whether you do or not & in the end, that's all that matters. You don't have anything to prove to anybody but yourself.

Originally Posted by Migi e!

Great post. I don't think one has to say "I support the troops" to support the troops. You know whether you do or not & in the end, that's all that matters. You don't have anything to prove to anybody but yourself.

Thanks Migi. Coming from you, oh wise one, that means a lot!

Originally Posted by steezer

Thanks Migi. Coming from you, oh wise one, that means a lot!

Oh wise one??? :jawdrop: Lord have mercy.

Originally Posted by Migi e!

Oh wise one??? :jawdrop: Lord have mercy.

No Shit huh?:laughing:

Wellll...I support the troops in that I don't want any of them to be wounded or killed. Beyond that, I don't much care.

Originally Posted by Freedom for All

Damn few people have the honesty to claim the first category.

Bullshit. Damn few? I'd say most of the anti-war people on this forum claim the first category.

Originally Posted by steezer

What does support the troops really mean?

Well, quite literally, it is the very LEAST we can do. Bush has done absolutely nothing to share any of the burden of the war because that might make it unpopular. Anything beyond reciting three sentimental words is too much to ask even the biggest hawks.

Steezer you made that statement in another thread which I read I think yesterday. I understood what you were getting at. FFA's definitions of support I'll accept and, I would put myself in the first group. My reason for believing the effort is futile isn't because its not achieveable, its just not achieveable in a time frame and cost I find acceptable. Its a bad war and its was bad going in. So my "support" is keeping my representatives aware of my views on this and my vote for President will reflect my views on this issue but I won't vote a single issue either.

But my support is also personal. I belong to the DAV, I am one, and I support others who are also. I also support my brother's family, not sole support but more than just Christmas presents. But thats pretty new to me in that regard since he only left in August its difficult since they are in Europe.

What I don't do is wear a flag lapel pin and I don't have magnetic yellow thingy (it ain't a ribbon) on my car. But supporting Bush is not the same as supporting the troops.