Comments on: What does it really mean to “support the troops”? http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:09:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Nate http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-48688 Nate Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:19:03 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-48688 You people go give way way too much thought into the phrase. I am with gatomjp here. Do us civilians know what goes on there and what the politicians are doing? No! It means don't be a piece a shit to the troops. They are doing what is told. They willingly sacrifice to defend our country. The specifics of why and what they do during war is generalizing all troops. Not everybody is the same. SO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS OR FUCK OFF!! You people go give way way too much thought into the phrase. I am with gatomjp here. Do us civilians know what goes on there and what the politicians are doing? No! It means don’t be a piece a shit to the troops. They are doing what is told. They willingly sacrifice to defend our country.

The specifics of why and what they do during war is generalizing all troops. Not everybody is the same. SO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS OR FUCK OFF!!

]]> By: Sass http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-12715 Sass Thu, 31 May 2007 03:56:17 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-12715 Some of us who support the troops are wives of men overseas right now. Some of us who support the troops actually know the day to day of what is happening over there, rather than relying on propaganda... whether it is liberal or conservative... it's ALL propaganda. Much of what is published here is propaganda, just not the kind the the Bush Administration and media put forth. Some of us who support the troops are wives of men overseas right now. Some of us who support the troops actually know the day to day of what is happening over there, rather than relying on propaganda… whether it is liberal or conservative… it’s ALL propaganda. Much of what is published here is propaganda, just not the kind the the Bush Administration and media put forth.

]]> By: Ben http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-12704 Ben Wed, 30 May 2007 15:18:16 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-12704 "At some point, the disconnect between the actions of the soldiers and the many alleged goals of the Iraq occupation should have become apparent to anyone who cared to know the truth." It would be nice to believe this. I have a feeling that most of the troops are pretty brainwashed, though. Compared to the propaganda the soldiers are allowed to see, Fox news probably looks fair and balanced. I doubt that Uncle Sam would allow anyone in uniform to declare the war a farce. In fact, congress seems to be jsut as slow to act. Whether or not we have all the information we need to declare the Iraq war/occupation unjust, the military won't ever tell. This is the power of the military machine, it requires faith in those who hold the highest intelligence/security level. (Even if that greater awareness of the situation is just illusion, we still must obey). “At some point, the disconnect between the actions of the soldiers and the many alleged goals of the Iraq occupation should have become apparent to anyone who cared to know the truth.”

It would be nice to believe this. I have a feeling that most of the troops are pretty brainwashed, though. Compared to the propaganda the soldiers are allowed to see, Fox news probably looks fair and balanced. I doubt that Uncle Sam would allow anyone in uniform to declare the war a farce. In fact, congress seems to be jsut as slow to act. Whether or not we have all the information we need to declare the Iraq war/occupation unjust, the military won’t ever tell. This is the power of the military machine, it requires faith in those who hold the highest intelligence/security level. (Even if that greater awareness of the situation is just illusion, we still must obey).

]]> By: projektleiterin http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-12685 projektleiterin Tue, 29 May 2007 19:46:12 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-12685 I read an article about Herold Noel, an Irak veteran who is jobless and homeless because of PTSD. There's a documentary about him and other Irak veterans. Here's a link to the film website: http://www.whenicamehome.com/ I haven't seen it, but it might be interesting to take a look at it and see how life really is for those who return home from war. For me, the majority of those who say "Support the troops" are the same kind of people who say, "Against abortion, defend the unborn life", and who will look the other way when a single mom with her kid needs help. Or who don't care that the number of children living in poverty is increasing. Or who don't care about affordable education. I see them as pursuing a fluffy idea of higher ethical values with no meaning in the real world. I think the mud campaign against John Kerry was one of the lowest things that Bush pulled off and people just sucked it up. There goes your remorse about bad treatment of Vietnam veterans. I don't know what kind of person he really is or whether he would have been such a great president, but he certainly would have deserved a more respectful treatment. I read an article about Herold Noel, an Irak veteran who is jobless and homeless because of PTSD. There’s a documentary about him and other Irak veterans. Here’s a link to the film website: http://www.whenicamehome.com/ I haven’t seen it, but it might be interesting to take a look at it and see how life really is for those who return home from war.

For me, the majority of those who say “Support the troops” are the same kind of people who say, “Against abortion, defend the unborn life”, and who will look the other way when a single mom with her kid needs help. Or who don’t care that the number of children living in poverty is increasing. Or who don’t care about affordable education. I see them as pursuing a fluffy idea of higher ethical values with no meaning in the real world.

I think the mud campaign against John Kerry was one of the lowest things that Bush pulled off and people just sucked it up. There goes your remorse about bad treatment of Vietnam veterans. I don’t know what kind of person he really is or whether he would have been such a great president, but he certainly would have deserved a more respectful treatment.

]]> By: gatomjp http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-12669 gatomjp Tue, 29 May 2007 01:33:09 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-12669 The vague concept of "supporting" the troops is a counter-reaction to the way many Americans treated returning Viet Nam vets. I'm old enough to remember the injustice of it and as a nation we are still ashamed of using our soldiers as scapegoats for a war that was at first difficult, then impossible to accept. We have resolved not make that mistake again and will direct our outrage at the proper targets this time. In other words, "Support the Troops" means "Don't spit on them as they come home". The vague concept of “supporting” the troops is a counter-reaction to the way many Americans treated returning Viet Nam vets. I’m old enough to remember the injustice of it and as a nation we are still ashamed of using our soldiers as scapegoats for a war that was at first difficult, then impossible to accept. We have resolved not make that mistake again and will direct our outrage at the proper targets this time.

In other words, “Support the Troops” means “Don’t spit on them as they come home”.

]]> By: Vicki Baker http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-12667 Vicki Baker Tue, 29 May 2007 00:49:22 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-12667 Good post. Way too long to fit on a bumper sticker though. Good post. Way too long to fit on a bumper sticker though.

]]> By: tmol http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-12666 tmol Mon, 28 May 2007 22:55:19 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-12666 SUPPORT (s-pôrt, -prt) TRANSITIVE VERB: "To provide for or maintain, by supplying with money or necessities." I pay my taxes. Therefore I support the troops. I was not aware I had any choice. SUPPORT (s-pôrt, -prt)
TRANSITIVE VERB:
“To provide for or maintain, by supplying with money or necessities.”

I pay my taxes.
Therefore I support the troops.
I was not aware I had any choice.

]]> By: projektleiterin http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/05/28/what-does-it-really-mean-to-%e2%80%9csupport-the-troops%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-12659 projektleiterin Mon, 28 May 2007 19:06:11 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1339#comment-12659 I already said this, all these staunch Bush supporters who demand that one support the troops don't really give a shit about them. If they did they would wonder why their president sent them into a war based on lies and deception. And all those who now demand support for the troops stationed in Iraq don't bother about those who return home, with psychological problems, emotionally damaged, home and jobless. I honestly don't think that the majority of the support-the-troops-fraction would understand any nuanced discussion about the various interpretations of their demand. It's the same thing with, "If you don't support the war you're against America/you're a terrorist/you're a political enemy and we will call you unpatriotic/throw you into prison/rename our food." I already said this, all these staunch Bush supporters who demand that one support the troops don’t really give a shit about them. If they did they would wonder why their president sent them into a war based on lies and deception. And all those who now demand support for the troops stationed in Iraq don’t bother about those who return home, with psychological problems, emotionally damaged, home and jobless.

I honestly don’t think that the majority of the support-the-troops-fraction would understand any nuanced discussion about the various interpretations of their demand. It’s the same thing with, “If you don’t support the war you’re against America/you’re a terrorist/you’re a political enemy and we will call you unpatriotic/throw you into prison/rename our food.”

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