I have purposely avoided the Support the Troops topic. It has become a complex subject for many of us. If you are anti-war the statement is translated into bring them home If you are pro-war then you support the mission. It is assumed that if you support the troops you support George Bush, if you do not support George Bush and his policies then you of course, do not support the troops. Confused? I am.
If I were born in Iraq perhaps the lady sitting at her keyboard in America would be my enemy. The fact is I was born in the United States, live in the Untied States, and believe it is a great Nation. I am grateful that I live in this country and can sit here typing on my computer keypad reasonably assured that a foreign weapon will not fall from the sky and blow me into pieces. If given the opportunity, I am sure that I would choose someone elses country getting blow up over mine. Not a nice sentiment but if I am honest it is a truthful analysis of my own reality.
Our troops are men and women, citizens of this country that make a decision freely to join the armed services and regardless of their philosophical ideals, protect us. They have a duty to follow the orders of our elected Commander in Chief. They have the duty of pulling the trigger to defend citizens, fellow soldiers, and themselves. All this because of a little thing called The Constitution of the United States you know -the chain of command, the distribution of powers, all that stuff you with a bit of luck learned in school.
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If I believe the war in Iraq is an unwise choice, that the present administrations civil rights policies suck, it does not mean that I think our soldiers suck. When I see articles like this one:
Warriors and wusses by Joel Stien
I DON’T SUPPORT our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car. Supporting the troops is a position that even Calvin is unwilling to urinate on. . . .
And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken . . .
“. . . it irritates me. Of course, the author has the right not to support the troops but to say that the soldiers were tricked, that they hang out in Germany . . .”
Augh! . . . go read the article yourself.
Anyway, here it is, I support the troops, I love my country, I think our present administration is whittling away at my rights, the very same rights our soldiers defend. I do not pretend to understand what living as an Iraqi citizen is like, I do not think that war is a good thing but consider the idea that sometimes it is necessary. I was (and still am ) angry that our(my) country was attacked. I cry when I watch videos of the Trade Center. I cry looking at Iraqi citizens blown up lying wounded and dead in the streets. I cry when viewing the memorials to our fallen (read dead) and pray for our wounded soldiers and their families.
More on the subject:
Warriors and Fools , by Grey Eagle (U.S. Soldier with the 101st Airborne Division)
A Lefty Admits He Doesn’t Support Our Soldiers, by Flopping Aces
Joel Stein VS The US Military , by Rosemary