What Does "I Support The Troops" Actually Mean??

[arwalden]

.


If I "support the troops" does that mean that I wish them successful missions killing people? Does it mean that I merely wish for their safety? Does it mean that I support the war and occupation? If I support the troops, can it simply mean that I support them in the same way that I would support any human being in harm's way?

Maybe it means that I should somehow forget for a moment that they are people, and that they have become simply an extension of the insane criminal Bush* and his cabal? Is it possible to separate the human being cogs from the criminal Bush and his war machine?

How should I react when I see a "Support Our Troops" bumper sticker? What should I say when someone asks me if I "support the troops"? Do I? Should I?

-- Allen




edit: clarity/emphasis

[achtung_circus]

1. It's a plastic expression

It means all those things and more, and less. It means whatever you want it to mean and is therefore useful for those who wish to avoid a serious discussion of issues and realities.

[cedarteeth]

2. hurray for ambiguity!

[achtung_circus]

9. sort of

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

3. It's code for "You liberals hate America!!!!"

That's always been the feeling I get when someone tells me that.

Truly supporting the troops includes voting for politicians that won't take away their benifits when they're veterans and need medication. Who won't send the troops into situations like Iraq without any proper planning or an exit strategy, or send them into a warzone based on a lie.

I get angry when I see the "Support Our Troops" bumperstickers, because they're usually accompanied by a "Bush/Cheney 04" sticker or other repug crap.

[BJ]

4. Yeah, why should I support abusers?

And why should I support a bunch who commit atrocities on civilians?

Have you read this interview with Marine Staff. Sgt. Jimmy Massey that was in the Sacramento Bee last Sunday?

I forwarded it to my U.S. congressman, a decorated Vietnam vet, and my Democratic U.S. senator, a Vietnam era Navel aviator.

[finecraft]

5. It means I will send them letters, cookies, baby wipes

toothpaste, books, body armor and just about anything else in addition to praying for their safety every night while they are waiting for us (you, me and everyone else that was against this war) to bring enough pressure on our government to pull them out of this unjust war and bring them home now. Our town just sent off over 200 people in the National Guard to Iraq. These people joined the Guard to help people in this country in times of disaster and to protect our country ON AMERICAN SOIL....not to free the Iraqi people. These people have always served us in time of need. We live on the Gulf Coast and experience hurricanes pretty regularly. The people we sent are our neighbors, friends and family that were always there to help and support us when our homes were destroyed, our lives torn apart. They brought us propane lamps and fuel when we did not have electricity for three weeks or more....they brought us food and water when virtually every store was destroyed...they brought us tents and sleeping bags to stay near our homes so we could start the process of clean-up and rebuilding. I owe them a deep debt of gratitude for all they have done for us in our time of need. What I feel is a profound sadness....these people, for the most part, really are good people that are being forced to participate in an unjust cause. And yes, there are a--holes in the Guard, just like in everywhere else in life. I have heard so many people here say horrible things about the "military". Just remember that "the military" is made up of millions of people, and they all have a name just like you and I. Think of everyone you have ever met...did you like everyone? Was everyone pure of heart? Was everyone happy-go-lucky and a dream to be around? I think not. The military is the same way. There are good people, and there are the very bad. Not everyone in the military is a blood-thirsty stupid freeper, and not all people who go to Iraq want to be there. There are many there that are against Bush and this war. Please, Please, Please try to separate the message from the messenger.

[Soup Bean]

10. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

A lot of the ground level troops are there due to the lack of economic opportunities afforded them. They are under-educated, and it looks like we haven't taken their service as an opportunity to improve their status.

Not all the military is represented by the Abu Gulag crew. Believe it or not, a lot of people really believe in the ideals of America.

The Lynndie Englands and Graners have to be punished. It's pretty easy to know right from wrong, and what they did is clearly wrong from any moral compass. However, I have no doubt that there was a policy encouraging these actions. This whole administration has to go, to save the soul of America.

[Rebellious Republican]

20. Absolutly Soup Bean, you just described me! Thanks! N/T

[Rebellious Republican]

17. Well said! N/T

[mot78]

6. Another positive phrase that has been hijacked by the GOP

The American flag, "Proud to be and American", and "God Bless America" have all become RW pieces, which is something we need to reverse, and take back those phrases. The flag belongs to us as much as it does to them.

[Wapsie B]

7. It means driving around with two flags

on your SUV or pickup. It means support for killing as many brown people over there as possible so that them heathens will see what great country the U S of A is and want to be exactly like us. It means supporting the greatest leader in the history of the free world, George Walker Bush and protecting him and his rich legacy from those godless communist bastards, the libruls.

[neebob]

8. To me it means accepting or tolerating the situation they're in

when I find it both unacceptable and intolerable. So I have to say I don't support the troops.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. It means, that if the Commander in Chief gets the country into a war, no

matter how wicked and misguided a war and how incompetently executed, that because "our troops" have been thrown in harm's way (through no fault of their own) that you must now mindlessly salute the CINC and be in agreement with the aims of the war and question none of it or you are a bad American and no patriot sir.

Unless the CINC was a Democrat, in which case this "reasoning" does not apply.

[fujiyama]

12. it's a meaningless phrase

like much of the rest of patriotic statements that have crept into popular usage after 9/11 and the iraq war.

i'm just tired of mindless statements that mean very little if anything and are repeated endlessly usually by the right...

support the troops is ultimately so ambiguous, that it means whatever you really want it to mean.

[jpgray]

13. Did this phrase get its start in the Reagan years?

I think it's pretty meaningless, but the troops have become something 'everyone must support' in this country, because they 'fight for our freedoms,' etc.

The big problem is that the troops are often conflated with the leadership. I am not going to hold some 18 y.o. kid responsible for the Bush administration decision to go to war. This doesn't excuse atrocities committed by soldiers--they chose to do what they did--but without Bush, the opportunity for dumb kids to kill and demean Afghanis and Iraqis would not have been there.

The other problem is they are most often fighting for economic interests, not our freedoms. Defending our freedoms would mean defending the border and the Bill of Rights, not propping up Standard Oil or providing a money-go-round for defense contractors.

But the leadership will hide behind the soldiers, and since the soldiers do not have a voice, they are all assumed to support their leaders. That's the unarguable assumption it seems all of the media have accepted as true.

[ikojo]

25. I recall the "support the troops" mantra being chanted

ad infinitum during the first Gulf War. At least here in St Louis, the anti war folks wanted so badly to prove to the corporate media that THIS anti war movement was not like the one in the 1960s. THIS anti war movement was composed of "respectable and middle class people." They made a point to stress that the anti war movement supported the troops taking part in the war but hated the war.

During the few marches held in St Louis, those wearing tie dye or with mohawks and were encouraged to march to the back so as not to be seen on camera. The more middle aged and "well dressed" marchers were the ones encouraged to carry signs and banners up front.

I tired of that organization then and couldn't stomach them this time around.

When I hear "support the troops" I think of the Germans and THEIR troops during WWII. THEIR troops were primarily those from the small towns and not well educated. I am sure THEY supported THEIR troops. Doesn't justify what they did. To this day people ask Germans of a particular generation, what did you do during the war to challenge Hitler? IMHO, blindly "supporting the troops" in whatever they do is not challenging Bush. I say this as one whose brother served in Gulf War I and whose 18 year old niece is in the Marines.

[billyskank]

14. It means "I support Bush"

but it sounds better.

[Deja Q]

15. I wonder more and more each day. (warning, big inflammatory rant follows)

Do they support President Apostate* all the way?

The war he* created?

War?

Noting how "I support Our Troops, Liberate Iraq!" (underlined in the signs) suggests they think those against the war were cheering for the Iraqis and that we are the traitors. :eyes:

Well, our soldiers liberated Iraq.

Then they put up the US flag everywhere in Iraq. Originally the moronic bozos who put up the flag were told to take it down because that would show the US as being conquerors, not liberators. Future pictures, however, had shown the Red, White, and Blue proudly hung everywhere but nobody complained anymore. Looks like we didn't mind being conquerors at all... (Gee, could this be a reason why so-called "insurgents" started to fight back? Where in the Freedom is the US media with this background information? No Freedoming anywhere. All they do is say how an "insurgent" killed another of our precious troops! (I want the whole story or else I consider what they say incomplete and inadequate and not worthy of accepting at face value.)

And then, worst of all, they took liberties on Iraqi people and it doesn't matter if they had American blood on their hands or if they're wrongfully imprisoned. The US claims it's a lot more moral, is respectable and noble, created fat free chocolate pudding, et cetera, et cetera. This is going to cost us. Not just in terms of increased attacks by more "insurgents" and real terrorists who find their way into Iraq, but by the rest of the Civilized World. How much more will the World Community accept from the United States, an increasingly DEGENERATE country in terms of its actions (which transcends Iraq, corporate america's a real pisser these days too)?

Do I support our troops? Why should I anymore? They seem to have nary a care when DESTROYING AMERICA'S REPUTATION ALONG WITH THE TRAITORS IN POWER. So there's no Freedoming way I can support them. I can't. Not now. :cry: Not until they grow the Freedom up and act like civilized people worthy of the name American. And even then, it's going to be a long while before the US is respected again.

And how will the Civilized World respond? Using the Euro instead of the dollar, boycotting US goods (most of which are manufactured under horrific conditions in 4th rate inhumane countries), and even pulling out their investments. And if the Saudis pull out their happy trillion, we're boned. Given our $7 trillion+ debt, the shifting of tax burden from rich to middle/poor classes, and about 6-10 other factors, I say we're hanging on by a thin thread. The noose is on our necks and I fear the rest of the world is going to tighten it and withdraw the plank.

* should grow some brain cells (maybe stem cell research would benefit even him), look at what the Freedom he's doing, and grow the Freedom up. He's beyond horrible as president.

And American citizens need to wake the Freedom up and vote that vermin* out of power.

[Rebellious Republican]

16. I have seen some pretty goddamn nasty replies to this thread.......

Just because some one says they support our troops does not mean they support the war. These TROOPS are human beings, they need to know that people do not hate them because they are forced to fight an illegal, unjust and immoral war. They are having to do things that are going to fuck with their heads for the rest of their lives. Many were just good honest people with decent morals when they left. They have been tossed into a situation where they must digress to animal like tendencies in order to survive. They are seeing and doing things that go against every moral fiber in their being. They are having to suffer physical hardships that is beyond normal human endurance. They have witnessed human carnage on a scale known not to most people over here. They are going to be returning home in a physical and psychological mess, and will need to be comforted and reprogrammed. They will need our help, they need to know that they will not be spat upon, or unjustly chastised and degraded upon their return. War cannot be described and no one can be made to understand what it is like. The only way to fully appreciate what these PEOPLE will have been put through is to have experienced war first hand. If any war time vets read this post, than I can say that you all know that memories may fade over time. But the one thing that that you will never forget is the Smell, only wartime vets can understand this statement. So Yes I WILL support our troops, but NOT the war! Rant over!

[Deja Q]

23. You have a good point...

Nothing we can do though. :-(

[Rebellious Republican]

28. Sure we can, I have seen several good posts on this thread as to

what we can do. I do understand how you feel HypnoToad, all we can do is try for them. At the very least, we can smile at them, offer our kindness and say welcome home. That little bit would mean so much to them.
:toast:

[Qanisqineq]

31. your post made me cry

as someone who has been against the Iraq War from day one but also has a husband who was sent to Iraq for 10 months, it sickens me to see the constant "why should I support the troops" or "I don't support the troops" threads on DU. You need to have this rant more often.

[Rebellious Republican]

40. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I am sensitive about the issue, I will N/T

:pals:

[KG]

18. it means nothing, it's a phrase spewed by morons.

ignore it.

[Texican]

19. Shut Your Damn Mouth

That is what it means around here. When the fundy pro-torture, murder, and rape crowd start to hear someone mention that these things may not be such a good idea, they just say,"support the troops." See how easy it is. There is no need for a reasoned argument. Even an appeal to the most simple and basic human traits of kindness are seen as hatred of some angelic troops.
Now stop these subversive posts. Support the troops damn it!

[Rebellious Republican]

22. I dare anyone to try that with me, and I have had some try.....

to tell me that I am unAmerican or unpatriotic when speak against the war. I start off with my military history and then ask if or when they have or are going to serve. I then explain that I have fought for the right to voice my opinion. It if it ever fails to work, then I plan on Smacking them up side the head with my Military awards display case, its pretty heavy!

[tinanator]

21. It seems like an evil PR firm (Hill & Knowlton?) got $7 million dollars

to coin it back in the days of Bush the 41st. Those are your tax dollars at work, salute why dont ya? H&K PR firm goes to bat for police who have been caught cold doin things they shouldnt ought, brag that they would rep Satan if paid. I (fairly) clearly remember the $7 million price tag attached to the slogan back in 91, and can only assume H&K or their species were behind it.

[jmowreader]

24. It means "shut the **** up, you lousy Bush hater!"

..

[GreenArrow]

26. it's a chain

used to keep slaves docile and obedient.

[w4rma]

27. ARRGGHH! Some of the replies on this thread need to be rethought!!

Imho, support the troops means to support the troops by giving them the things they need, sending them the items they need, pushing for policy reforms that help and support the troops and pushing to get them home safe. I think that everyone needs to read post number 5 by finecraft.

Although to a Republican "support the troops" seems to mean shuddap, support the war, support the "Commander-in-chief", wave a flag, shop and put little flag stickers all over your SUV.

[Qanisqineq]

30. My thoughts exactly

Re: "Arrgghh"

This "All troops are abusers" crap is really getting to me. That is the same kind of thinking racists use. They see people with a certain color of skin or a certain religion doing bad things and suddenly every person in that group is bad. Are all Muslims evil because some extremists flew planes into the WTC?

IMHO, the "all troops are evil" group of people is no different from the racist or "kill all the ragheads" people.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

29. It's a mantra for the Republican faithful to repeat

without thinking. The beauty of it is that you don't actually have to DO anything other than put a bumpersticker on your SUV and maybe wave a flag at a rally.

[Oddman]

32. $200 billion of taxpayers' dollars so far

and an additional $1.4 billion of tax payers' dollars each and every week this Iraq mess continues. That means we all support our troops whether we want to or not. I send my nephew care packages, he's been there 14 months.

Ask a repug who is going to pay for this war . . . where will all this money come from? From the taxes that they hate so much? Or does it magically appear? Or does bush just pray for money?

[leesa]

33. It means waving flags and putting yellow ribbons here and there

while the troops get blown to bits. If you support the troops, they wouldn't BE in Iraq for no reason.

[9215]

34. To the warmongers it means support the Iraq conflict or

shut your fucking mouth.

To the anti-war people it means bring them home.

[PfcHammer]

35. I Support The Troops = I Like Cheap Gas

[slackmaster]

36. It means I want them to come home soon, alive and intact

And that the situation in Iraq is not their fault.

[MAlibdem]

37. Nothing...

It means "I'm a good guy"

[Davis_X_Machina]

38. I've got a...

SUPPORT THE TROOPS. BRING THEM HOME! bumpersticker.

People don't know what to make of that one.

[ulysses]

39. nothing. n/t

[RapidCreek]

41. The phrase is a non sequitur

It means nothing....but sounds swell.

RC

[SarahB]

42. To the Republican, it means

Blind, unquestioning following of the neocon agenda.

[Comadreja]

43. Goes back at least to Vietnam

Just check any peace march photos from that era. They even used "Support the troops...bring them home."