The phrase "support the troops" has been so twisted, it is sickening.

[tjwash]

I’m angry.

I’m angry because the term “support the troops” has morphed from “show our brave young sons and daughters that we love them, respect and miss them, and wholeheartedly wish them a safe return home,” to “let this crooked administration do whatever the hell they want, and if you don't agree with them, their brownshirt wearing blind-followers are going to slander and vilify you relentlessly, and viciously."

I’m angry because the liars in the White-House, currently use “support the troops”, to justify keeping our kids in Iraq, by telling us that if we do not “stay the course” in Iraq, and get even more of our sons and daughters slaughtered in Bush’s private, illegal meat grinder of a war, that we are “sullying the memory and ignoring the sacrifices of the soldiers that were already killed.”

I’m angry because Bushco is using “support the troops” as a rallying cry to invade our third country in the Middle East, and the 2nd country in a row, with no association whatsoever with 9-11, in the past 6 years, and if you don’t get in lockstep with dropping nukes on Iran, and starting a world war with China, and Russia as a result, you will be slandered, and attacked mercilessly.

Well fuck this administration, and fuck these neo-cons. How dare they preach to me what it is to support the troops, after I just sent my nephew in Iraq a care package, consisting of socks, underwear, chocolate, and a Kevlar vest to wear under his fatigues, while these thieving bastards send our children into battle without body armor and armor for their Humvees and Bradley’s. How dare Rumsfeld and Cheney preach to me about supporting the troops, when they make our kids come home so mind-fucked from multiple tours and shell-shock that they are going to have mental problems for the rest of their lives, while the greedy sons of bitches on Capital-Hill, with the swipe of a pen, cut their VA benefits at home, and extend their tours abroad. How dare these 20-something young little punks, that the talking heads on Fox News love to interview, that hold pro-war rallies, and have never wanted for anything in their entire arrogant lives, tell me what supporting the troops means, when these baby-chickenhawks don’t even care where the recruiting office is.

So, for future reference, and in case anyone really wants to know, this is why I don’t get all teary eyed, and “patriotic” when someone starts playing that annoying Lee Greenwood song, and some young puke wearing an American flag shirt, instead of a military uniform tells me to “support the troops.”

[BrklynLiberal]

1. YOU are supporting the troops, as far as I am concerned!!

:hi: :headbang: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :patriot:

[uppityperson]

2. Far as I can tell, this is how it was explained to me. I disagree

by saying they should come home, this gives all those insurgents (esp those reading DU) reason to believe that if they keep on blowing up people that public opinion will force the end of the occupation. Therefor, we are not supporting the military in not being blown up as the insurgents will blow up more, putting the blame for it all directly on our heads.

Regardless of who put them there, who is keeping them there, who is responsible for the occupation (Mr.bush and his evil minions and The Greaat Economic War Machine), it all comes down to if you say leave, someone else will get blown up making us say leave leading to another bombing, etc.

For me, support the troops means getting them out of this situation and fully prosecuting those that put them there.

[Gregorian]

3. I just had an interesting thought. I also am angry about this.

Whenever I see one of those bumper stickers, to me it means support the conservative agenda. I am enraged by the bullshit. Besides, how are their words supporting anything? They don't stop the bullets!


Here's a thought. If those same troops were in Washington DC, and they were surrounding the White House, to yank the criminals out and bring them to the Hague, then I would find the phrase "Support the Troops" a gleeful and happy image.

[Skittles]

4. I had it out with my coworkers about this

they sport those stupid magnets on their vehicles - so I asked them WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS? Of course, that was the extent of their support - sporting a stupid magnet. So, I have made them select troops from WWW.ANYSOLDIER.COM - I picked up the boxes and customs forms for them and they are to fill the boxes, pay me $8.10 and I will mail them. So far, so good - they've actually come up with some good ideas for the packages. I'm tired of this nonsense and I am doing something about it.

[tjwash]

5. YES!!

Thanks Skittles! :yourock:

I wish there were more people like you in the world that were proactive enough to show people what helping out our kids that are ordered overseas is really all about.

[Skittles]

9. it told me who was who, tjwash

the ones only interested supporting bush inc and his crappy war declined to participate (THAT'S WHAT MY TAXES ARE FOR - OH BROTHER); the others have been very generous and have some great ideas about what to send....apparently they just needed a butt-kicking to get started

[tjwash]

10. Now if we could get more people out there to spread the word...

...and get them to take those fucking magnets off their cars, and those tattered faded flags that have been on their houses since 9-12-2001, and do something that REALLY shows support for the troops, instead of giving it lip service.

Of course the big change will come during the midterms, when we toss out all these war mongering neo-cons, and neo-con-lite-dems like our own Diane Feinstein here in California. The people need to send a message that we are fed up, and we want our kids home...

[Mz Pip]

6. I would love to ask that question

of the person who had a little "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon affixed to the gas cap of her gigantic Denali SUV.

I can only hope there was a bit of irony in that.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[formactv]

7. It never meant anything!

It is a verbal stumbling block for anyone who opposes military action. Meaningless.

[otherlander]

8. Exactly....it means nothing. It's like, if I were to say,

support the people in Illinois! What would that mean? Nothing. But are you going to be against the people in Illinois? No. But it'll prevent you from focusing your attention on the people in charge of Illinois and what they're doing. Not that they're doing anything....just an example.