"Support the Troops, not the Mission."

[Smith_3]

I have rolled this sentence around over and over in my head, since it has become something of a mantra of democrats who were being accused for lack of patriotism.

Lets get things straight. I "support" human beings. I understand that many of those who are in the military, signed up out of personal circumstance, due to lack of information, lack of perspective, or pressure from their relatives etc. I understand, that many are not as fortunate as me, to have free education and free healthcare, and that it is therefore not my right to judge them or blame them.

However, I don't support "the troops" as a concept. I don't believe that the military is fighting for my freedom. I don't, in fact, believe that the military has done anything to ensure the freedom of americans since the war for independence. And I don't believe that "this country was founded on their backs" (that one is the biggest lie. This country was founded on the backs of african slaves and chinsese workers, and over the corpses of natives). I don't believe in the philosophy behind all that.

I do understand however, that in order to cope with life, members of the military often have no other choice than to believe that their actions will somehow bring a greater good. They have no other choice, because otherwise their life would be completely devoid of any meaning. And for that, I pity them. And I wouldn't mind some of my taxmoney going to assist them in their recovery (as much as I don't mind some of my tax money going for developement of third countries and to feed the homeless). However, I believe, that their belief in a greater cause is a delusion, intentionally brought forth by those who profit from the war, and that 99 percent of all wars are bogus, fought for selfish reasons, and in the end nothing is solved.

I think it is high tide that the democrats grow some balls and show the rethugs some true opposition. Everytime you say that you "support the troops, not the mission", the right-wingers are going to accuse you of "not supporting the troops" anyway. Smearing people for lack of patriotism/nationalism is just what nazis do. You are not going to stop them by appeasing them. You are going to make them do it more, because you are showing them that it works. Saying you "support the troops, but not the mission" is the Hillary Clintonesque way of saying "I was for-against the war. Can you please both vote for me now?". Its not cool.

Lets please just stick with "against the war", "against all wars", "peace".

[Missy M]

1. I support the troops and not the war....

are you proposing we have no military? Do you think that is realistic. Do you think our part in WWII was for nothing? I can't believe someone would think we could get along in this world with no military.

[mmonk]

2. I too believe opposition needs to be stronger.

As far as the troops go, not all believe in the precepts of this mission. It is their job no matter what they believe.

[Echo In Light]

3. Re the first Gulf slaughter, the late Bill Hicks had this to say:

"I took the unpopular position of being for the war, but against our troops."

Personally, I'm generally in favor of all human beings, and war ends many lives, so...that's an easy call. However, when I see all of that "support the {WAR} troops" ribbon magnet propaganda, I'm inclined to wish to see someone daring enough to sport a "fuck the troops" version ... even though at the end of the day that's not really where my heart is at. The closest thing to this I saw was a bumper sticker which read "The Germans supported their troops too."

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. God bless our troops