Fuck it. I'm a veteran and I approve this message

[No Passaran]

On Edit. This is not me. I wanted to post this picture so that people will know there are many other veterans who feel the same way.

[illuminaughty]

1. Excellent and unfortunately the truth

[WhichTruth]

127. A quick note of explanation.

For the few who read this that might not know, flying your colors upside down is the internationally recognized signal for distress. I have flown mine that way for over 2 years now to express my feelings about the state of our Constitution. While I have not brought myself to write on a flag, I fully understand the motivation and message that brought this brave soldier to his action. It is noting, compared to what this administration has done to our Constitution in addition to that the tens of thousands of innocent people killed.

Here is to giving out troops a commander-in-chief with intelligence, integrity, and a sense of humanity.

[MrScorpio]

2. I'm also a veteran and I wholeheartedly agree

[JeffR]

3. To the Greatest Page with this

right now.

[NavyDem]

4. I'm a veteran too...

And I also approve this message! K&R

[underseasurveyor]

11. I may be bias

But Navy:yourock:

My Dad was Navy, my boyfriends Dad was Navy, my best friends Husband was Navy.. Navy rules:thumbsup:

[No Passaran]

12. You know what rocks..

Navy hospitals. LOL

[dgibby]

22. On behalf of Navy Nurses everywhere, I thank you!

Of course, it's the Hospital Corps that holds it all together. God, what a great bunch of people!
I'm a vet, too, and I most wholeheartedly approve this message!:grouphug: :patriot:

[rcrush]

38. I agree with the message but I hope this pic doesnt become popular.

Cause then McCain will try to make Obama apologize for it somehow and Obama wont be allowed to defend these guys.

[underseasurveyor]

5. Yep!!!!!!

Bravo on that soldier:patriot:

[NanceGreggs]

6. Oh, yeah ...

:kick: :patriot: :kick:

[driver8]

7. I'm a vet, and I kick and recommend this message!!

Very powerful photo and words...

[JonLP24]

8. Vet here too

Pretty risky of you but I :patriot: your bravery. I, however approve of your message.

[No Passaran]

10. That's not me in the picture

I do support this message

[JonLP24]

13. I apologize

:kick:&R

[Gregorian]

9. Oh my god, man. Bless you.

Please just keep being who you are. I love you.


PS- I was a conscientious objector in Vietnam.

[cliffordu]

14. That is exactly right. K&R

[silverojo]

15. I'm not a vet, and I approve this message

Now, this guy is a true American hero!

[chknltl]

77. I AM a vet and I approve YOUR message.

Thank you for that post. It warms my heart and the hearts of every single Vet to see the citizens of America supporting our soldiers and returning Vets this time around. WE :patriot: YOU

[The Wizard]

99. This veteran agrees

"False patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels" A uniform is not a license to be immoral.
War is not patriotic when started under false pretenses.
The monsters who brought us this war and internal division should never be able to walk among civilized people again. Seize their assets.

[jobycom]

16. The next John Kerry?

[crim son]

17. Very, very fine post and pic.

I'll steal it, if you don't mind. Thanks. There are specific people whose uncertain minds I want to change.

[greenmutha]

18. K&R!

Thank you for posting this.

[crim son]

19. This pic illustrates why one must not generalize about our troops.

This fellow, this veteran, he gets it. In time others will get it because at heart they are fundamentally good and kind people. Excellent post.

[reggie the dog]

42. Lots of veterans and current soldiers get it

The soldiers I know and come into contact with in the USA are still active and both are against the war in Iraq and the war in Afganistan, they wanted to DEFEND their country and then go to college, not wage a war of imperialism...

[Karenina]

64. I meet them on the streetcars...

on their way to the "theatre." They signed on the dotted line, then begin to "get it" as they pass through. :cry:

[d_b]

20. A Zinn man.

[TahitiNut]

21. I'm another veteran who agrees.

:patriot:

[Patriought]

23. Thanks man

That took balls. (Your post and the guy in the picture both)

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president... is morally treasonable to the American public.
Theodore Roosevelt

[democrank]

72. Welcome to DU, Patriought.

~PEACE~

[FatDave]

24. Thank you for your courage, over there and over here.

And I'm glad to have you over here.

[fishbulb703]

25. I am in NROTC. I won't serve within the boundaries of Iraq. When I told my DS

(Drill Sargent, he's actually a Lieutenant who runs the NROTC program) he told me he understood and would try to help.

The Armed Forces are starving for recruits, and ones entering as officers actually have a little bit of say now an days.

[Hissyspit]

26. Welcome to DU!

:patriot:

:toast:

[No Passaran]

27. Welcome to DU

Do you get a choice of assignment? If you have a list of places I could help you out in laying out what's True and False about each place and each unit so you don't get screwed.

[fishbulb703]

29. Thanks!

Basically, they way they laid it out was I would get a sort of list from which I could pick a few as requests. So, in reality it may just be "Persian Gulf or GTFO". As my co relayed it to me though, it could be anything from DC to Norfolk to Jacksonville, I am going into Intelligence so it will hopefully be somewhere in the continental US.

Now that I think about it, I won't go to to Cuba either, heh.

[tinymontgomery]

49. But 2nd tour divo's are going IA

By what I've gathered and read in the Navy times 2nd tour divo's go Individual Augmentee for 1 year. I would look into it and not just take some LT's word. This is coming from a 23 year retired Navy type.

[democrank]

73. Welcome to DU, fishbulb703

~PEACE~

[FREEWILL56]

133. A lieutenant as a drill sargent?

Makes sense when captain dunsel (Star Trek circa late 60s) is commander in chief.

edit to add. OP has it right on the spot and glad to hear our vets speaking about this farce.

[tblue]

28. Oh how I love that! Thank you....

for your courage, even if you're not the dude in the picture. Thank you for your service then and your bravery now. We need you. Keep speaking truth to power. We've got your back -- you've already proven you've got ours. :hug:

[quiet.american]

30. This veteran salutes him. nt

[crickets]

31. Thank you. -nt

[Enthusiast]

32. I approve your message!

But how does it feel to join the ranks of the phony soldiers? :sarcasm:

[Waiting For Everyman]

33. I approve that message too.

[BlueCollar]

34. This veteran agrees..n/t

[unhappycamper]

35. unhappycamper also approves this message.

:thumbsup:

[Solly Mack]

36. It's a powerful message

[shadowknows69]

37. Wow, powerful picture.

There is a true man of honor. Thank you for sharing this.

[Vickers]

39. Another vet who approves.

:thumbsup:

I'm sad to say I didn't have his stones when I was in...much better now, though.

:patriot:

[speedoo]

40. K&R from another vet. Thanks for posting. nt

[PVnRT]

41. K&R

:kick:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

43. Very powerful image and message...

May God bless and protect all you veterans who dare to stand up for what is right and good.

[madokie]

44. You got it

[Generic Other]

45. This is a soldier I want defending my country

:patriot:

[annabanana]

46. Me too. He "gets" the whole American thing.

He understands what needs and deserves defending.

[old mark]

47. Another vet here, but an older one. I agree strongly with you folks.

I spent a year as a patient in an Army hospital in the late 1960's, and I know many of Vietnam era vets are STILL suffering the consequences of that idiotic, ego-driven war. Supposedly, we "learned lessons" in Vietnam, but I guess we forgot them.

I urge you younger folks to find and read any books by David Hackworth, an anti-Vietnam war Colonel. He enlisted in the Army at 14, and was a lifelong combat soldier who cvame to understand and hate the system in the Vietnam era. His books opened a lot of eyes, but he is not much remembered anymore.


mark

[awoke_in_2003]

130. Some did learn a lesson about Viet Nam...

too bad it was the wrong lesson. During Nam, there was very little outsourcing for troop support. Then you had soldiers doing things like cooking, laundry, supply convoys, etc. Now all that has been outsourced for untold amounts of money to private contractors. The ones in power learned a big lesson- how to make war to fleece the american public even more.

[Aristus]

48. K&R! Lurking freepers: This is what a liberal Democrat looks like:

I'm on the right...

Suck it, RW-ers!

I am a :patriot:

[Number23]

66. And you're as cute as a button

as well as being thoughtful and conscientious. Thank you so much for your service.

They guy in the OP's picture better get ready. His life may be getting very dramatic soon.

[Aristus]

97. Thank you, Number 23. That's very nice of you.

You may have got the wrong idea about me. Although I am very proud to have been a tanker, my unit never got into combat during the Gulf War. I'm not a war hero, or anything. Still, I do like to shove my veteran status into the faces of the armchair warriors of the right-wing. it's fun... O8)

[Number23]

104. Nope. Don't have the wrong idea at all!

Although I am very proud to have been a tanker, my unit never got into combat during the Gulf War.

Doesn't matter one bit. You signed up and were prepared to go wherever they sent you. You trained hard and were prepared to do your job wherever you were needed to do it.

Whatever job you did wherever you did it, means alot to alot of us. So I meant exactly what I said when I said thank you so much for your service. :)

[lynnertic]

50. This veteran supports your sentiment, exactly.

:patriot:

[jonnyblitz]

51. k & r from another vet.

:hi:

[pleah]

52. K&R

[mnhtnbb]

53. Hubby, a vet, would also approve this message.

[fascisthunter]

54. bravo!!!

[hootinholler]

55. Man, that is one dirty flag.

The message is spot on, but still...

Yeah, I'm a vet.

-Hoot

[awoke_in_2003]

131. Blowing sand

can do that to one.

[glitch]

56. THIS is the service that this citizen thanks this soldier for, from the bottom of my heart.

:patriot:

[chknltl]

78. This vet says:

:patriot: back at ya. It warms my heart that the troops and vets are getting good recognition from our nation this time around.

[Eyerish]

57. K&R

[Uncle Joe]

58. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, GA Democrat.

[Greyhound]

59. Definitely a keeper. n/t

:kick: & R

[Hubert Flottz]

60. I'm another Vet and I

K&R your thread...

[Jawja]

61. Greetings,

Georgia Democrat! Well said. :hi: :thumbsup:

[SEABEE Chief]

62. Honest Dissent

AYE !

[kimmylavin]

63. K&R

Powerful picture.

[OwnedByFerrets]

65. Huge Kick and Rec

[sce56]

67. As a retired 20year Army veteran and a blue star dad, I concur!

The blood of our comrades in arms spilled for corporate greed! The Bush family of war profiteers need to be tried for their crimes against humanity and stripped of all wealth accrued due to their gruesome deeds. That includes the Bush family profits from the Nazi slave camps in WWII

And my best missions did get the gratitude of the people!



Iniki Kauai, Hawaii 1992

[L0oniX]

68. I am suprised ...maybe there are a few who won't shoot me when I dissent.

I will always remember the Kent State murders.

[bertman]

80. Ohio National Guard. Many of them civilians in uniform who had never even fired a shot in anger

before that awful day.

[proReality]

69. K&R n/t

[Lasher]

70. Another vet weighing in to support you.

We didn't serve with honor so others could shame our country by killing innocents.

:patriot:

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. Thank you for speaking out

Love that picture!

[grannylib]

74. Now THERE is an American Hero. I honor all our military who are

serving honorably, but this guy gets my vote for ... do we have an award that WE can give servicemen/women??
Let's MAKE ONE! Let's honor these good people in some way...anyone with me?

[chknltl]

81. This vet thanks you for the recognition

I am not sure that any of our Vets need much more than that. If you wish to do a little more: Many of our politicians support our veterans hospitals and the families of our Servicemen, those politicians need your support. Many of our politicians are smart enough to understand that some wars need not be fought, give them your support too. If you do that much then you do right by our troops and our Vets. It is a good thing that the citizens of our nation have taken such an interest in our Troops and our Vets.
This vet :patriot: YOU for that.

[grannylib]

85. Oh man, now I'm crying...I certainly do support our congresscritters who

support our veterans! You honor me with your response :hug: It makes me ILL to think that there is veterans' paperwork sitting in piles to be shredded; it makes me ILL to think of substandard care that some have suffered as a result of lack of funding; it makes me ILL to know that there are those who would deny body armor to our troops so that American defense contractors can make a buck...
Thank you for your service. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[democrank]

75. Bravo!

~PEACE~

[dudewheresmycountry]

76. I guess all of us vets

can agree with this, however it is sad to know that our leaders are really the ones to blame and we have done their dirty work. I say no more, no way, no how. CHANGE IS A COMIN!!!!!!!!

[billyoc]

79. 100% correct.

[ThatsMyBarack]

82. Support Our Troops....

Who speak the TRUTH! :patriot:

[Dystopian]

83. KandR.....with love...

from one who married a Vietnam vet who died by the needle...a casualty of war.

RIP Joe
August 22, 1949 - July 1, 1992

peace~

[SalmonChantedEvening]

84. K&R! This is not only what America should be

It is what we Must Be.

Thank you GA Democrat :patriot: :hug:

[chknltl]

86. "There is no flag large enough to cover the shame....

...of killing innocent people." There IS however accountability. Those who caused such a shame need to be brought to court for their crimes. Those innocent people who have been harmed or have died deserve that much out of us. The shame is on all of us as a nation if we don't pursue that accountability.
knr

[RedLetterRev]

87. I am a veteran and I approve and K&R

I am also descended from Revolutionists, NC Regulators, and those who ain't skeert to call a nekkid chimperor nekkid.

[Joey Liberal]

88. Beautiful

I'm a veteran, and to me, that Soldier is a true American hero.

[Johnny Potpie]

89. No offense, but what did this guy expect.

He joined an organization that deals out death. The military is not the peace corps. They don't hand out meals or feed the homeless. :eyes: What did he expect? I'm not so impressed. Until we learn how peace works and putting people first, we're always going to have unneeded war and death of innocent people. This guy is a member of the war machine. Thankfully he sees a light. And I will give him credit, he's just late to the party, I guess. He actually wised up.

[sui generis]

122. we don't arrive where we are cut out of whole cloth

the voluntary military appeals to young idealistic people who believe there is glory or heroism in being a defender of ideals. And it appeals to people who have no other means to feed their families or get an education and a job.

Whatever his journey to this picture, it deserves our utmost respect for having taken the journey, and for getting there.

[DeeDeeNY]

90. Dissent is the highest form of patriotism

K & R

[psychmommy]

91. wow so much testosterone, it's giving me the vapors.

i love this pic and it will be the screen-saver for my phone. i hope no service people are offended.

[CLANG]

92. I'm a vet, never in a combat zone

I honor those that have been there, and am awed by their courage.

[OswegoAtheist]

93. One more veteran's K&R

This is why I love this country too much to leave it in the hands of the incompetent and immoral.

Oswego "I'm going to get a high school named after Howard Zinn someday" Atheist

[HughMoran]

94. Best picture ever

I have that quote on a bumper sticker that I display in my car.

[Historic NY]

95. ....

[bluestateboomer]

96. I'm a Vet too, and Ditto!

K & R

:patriot:

[johnaries]

98. A TRUE Patriot. I'm a vet, and I approve this message. nt

[JimWis]

100. This vet approves also.

[mmonk]

101. I know there are. I hear from them.

[ACTION BASTARD]

102. Former US Marine says...

I too approve this message.

[unkachuck]

103. K&R....n/t

[Khaotic]

105. Vet here, USN - '93-98, USNR - '98-'04

Harsh point.

True point.

Dissent from status quo stupidity, redemption from the masses who voted for Shrub and a party that wipes its ass w/ the Constitution it lies about defending.

On to election day.

[Skittles]

106. I am a veteran and I approve

so sayeth Skittles

[EFerrari]

107. Well done.

K&R

[Withywindle]

108. Thank you for your service.

both you and the young man in the picture.

There is NOTHING more patriotic than necessary dissent, especially in a time when the people in power desperate to keep their asses covered are itchin' to slander and blacklist.

:patriot:

[spag68]

109. vets

I am also a vet, an old one <59-62> who was lucky enough to be out before Nam. I have total respect for my fellow vets who did go. I saw too many who came back changed forever. I can only hope that we never let this happen again. The days of this kind of war has to be over. The reasons for war remain the same, to support war contractors. We don't need no fucking war.

[Kerrytravelers]

110. Wow. That is one brave soldier. I salute his patriotism.

:patriot:

[Sunnyshine]

111. I deeply appreciate your service and I know we can never fully repay you for your time or troubles

I just wish we had an informed and healthy nation that was mostly united for once. Freedom and prosperity should be flourishing coast to coast for everyone who works hard enough to keep this nation strong. In some ways, we all feel like citizen soldiers at times, but you and every Veteran soldier listed above selflessly went beyond the borders of home to stand united for America and our people.

My dad Tom was a Korean War Vet. He loved this country, and I think he would be doing this if he could. :patriot: Mass respect for you all!

[CTuttle]

112. Hoo-Rah, Another Vet Rogers That!

Coming in Lima Charlie!!!

:headbang: :patriot:


:kick:

[Imagevision]

113. Election day can't get here fast enough...

[Imagevision]

114. I too approve this message

[WhichTruth]

115. Another Vet Who Approves

It is a disgrace what they have done to our nation, our military, our citizens, our world standing, and our Constitution. I encourage all vets to remember our oath to protect and defend our Constitution to all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Photo courtesy of mudflats.com

[xen]

116. A Viet Nam Vet

As a Disabled Viet Nam Veteran who was also as drafted.I approve 110% of this message.This notion of my country right or wrong,or that one must stand behind your president no matter what, is both and an Immoral,and Evil stance to take.
I was part of the 1st Air cavalry 5/7 Battalion,I got there in May of 1969 and after 8 months,got hit by shrapnel from a mortar round,and got medivacted to A Japan hospital.
Any veteram who glorifies war,are the ones who really don't know what real war is in the field.They
probably had a nice safe job in the rear or were like MCCain who only really saw it from their safe seats way above,and never saw the devastation and destruction, pain and sorrow those Bombs left on the many innocent people below.
A crying shame and a disgrace.Many in this Admin needs to to brought to justice before the Hauge.
I don't consider those of myself a war Hero So,McCain is no war hero as far as I am concerned.
To me, Heroes are those who fight to end wars,and those who fight for peace and Justice.
War destroys us to some extent,forever,but that is also,if you have any Moral compass.

[Stardust]

120. Hey DU, can't we get some welcomes to this courageous new DUer?

Hi Xen, and welcome to DU! I am heartbroken about your injuries and despise those that sent you and so many thousands of our brave kids to that awful war. I opposed the war back then but never blamed the troops. In fact, I didn't know anyone who blamed y'all. I hope you haven't encountered any, either. Thank you for your beautiful post. I think you are a hero.
Peace.

[Sunnyshine]

121. Welcome xen! Great respect and so thankful for your service.

:hi:

[BlueCollar]

128. welcome to DU

[blue sky at night]

117. there is no flag..

that I will respect nor fly until I get my country back...I consider myself a non-citizen in the bu$hreich.

[greblc]

118. This vet agrees with the message, but I wouldn't do that to a U.S. flag.

I agree with his right to use the flag as he chooses but, this photo will do little to help change minds . I enjoy pissing off conservatives as much as the next person. I don't think we can combat them head on. I've tried. They are pretty thick and choke easily on defaced flags. You have to spoon feed them facts. Telling them doesn't work well. You have to lead them gingerly to the right choice. I've learned this by campaigning for Obama, making phone calls to undecided voters. If you hit them hard they just fold and start rambling nonsense.

[hiphopnation]

119. it sucks that i have to k&r this

because though the message is positive, the picture is heart-breaking

[sui generis]

123. serving in the military is a two way street

a young man or woman signs up to serve and protect, with the implicit agreement that the government will protect and defend both the military and our objectives.

Unjustifiable war, unnecessary loss of life, those things are not what any AMERICAN need bother signing up for.

The flag that the republican administration represented deserves worse than being turned upside down - it shouldn't exist. It is not a symbol of freedom or of the idea of America. Our flag, the symbols of our nation, should be a point of honor, not of shame, just as this soldier is wearing his shame as a badge of honor.

Hats off to the guy.

[Cha]

124. Oh, this Soldier is amazing!

Thank you, GA Democrat!

[JimDandy]

125. This Vet agrees! n/t

[go west young man]

126. Ex marine here.

0341 Mortarman 1st Battalion, 6th marines, Camp Lejuene from 85-88. I also approve this message. Dissent is true patriotism when your country's fucked up.

[mailman82]

129. This vet approves!

Grunt 67-68-69! Going in the VA for surgery Thursday. Total knee replacement. God Bless you all!

[KayLaw]

132. Beautiful.

A wonderful picture of a true American. I love the guy. Cowering Freepers, this is the real thing.

[MajPayne2]

134. 5 Combat tours and still serving

and I approve.