el Guapo
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From another board I frequent came this question:
TJ, I'm glad you asked. What “Supporting the Troops" means to me:
To encourage our elected officials to encourage the DOD to actively look for clues and interrogate Iraqi POWs about the fate of Scott Speicer. Scott is a POW from the first Gulf War. Thanks Senator Pat Roberts.
To argue the merits of this war in a civil manner. Not to be pissly little children happy you are taking a day off from school and are the center of attention. It means to make meaningful dialog and protest to your elected officials.
It means understanding the troops fight for your right to protest the war. It doesn’t mean forcing a “you're for the war or you are not patriotic” label on anyone. Plenty of Veterans are against this war. Not all, but some. Ask them why and their answers may surprise you.
It means not watching the war the way you watch NASCAR, hoping for a wreck. This is not on television so you can enjoy a cool firefight or learn some MOUNT tips for the next time you play Quake 3. You are seeing much of it live on television so that you may understand the total love for you and your country that someone must have to go willingly into that hell for your freedom.
It means to forgive honest mistakes when members of the armed forces mess something up. Mixing young men, adrenaline, sleep deprivation, fear and explosives is an accident waiting to happen. The fact that there are so few friendly fire incidents is a testament to their professionalism.
To keep Katie Couric off the lawn of the family members of each new American GI killed in combat. In addition, to shoot her square in the head when she asks the pregnant 23-year-old wife of a newly dead Marine how she feels about President Bush’s decision to use force against Iraq.
To support the Vets long after the war is over when they start dieing from Agent Orange, Gulf War Syndrome or Chemical Agent exposure, which may happen in this war. It means not making some PFC who was gassed and is now disabled take five years to prove his disability is “service related” to a panel of heartless statisticians.
It means to learn your flag etiquette and to teach it your children.
It means when you see an old fart trailing piss through a leak in his leg bag hooked up to a super pub catheter; know that maybe he is not some old doddering idiot letting piss run on the floor in Wal-Mart, but that he may be what is left of a young man that almost gave everything for his country.
It means taking a moment or two every day to give some small thanks to those that provided your freedom to you throughout history by giving their all.
It means taking a moment and explaining to your children why they should have an extra measure of respect for those that choose to serve.
Finally, it means finding a family that lost a husband and a father in this war near you. Without seeking favorable press or a thank you card send them whatever amount of money or good wishes you can afford to give so that they may know that their sacrifice is acknowledged. Your donation may help that Army PFC killed in action’s family send a kid to college or make life otherwise a little more bearable.
Cyburbians, what does it mean to you?
Support Our Troops
What, exactly, is meant by "supporting our troops" or "support our troops"?
I think it is important that these expressions be defined with precision. Failing that, doesn't it just mean agree with any policy adopted by the Commander in Chief who sent the "troops" to risk their lives?
What is, and is not, "supporting the troops" and if someone objects to their dying in immoral or anti-republican wars does that mean they don't "support the troops?"
I fear that these demands to "support our troops" is a statement that assumes facts not in evidence; a sort of code for "you are unpatriotic and want to see our brave men and women die" because by wanting the troops safely at home, when in fact it might mean just the opposite.
So that I, with my archaic limitations and legalistic instincts for precise use of language can more clearly understand what it means to "support our troops" I hope that someone will clarify for an aging patriot (but not a military veteran) what it means to "support our troops."
TJ
TJ, I'm glad you asked. What “Supporting the Troops" means to me:
To encourage our elected officials to encourage the DOD to actively look for clues and interrogate Iraqi POWs about the fate of Scott Speicer. Scott is a POW from the first Gulf War. Thanks Senator Pat Roberts.
To argue the merits of this war in a civil manner. Not to be pissly little children happy you are taking a day off from school and are the center of attention. It means to make meaningful dialog and protest to your elected officials.
It means understanding the troops fight for your right to protest the war. It doesn’t mean forcing a “you're for the war or you are not patriotic” label on anyone. Plenty of Veterans are against this war. Not all, but some. Ask them why and their answers may surprise you.
It means not watching the war the way you watch NASCAR, hoping for a wreck. This is not on television so you can enjoy a cool firefight or learn some MOUNT tips for the next time you play Quake 3. You are seeing much of it live on television so that you may understand the total love for you and your country that someone must have to go willingly into that hell for your freedom.
It means to forgive honest mistakes when members of the armed forces mess something up. Mixing young men, adrenaline, sleep deprivation, fear and explosives is an accident waiting to happen. The fact that there are so few friendly fire incidents is a testament to their professionalism.
To keep Katie Couric off the lawn of the family members of each new American GI killed in combat. In addition, to shoot her square in the head when she asks the pregnant 23-year-old wife of a newly dead Marine how she feels about President Bush’s decision to use force against Iraq.
To support the Vets long after the war is over when they start dieing from Agent Orange, Gulf War Syndrome or Chemical Agent exposure, which may happen in this war. It means not making some PFC who was gassed and is now disabled take five years to prove his disability is “service related” to a panel of heartless statisticians.
It means to learn your flag etiquette and to teach it your children.
It means when you see an old fart trailing piss through a leak in his leg bag hooked up to a super pub catheter; know that maybe he is not some old doddering idiot letting piss run on the floor in Wal-Mart, but that he may be what is left of a young man that almost gave everything for his country.
It means taking a moment or two every day to give some small thanks to those that provided your freedom to you throughout history by giving their all.
It means taking a moment and explaining to your children why they should have an extra measure of respect for those that choose to serve.
Finally, it means finding a family that lost a husband and a father in this war near you. Without seeking favorable press or a thank you card send them whatever amount of money or good wishes you can afford to give so that they may know that their sacrifice is acknowledged. Your donation may help that Army PFC killed in action’s family send a kid to college or make life otherwise a little more bearable.
Cyburbians, what does it mean to you?