drew70 said:Let me guess. You've never served your country in the Armed Forces, have you? It shows. What we're expressing is not holy reverence, it's national pride and gratitude. Regardless of their reasons for enlisting, they are over there doing the job. All volunteer, buddy. No draft. For that alone we owe them thanks. And at the risk of this coming as a total shock to you, I'm convinced those troops and the rest of us that support them will get along fine without your respect and sympathy. You might want to save it for yourself, because I don't imagine you'll get much of it from others.
areenactor said:i was already finished with college when i enlisted, and i was already a policeman, and had a degree in geology, which i thought would be a money maker. so that shoots down the two reasons listed by the all knowing one.
personally, i enlisted, because i wanted to serve my country. i wanted to give back to the nation that bore me. i wanted to put my ass in the grass, where it counts! you don't know the pride i had at graduation from basic. then again after completeing a.i.t., airborne, infantry schools. and the final pride of receiving my sargeant stripes. i was fairly bursting! and unless you've stood there, or had a very close loved one there, you just can't understand.
there's also something else that comes with this type of experience; you get to cry unashamedly when you see other troops, our american troops dying. to know what he's gone through, and to know that he's never going to live again.
so elevate this to worship? hell yeah why not?!
steve
you get to cry unashamedly when you see other troops, our american troops dying. to know what he's gone through, and to know that he's never going to live again.
ShiningIce said:What if the troop that died for this nation was Arab American Steve? Would he still be worth your tears?
theallknowing1 said:I don't mean this to be a personal attack, but I am curious to know what war you were in, because my grandfather was in the navy in WWII and I have talked to him and others from Vietnam. Just this past week I had the priviledge of talking face to face with James Bradley, who is the son of one of the Flag Raisers at Iwo Jima who survived, one of three out of six who survived. He has two books out and has talked to many WWII veterans. Most of those who have been in REAL WARS where they have seen firsthand death of many people do not think war is a good thing. In fact Bradley mentioned that not a SINGLE troop who he talked to from WWII mentioned the word patriotism. Quite a few of them don't even like to talk about their war experiences. Compared to WWI, II, and the Vietnam War; the Gulf War, Bosnia, and other conflicts of the 90's were a Walk in Park.
areenactor said:saying "i support the troops" is a cop-out. hell if you're against a war, then say so! have the courage of your convictions. don't be wishy-washy and say "oh, war is bad... but i support out troops".
please, get off the fence, take a stand. you are only fooling your selves if you think you're pulling the wool over the eyes of those who have made a comitment already. i respect people who stand up to be counted, even if they are on the other side!steve
areenactor said:there's an old saying " and the truth shall set you free".
steve
areenactor said:BIG MISTAKE!
SHE TORN INTO THE PAIR OF THEM! she head butted one in the face, and used the others head as a battering ram to dent in a locker.
Iggy pop said:If America did pull out, most likely Iraq would be engulfed in a civil war which will take a hell of lot more lives.
drew70 said:I feel that because the troops are our fellow Americans, our brothers, sisters, cousins, etc., that we can certainly support them in many ways, regardless of whether or not you agree with their commander in chief. You can send things like food to them, although I don't recommend dairy. Probably the best things to send would be letters. Letters of support, letters to soldiers telling them you hope and pray for their safe return home.
I myself can't knock the popular notion of supporting the troops. Not after what happened in the seventies when the Vietnam vets came home and were treated like shit, after fighting a horrendous war for years. Blame the Presidents and the Secretaries of Defense, not the poor slobs drafted into a war they had no choice in fighting.
Jane Fonda will ever be labeled a traitor for her 1972 trip to Hanoi where she participated in the communist propoganda. That was way beyond naive. She wins the Stupid Bitch of the Century Award hands down for that.
So if it is in vogue to support the troops, if only by word of mouth, then at least they'll receive a worm welcome upon their return, as well as consideration for employment.
drew70 said:I feel that because the troops are our fellow Americans, our brothers, sisters, cousins, etc., that we can certainly support them in many ways, regardless of whether or not you agree with their commander in chief. You can send things like food to them, although I don't recommend dairy.
