What does "support the troops" mean...

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  • :confused: AFTER they've done everything you say you DON'T support in the first paragraph?

    see that's what I don't get... if people were out there doing that in MY name, I certainly wouldn't be campaigning to bring them home safely.

    I don't wish ill will on anyone. I think they, in many cases, were misguided, lied to, had faith that they were doing the right thing....and even the cold blooded types who have killed innocents...I support them in coming home to their families. They have to live with their guilt not me. To wish them to remain in harm's way, dying one after another would make me no better than them.

    And they haven't done anything in my name. I never gave an order or even encouraged the occupation. They do what they do in the name of the US gov't that lied to put them there.
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    I don't wish ill will on anyone. I think they, in many cases, were misguided, lied to, had faith that they were doing the right thing....and even the cold blooded types who have killed innocents...I support them in coming home to their families. They have to live with their guilt not me. To wish them to remain in harm's way, dying one after another would make me no better than them.

    And they haven't done anything in my name. I never gave an order or even encouraged the occupation. They do what they do in the name of the US gov't that lied to put them there.
    I don't wish harm on anybody... but if they go out there doing all the aforementioned, the only reason I'd want them home is to face justice. Why would I want a load of killers coming back safely to their families and reintegrating back into the community? It makes no sense. Living with their guilt isn't enough... cos some probably don't have any.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • I don't wish harm on anybody... but if they go out there doing all the aforementioned, the only reason I'd want them home is to face justice. Why would I want a load of killers coming back safely to their families and reintegrating back into the community? It makes no sense. Living with their guilt isn't enough... cos some probably don't have any.


    I don't believe in vengence. If there are soldiers who have committed crimes(and I know there are) I hope they see their day in court. But that doesn't keep me from supporting all soldiers in coming home. What else should I do? Wish they'd rot over there?
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    I don't believe in vengence. If there are soldiers who have committed crimes(and I know there are) I hope they see their day in court. But that doesn't keep me from supporting all soldiers in coming home. What else should I do? Wish they'd rot over there?
    Justice and karma aren't quite the same as vengence.

    I'm not saying you have to do anything... I'm saying I wouldn't give a shit if they got home safely or not.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • Justice and karma aren't quite the same as vengence.

    I'm not saying you have to do anything... I'm saying I wouldn't give a shit if they got home safely or not.
    ,

    See, you can wish good will towards everyone even your enemies and karma...the laws of the universe, will take care of things as it should.

    All I know is the sooner they come home, the sooner all the death and destruction will cease. And that's good enough for me.
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    ,

    See, you can wish good will towards everyone even your enemies and karma...the laws of the universe, will take care of things as it should.

    All I know is the sooner they come home, the sooner all the death and destruction will cease. And that's good enough for me.
    ah no... I don't waste my good wishes on people who don't deserve it... but that's just me.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • electronblueelectronblue WPB Florida Posts: 3,460
    I don't wish ill will on anyone. I think they, in many cases, were misguided, lied to, had faith that they were doing the right thing....and even the cold blooded types who have killed innocents...I support them in coming home to their families. They have to live with their guilt not me. To wish them to remain in harm's way, dying one after another would make me no better than them.

    And they haven't done anything in my name. I never gave an order or even encouraged the occupation. They do what they do in the name of the US gov't that lied to put them there.





    nicely said..and i agree...~
    ********************************
    "Forgive every being,
    the bad feelings 
    it's just me"


  • a lot of the "support the troops" rhetoric is a response to what happened when people came back from vietnam.
  • PJ_SalukiPJ_Saluki Posts: 1,006
    Justice and karma aren't quite the same as vengence.

    I'm not saying you have to do anything... I'm saying I wouldn't give a shit if they got home safely or not.

    So when you say that, are you talking about the American citizens who signed up for the armed forces after 9/11? Did those folks do something wrong? Or, are you only speaking of American soldiers in Iraq? You say you have a brother in the Irish Army, but then you say you don't care if soldiers come home alive? That's cold. It's also cold to live across the ocean from the United States and disrespect the friends and families of soldiers who are serving their country by honoring us with your I-don't-give-a-shit-about-your-troops rhetoric. For such a humanist, you sure aren't scared to bury U.S. soldiers, and honestly, it offends me. I know you're old skool and well respected on this board, but sitting on a computer and ripping U.S. soldiers seems out of line to me, regardless of the source.
    "Almost all those politicians took money from Enron, and there they are holding hearings. That's like O.J. Simpson getting in the Rae Carruth jury pool." -- Charles Barkley
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    The whole 'Support Our Troops' is basically empty lip service. Anyone can utter the words, "I Support Our Troops"... but what does that really do? Nothing. That's what. Empty words.
    The only ones that are paying a price for this bullshit in the Middle East.. the soldiers and their families. That's it. you can also include the 10 year ols and younger who will end up paying for your 'Support'... because you would much rather pass the bill on to the ones with no voice in the matter than lose your precious 'Hard Earned Pay'. You are making no sacrifices in this one... you are not being forced to ration any of your goods or services... you are not having your taxes increased to pay for the war... to pay for the health and welfare costs of wounded returning veterans... you are not seperated from your loved one for months at a time... and you are not in the cross hairs of some fucking Iraqi sniper. Slapping some lead laced 'Made In China' magnet on the back of your 10 MPG F-150 pick up truck may make you feel good... but, really... what good does it do?
    ...
    You want to support your troops? Then fucking DO something. There are military bases and recruitment stations all over this country. Try driving you sorry ass to one of them and paying the tab for a booth where a soldier and his wife and 2 little kids are having breakfast. Give some of your weak ass 'tax cut' bullshit to the many soldier's families support groups out there.
    ...
    A grateful nation is supposed to take care of the ones we send out to face the bullets and bombs... but, our nation is more concerned about our money... than our soldiers. Saying, 'I support our troops' is basically a means to relieve our guilt for not doing fucking shit in this war... and yet... still supporting it's prolonging.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • Cosmo wrote:
    T
    You want to support your troops? Then fucking DO something. There are military bases and recruitment stations all over this country. Try driving you sorry ass to one of them and paying the tab for a booth where a soldier and his wife and 2 little kids are having breakfast. Give some of your weak ass 'tax cut' bullshit to the many soldier's families support groups out there.
    ....

    I would never do that. it pisses me off that I'm supposed to feel bad for soldiers' families (even having very close relatives and friends in the military). It is the choice of these people and the people they married to get married, and it is their choice to procreate. if you are in the army and you don't want to leave a 2 year old behind when you go to do what you signed up to do, here's an idea, don't have kids! don't get married to the first person you find at the youngest age possible like so many people in the military do. every one else is supposed to wait until their situation can handle having kids, but soldiers, they can just pop them out all over the place and we're supposed to feel bad.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    I would never do that. it pisses me off that I'm supposed to feel bad for soldiers' families (even having very close relatives and friends in the military). It is the choice of these people and the people they married to get married, and it is their choice to procreate. if you are in the army and you don't want to leave a 2 year old behind when you go to do what you signed up to do, here's an idea, don't have kids! don't get married to the first person you find at the youngest age possible like so many people in the military do. every one else is supposed to wait until their situation can handle having kids, but soldiers, they can just pop them out all over the place and we're supposed to feel bad.
    ...
    You don't care about them. That's cool... at least you are honest. And I admire your honesty... it is rare and refreshing... unlike the lying pieces of shit that feel this way and still insist that they 'Support Our Troops'.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    Collin wrote:
    ... to you?
    Bowled Friday night near a military base......were a bunch of soldiers (were soooo young) bowling, drinking, having a good time....let them know how much I appreciated what they were doing.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    I would never do that. it pisses me off that I'm supposed to feel bad for soldiers' families (even having very close relatives and friends in the military). It is the choice of these people and the people they married to get married, and it is their choice to procreate. if you are in the army and you don't want to leave a 2 year old behind when you go to do what you signed up to do, here's an idea, don't have kids! don't get married to the first person you find at the youngest age possible like so many people in the military do. every one else is supposed to wait until their situation can handle having kids, but soldiers, they can just pop them out all over the place and we're supposed to feel bad.
    Some folks have a real fked up upbringing...terrible surroundings...bad parents...dirt poor...no education..17 years old......and the military is an option for them the get out of that environment...in addition there are some pretty good salesmen recruiting. We should have no cost abortions available in every town in the US.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • Cropduster84Cropduster84 Posts: 1,283
    I support them in their safe return home.....


    Fighting corrupt wars for corrput politicians is not an easy job.....
    'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton
  • Collin wrote:
    ... to you?

    an agreement not to use them as personal security, cannon fodder or to carry out some morons personal vendetta.

    and to only use them ONLY when absolutely, positively, necissary

    period.
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    PJ_Saluki wrote:
    So when you say that, are you talking about the American citizens who signed up for the armed forces after 9/11? Did those folks do something wrong? Or, are you only speaking of American soldiers in Iraq? You say you have a brother in the Irish Army, but then you say you don't care if soldiers come home alive? That's cold. It's also cold to live across the ocean from the United States and disrespect the friends and families of soldiers who are serving their country by honoring us with your I-don't-give-a-shit-about-your-troops rhetoric. For such a humanist, you sure aren't scared to bury U.S. soldiers, and honestly, it offends me. I know you're old skool and well respected on this board, but sitting on a computer and ripping U.S. soldiers seems out of line to me, regardless of the source.
    I'm saying any of them who had anything to do with the killing of innocent people. Why are the US troops more important than the people they've killed? They're not. Yes, my brother is in the army and he's going to Kosovo for the 2nd time in a few weeks... he's also been to Liberia and Lebanon. But Ireland being neutral only get involved in peacekeeping and peace enforcing missions... basically when the war's 'over' to stabilise the country and clean up everyone elses mess. I'm sure they're still not well liked by the locals BUT they're not there to blow up stuff or to destruct. Of course I care if HE comes home alive, don't be silly... but I wouldn't expect the whole world to care, that's a bit narcissistic. Especially if he were out there killing people, which he's not.

    And I've never buried a US soldier in my life and don't plan on. I'm not saying I would wish harm to ANYONE but just don't expect me to care about the people over there actually DOING the fighting... when there's so much suffering in the world. I place the people starving in Africa over those killing people... sorry but that's just me!
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    I would never do that. it pisses me off that I'm supposed to feel bad for soldiers' families (even having very close relatives and friends in the military). It is the choice of these people and the people they married to get married, and it is their choice to procreate. if you are in the army and you don't want to leave a 2 year old behind when you go to do what you signed up to do, here's an idea, don't have kids! don't get married to the first person you find at the youngest age possible like so many people in the military do.
    I agree... like I've said about my brother, I don't agree with a lot of his opinions but it's HIS choice. If, god forbid, anything were to happen to him, that's what he signed up for. He's doing the job he loves and I would have to respect that... to do otherwise would go against everything he believed in. Anyway I don't like talking about this.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • PegasusPegasus Posts: 3,754
    Supporting and respecting the men and women all over the world who fight for people they've never met, leave their families with possibility of never returning, to coutries they don't wanna go to, to fight for causes they may not believe in.

    AKA goddamn heros.
    sounds like the very definition of a complete idiot to me!

    the ones I support are the millions of innocent Iraqis whose life we've made even worse and who have no choice in being in the middle of the fighting.

    I don't wish anyone to die, but if someone does, I'd much rather it'd be a not even conscripted US or UK soldier than some Iraqi kid!
  • I agree... like I've said about my brother, I don't agree with a lot of his opinions but it's HIS choice. If, god forbid, anything were to happen to him, that's what he signed up for. He's doing the job he loves and I would have to respect that... to do otherwise would go against everything he believed in. Anyway I don't like talking about this.

    I disagree on behalf of anyone who joined before 2003.

    I don't think they signed on to fight some greedy morons personal war.

    I guess you have to have it in the back of your mind it could go that way when you join.

    that's the real tragedy of it all...

    you shouldn't have to.
  • macgyver06macgyver06 Posts: 2,500
    I agree... like I've said about my brother, I don't agree with a lot of his opinions but it's HIS choice. If, god forbid, anything were to happen to him, that's what he signed up for. He's doing the job he loves and I would have to respect that... to do otherwise would go against everything he believed in. Anyway I don't like talking about this.


    see see...

    he is doing his job :)

    the people who are targeting him arent doing there job


    to them...its their fate..



    now tell me...


    who wants it more???
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    macgyver06 wrote:
    see see...

    he is doing his job :)

    the people who are targeting him arent doing there job


    to them...its their fate..



    now tell me...


    who wants it more???
    I said he is doing the job he loves... as his sister I have to respect that's what makes him happy... and there's very little targeting of the Irish army. That argument won't cut it... he's my brother... if he turned out to be a serial killer or a rapist or whatever I'd find it hard not to love him! And I understand families of probably every soldier feel the same... their brothers/sons/fathers just aren't MY problem.. there are much more people to feel sorry for before them.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • Heineken HelenHeineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    I disagree on behalf of anyone who joined before 2003.

    I don't think they signed on to fight some greedy morons personal war.

    I guess you have to have it in the back of your mind it could go that way when you join.

    that's the real tragedy of it all...

    you shouldn't have to.
    I agree... I did say that I feel sorry for people who joined before and suddenly get sent off on this bullshit fight. BUT they still have a choice... not a nice one... but nobody pulls the trigger for anybody else.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • macgyver06macgyver06 Posts: 2,500
    I said he is doing the job he loves... as his sister I have to respect that's what makes him happy... and there's very little targeting of the Irish army. That argument won't cut it... he's my brother... if he turned out to be a serial killer or a rapist or whatever I'd find it hard not to love him! And I understand families of probably every soldier feel the same... their brothers/sons/fathers just aren't MY problem.. there are much more people to feel sorry for before them.


    now we all have to figure what exactly the job is :)
  • PJ_SalukiPJ_Saluki Posts: 1,006
    ...But Ireland being neutral only get involved in peacekeeping and peace enforcing missions... basically when the war's 'over' to stabilise the country and clean up everyone elses mess...they're not there to blow up stuff or to destruct... but I wouldn't expect the whole world to care, that's a bit narcissistic. Especially if he were out there killing people, which he's not.

    And I've never buried a US soldier in my life and don't plan on. I'm not saying I would wish harm to ANYONE but just don't expect me to care about the people over there actually DOING the fighting... when there's so much suffering in the world. I place the people starving in Africa over those killing people... sorry but that's just me!

    I can see where you're coming from, but I think you're missing the point. You don't get supporting the troops because they're not your troops. You don't know American soldiers and their families. You didn't have friends sign up for the U.S. armed forces the day after 9/11. When those maniacs flew jets into the towers, things went batshit here in the States and some dirty politicians (redundant, I know) took advantage of it. It's a sad commentary on those men and women, not on the soldiers.

    And just so you don't think I'm some hawk: I do not support the undeclared war in Iraq and I never have. But I do support my friends who have sacrificed a normal life because they felt compelled to do something.

    Oh, and for the record, ask the folks from the Balkans about how horrible the U.S. military is. Pretty sure bombing the shit out of the scumbags who were committing genocide over there helped out the civilians.
    "Almost all those politicians took money from Enron, and there they are holding hearings. That's like O.J. Simpson getting in the Rae Carruth jury pool." -- Charles Barkley
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