What does supporting the troops mean to you?

can you support both?Jackboot343

But if supporting the troops means supporting the war, then I cannot support the troops..

Simple. It means you hope with all your heart they accomplish whatever their goals are. It's like if a friend or a loved one wanted to do something and asked you to support their decision.

To me, it is entirely about supporting the people that are potentially giving up their lives to fight this war.

BUT it doesn't mean I support the war...cuz I definitely don't.jacintos09

Doesn't it seem contradictory to support the troops, but not the war? Especially considering the fighting force is comprised entirely of volunteers?

"Hey guys, I like you and wish you well, but I don't like what you're doing."

[QUOTE="jacintos09"]To me, it is entirely about supporting the people that are potentially giving up their lives to fight this war.

BUT it doesn't mean I support the war...cuz I definitely don't.Oleg_Huzwog

Doesn't it seem contradictory to support the troops, but not the war? Especially considering the fighting force is comprised entirely of volunteers?

"Hey guys, I like you and wish you well, but I don't like what you're doing."

That's not contradictory at all to me. Nowhere in "support the troops" does it say support the war....which is why it's so confusing to see all these "support the troop" banners and posters or flags or whatever.


It's almost like they try to trick people by not outright saying "support the war." It's like they are drumming up sympathy for the war by replacing the word war with troops.

[QUOTE="jacintos09"]To me, it is entirely about supporting the people that are potentially giving up their lives to fight this war.

BUT it doesn't mean I support the war...cuz I definitely don't.Oleg_Huzwog

Doesn't it seem contradictory to support the troops, but not the war? Especially considering the fighting force is comprised entirely of volunteers?

"Hey guys, I like you and wish you well, but I don't like what you're doing."

[QUOTE="jacintos09"]To me, it is entirely about supporting the people that are potentially giving up their lives to fight this war.

BUT it doesn't mean I support the war...cuz I definitely don't.Oleg_Huzwog

Doesn't it seem contradictory to support the troops, but not the war? Especially considering the fighting force is comprised entirely of volunteers?

"Hey guys, I like you and wish you well, but I don't like what you're doing."

How is that contradictory? I'm saying to them, "I like you guys, you're braver than I am. I hope you come back alive and okay, but I don't like the job you'll be doing. I don't think that job is what risking your life for your country is."

I think most people who don't believe in the war tries to make themselves believe it's a good cause b/c if it's not, then our soldiers are dying for nothing. And that idea is too frightening and sad.

Does it mean supporting the health and safety of the troops....or does it mean supporting the war?Two400

It means not to question wars and not to ever disagree with your government because you might undermine the oh-so-precious morale of the troops, which is clearly more important than anything else, especially if you want to "win" a war that you don't think should be going on in the first place...

Alternatively, it means to send troops to war with inadequate equipment and the same so-so pay as always while you simultaneously spend tons of federal dollars on private mercenaries. Also, it means keeping troops in a hostile environment far longer than anyone should be subjected to that kind of emotional distress, even if that means invoking "stop-loss" buried clauses in military contracts.

[QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

[QUOTE="jacintos09"]To me, it is entirely about supporting the people that are potentially giving up their lives to fight this war.

BUT it doesn't mean I support the war...cuz I definitely don't.manningbowl135

Doesn't it seem contradictory to support the troops, but not the war? Especially considering the fighting force is comprised entirely of volunteers?

"Hey guys, I like you and wish you well, but I don't like what you're doing."

How is that contradictory? I'm saying to them, "I like you guys, you're braver than I am. I hope you come back alive and okay, but I don't like the job you'll be doing. I don't think that job is what risking your life for your country is."

I think most people who don't believe in the war tries to make themselves believe it's a good cause b/c if it's not, then our soldiers are dying for nothing. And that idea is too frightening and sad.

If I had a friend and he was going to get in a fight at school or work, I don't have to agree with the fight. But I will certainly hope he comes back unharmed. I have the right to believe he's fighting for no good reason, but I still would want him safe and alive at the end.

There's nothing wrong with wanting the troops to be safe, regardless of the views on the war.

My school is doinga "Sox for Soldiers" thing...but I think it's retarted. I mean come on...

Kevlar - $700

M4 Carbine - $1500

Complete outfit - $200

Pair of sox------- $5

[QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

[QUOTE="jacintos09"]To me, it is entirely about supporting the people that are potentially giving up their lives to fight this war.

BUT it doesn't mean I support the war...cuz I definitely don't.jacintos09

Doesn't it seem contradictory to support the troops, but not the war? Especially considering the fighting force is comprised entirely of volunteers?

"Hey guys, I like you and wish you well, but I don't like what you're doing."

Nothing. "Support Your Troops" is another method of propaganda imposed by the government to rally their citizans into supporting their illogical war on the middle east.BlackStalker

[QUOTE="jacintos09"]Nope, at least not to me. I have many friends that are soldiers. I support them and their desire to fight for the country or make better opportunities for themselves or whatever. But that doesn't mean I have to agree with the war itself.MattUD1

Fair enough. To me though, it does seem a little strange to frown upon an action while simultaneously smiling upon the person performing the act.

My school is doinga "Sox for Soldiers" thing...but I think it's retarted. I mean come on...

Kevlar - $700

M4 Carbine - $1500

Complete outfit - $200

Pair of sox------- $5

dday2121

:lol: That's priceless.

(By the way, you buy some damn expensive socks.)

[QUOTE="MattUD1"][QUOTE="jacintos09"]Nope, at least not to me. I have many friends that are soldiers. I support them and their desire to fight for the country or make better opportunities for themselves or whatever. But that doesn't mean I have to agree with the war itself.Oleg_Huzwog

Fair enough. To me though, it does seem a little strange to frown upon an action while simultaneously smiling upon the person performing the act.

I think of it as a more rational standpoint than the two extremes in my other post. I could compare it to supporting police officers/firefighters/EMS/EMT, though it might not be the greatest example. Personally, I think we never should have gone into Iraq. I never knew why exactly we went and I've heard of everything from 'Oil' to 'Finishing his dad's job'. I don't know the real reason, maybe I forgot; but no matter what, the soldiers have a job to do. I might not agree on why they should be there, but I hope that they know that there are people who wish them the best of luck and health. I think that alone is enough to increase one soldiers morale.
MattUD1

I don't think you can compare a soldier to a cop, firefighter, etc. Nobody (or at least no rational person) objects to the role of a firefighter. They put out fires and everybody acknowledges their task is a valued contribution to society. Soldiers, on the other hand, do face objection to what they do. Invading and occupying a foreign land is not something that will ever obtain universal support.

[QUOTE="BlackStalker"]Nothing. "Support Your Troops" is another method of propaganda imposed by the government to rally their citizans into supporting their illogical war on the middle east.MattUD1

An example of successful propaganda.

[QUOTE="MattUD1"][QUOTE="BlackStalker"]Nothing. "Support Your Troops" is another method of propaganda imposed by the government to rally their citizans into supporting their illogical war on the middle east.BlackStalker

An example of successful propaganda.

[QUOTE="MattUD1"]I think of it as a more rational standpoint than the two extremes in my other post. I could compare it to supporting police officers/firefighters/EMS/EMT, though it might not be the greatest example. Personally, I think we never should have gone into Iraq. I never knew why exactly we went and I've heard of everything from 'Oil' to 'Finishing his dad's job'. I don't know the real reason, maybe I forgot; but no matter what, the soldiers have a job to do. I might not agree on why they should be there, but I hope that they know that there are people who wish them the best of luck and health. I think that alone is enough to increase one soldiers morale.
Oleg_Huzwog

I don't think you can compare a soldier to a cop, firefighter, etc. Nobody (or at least no rational person) objects to the role of a firefighter. They put out fires and everybody acknowledges their task is a valued contribution to society. Soldiers, on the other hand, do face objection to what they do. Invading and occupying a foreign land is not something that will ever obtain universal support.