Support the troops! NOT the war!

[Earth_First]

I'm getting awfully sick and tired of American soldiers being labeled as inbred, southern, red-state(ers), gop voting lesser citizens, sometimes by members of Democratic Underground.

As a veteran of the Armed Services, this is incredibly heartbreaking to see.

[pilgrimm]

1. Sorry

There's always a few bad apples, but don't let that ruin the bunch for you.

Thanks for your service.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Yes

Thanks for your service too. :hug: I get tired of it as well. I've had people say that you can't support someone without supporting their mission. So if you had a friend who was harming themselves physically (such as self-mutilation or drugs or alcohol) you want to help them without supporting what they're doing. I hope that makes some sense. :blush:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. I realize that many in the military volunteered after 911....

or have been called back into service. They understand their call to duty, and are fulfilling it, but that doesn't mean that they are all gung ho behind Bush. In fact, from posters here, I'd say that many feel about Bush and the war the way we do.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. You've Actually Had People Say That To You?

The most common thing i've heard is sympathy for the troops haven't to fight in a war we shouldn't be fighting. I've never heard the "can't support the troops without supporting the mission" theme.

You've actually had someone say that to you? That's a surprise to me. For one thing, it's not even logical, because it has the underlying assumption that the troops make the decisions.
The Professor

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. American soldiers are soldiers

When I watch the News Hour on PBS every night, I see the names and faces of the fallen, and I've noticed that they appear to have come from all over the country, and not just Southern states. There is always a tear in my eye and a catch in my throat when I watch this, for I think of the lives effected by the loss of these brave souls. And I become angry thinking about the chickenhawks who sent them there-it is only for them that I feel disdain.

My brother was in the Army for 20 years, and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam. Though I opposed that war, he always knew I supported HIM.

Finally, as I say to every vet I meet-thank you for your service to our country.

[Oceansaway]

4. yes, thank you VERY much !!!

[driver8]

7. I am a veteran, also. I am surprised at your comment regarding

members of DU. I do not think I have ever read a comment posted on DU that was not positive regarding our members of the Armed Forces.

I am sorry to hear that you have. I cannot imagine that there are many members at DU who would tolerate that.

[Earth_First]

10. Unfortunately, this is in response to a thread that was just moderated...

but yes, I have seen this more than I'd like to admit.

[0007]

18. Post a link, so we know what this poster is talking

about.

[BushOut06]

8. amen

[rabid_nerd]

9. any examples?

or are you out perusing the DU war groups?

I must just be naturally blind to those posts or threads...

I stick to my state, interests, and the latest/greatest.

On Edit:

If I want to get abused here, all I'd have to do is say I support the right to own guns and I'm pro-life. You can guess which one I get more abuse over. So I know the feeling of "tired of being abused"...

That said, "I feel your pain". But I'd advise ya to just withdraw. It's not surrendering. It's just not worth the effort.

[Earth_First]

11. See #10

[peacebaby3]

12. Here's an example. Nothing major, but I take special note due to my

circumstances. It is a minority, but I have seen some members say bad things about soldiers in general.

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5701749>

Most DUers are pretty nice and from what I can tell we have a pretty large group of vets and/or vet/military families as well.

[OKNancy]

13. It happens

as a former moderator all last year, I can vouch for the fact that there are some of those types of posts. We got rid of them really fast.
This is why there is this rule:

Do not post broad-brush smears against US service people. Do not blame the troops for the mistakes of their officers or their Commander-in-Chief. Show the appropriate level of respect to those individuals who have put their own lives on the line to defend this country.

[NNN0LHI]

14. I am going to support the troops very much when they get their asses...

...back home here and quit pissing them Arabs off.

Don

[FlemingsGhost]

15. Troops that I do not support:

First, I have a difficult time respecting anyone who will kill another human being simply because their government has defined a percieved "enemy." Entering into that type of contractual agreement is nothing to be proud of, in my opinion.

That being stated, the following not only do not get my support, I wouldn't care if they never returned:


Torturers

Black Marketeers

Racists

Religious bigots

Recruiters
(I make sure to mock and shame them at every opportunity)

"Patridiots"
(anyone who knows they are being asked to commit an illegal/immoral atrocity, but don't have the courage to follow their conscience and refuse the order, because they have some deluded notion they are simply there "to do their job" for their country. Or worse, they'll let down their buddies.)

[peacebaby3]

16. Casey Sheehan falls under your "Patridiots" label. He went because he had

made a committment and if he didn't go, someone else would have to go in his place.

[FlemingsGhost]

19. I was referring to battlefield orders.

In my opinon, Casey Sheehan made a poor life decision, as stated in my opening paragraph.

[Gregorian]

20. I agree. And it takes guts to admit that.

No amount of flaming will ever deter me from doing what I consider the most basic of all basic things- Not killing another human being. I might feel differently if I saw the whites of their eyes, as they moved toward me with bayonettes. But that hasn't happened in America, yet.




(I prepared to leave for Canada during Vietnam. That is a big sacrifice. Leaving my own country in an attempt to do the right thing. )

[TahitiNut]

17. What "war"?

There is no "war".
There was an invasion - illegal and unprovoked - of a sovereign nation.
There is an occupation - brutal and oppressive - of that sovereign nation.
There is no "war".

[Gregorian]

21. Thank you.

I felt guilty in 1991 when I told people that we were bombing for oil.
I feel just as guilty today when I state that there is no "war" going on.

We aren't even defending ourselves preemptively.

Boy, this is hard to take.