I support the Troops!

[trumad]

Listen to the names of the dead next time and be sure to listen for the ranks of each dead soldier. Privates, PFC’s, and mostly low ranking, newly enlisted kids a couple of years removed from High School. Most of these young men and women come from poor to lower middle class backgrounds and lacked the education and money to take the next step into higher education opportunities. I know this for a fact because that was exactly my situation in 1976.

When I entered I was surrounded by unit members who joined the military for the exact same reason I did. Too get away from a dead-end existence and try to make something of their lives and future. We were all the same type of kids with the same type of background, not to dumb, not to bright but at least we were trying to improve our lives.

Jump ahead 28 years (God I feel old) and I guarantee the reasons that these young folks enlisted haven’t changed a bit. Throw in the Hollywood style advertising of Marines climbing mountaintops to slay the Dragon and include the remnants of 9/11 and there you go, more cannon fodder for the Neo-Cons.

I do not support this War nor have I ever. I think that folks should be impeached and jailed for sending many of these young kids to their deaths. But I support the troops. I support their decision to join. I support their safety, and most importantly, I support their safe return home.

Trumad
82nd Airborne Division
2/504 Infantry
Devil in Baggy Pants Brigade

[sadiesworld]

1. I agree, Trumad.

And thanks for articulating what so many of us feel. :)

[mopaul]

2. I too agree

even though i lost my mind for a while yesterday. been doing a lot of soul searching, and i was trying to articulate something in my head and it came out not exactly nice.

i think it's becaue i'm a father. and the thought of my own son being sucked into warcrimes, and smiling, is too much for me to bear.

i love my children, all three, all grown now. but i don't want my son to be drafted and go over there and die for this awful awful president.

to those i offended, i apologize. something bush can't do.

i support 99.9% of the troops. those who commit war crimes, all the way to the top, i don't support.

i appreciate all those who joined the military. i joined myself, and was drafted to go to vietnam, but i was a 1-Y. yet, as a young man, i had a desire to serve my country, and they told me i could not. but i do respect the military people, their sacrifices, their drive, their patriotism and i'm just losing my fucking mind here and i apologize.

[trumad]

3. Please note that I did not mention your post

because I knew where you were coming from..... Peace

[trumad]

4. Someone in another thread asked what it meant to support the troops

so I'll kick this from this morning.

[Eloriel]

11. I'm glad to read this today, 'cause I wasn't too happy with you

yesterday. Glad to know you sorted it out in a more realistic and compassionate direction. If it's any consolation, there's no one here who wants your son sucked into this either -- or anyone's sons or daughters. :)

[UrbScotty]

5. That's right

Well said, trumad.

[neebob]

6. I'd rather support the development of a country

where joining the military and hoping you don't get sent off to some bogus war isn't the only viable option.

[rumguy]

7. I support the good ones

and there's no doubt there's plenty of good troops.

The wrath should be aimed at the civilian leadership that got us into this mess, along with certain uniformed loonies, like General Boykin.

[Soup Bean]

8. A-men. n/t

[Robin Hood]

9. It was never about supporting the troops.

The criminal repubs have equated support for the troops to support for Bush. The dems truly supported the troops because dems on the ground and not in washington inner circles were ALL against the war, as evidenced by the millions of people in the streets that protested against this stupid war, from all over the world. Bush called them focus groups.

We call them true patriots who truly support the troops by being against this idiots little war campaign for re-election. Supporting the troops now stands for re-electing Bush. God, I must be a liberal elitest because from what I can see, Americans are stupid people as a whole.

Please prove me wrong because I really do want to believe in America again.

[salonghorn70]

10. I Also Support The Troops

To Mopaul and Trumad: Very Well Said.:toast:

[thebaghwan]

12. Well said!! Let us hope and pray that Bush does not murder any more.

n/t

[Qanisqineq]

13. I am so happy to read this post

After yesterday's two or three threads, I had given up all hope.

[fujiyama]

14. me too

I don't want any more people dying unecessarilly for Bush's war -- that means both american soldiers and iraqi civilians.
that means we have to get the hell out of there immediately!

[0007]

15. I never support paid assassins

I support those who will negotiate with intelligent talk for peace and progress for humanity.