I'll support SOME troops

[Nimrod]

NOT all.

I got to listen in on an utterly lovely conversation just today. A guy I work with is in the National Guard, and is about to be called into service. Someone else asked him if he thought he was going to Iraq. I am quoting here as closely as I can remember.

"Give me a gun, I'm ready. One of those ragheads comes up to me and says 'I'm innocent', and I'll go "*Bang* Now you're dead."

Wow. What a great American right there. I'm so moved by his honorable service to this great country...

(spits a few times)

I'm all for not blaming the troops for what's going on over there. I know a lot of people here have friends and relatives who are over there under extremely suspicious circumstances. I'm not discrediting their service or sacrifice in the least. But remember that just because someone is a "troop" doesn't mean they're an innocent victim. They're American people, which means a goodly number of them are sick, braindead, sadistic f^cks who are thrilled to live their dream of killing a real person rather than a deer.

Support the troops. But find out if those troops deserve your support first. There are a number of people who will curse me for this attitude, saying I'm unpatriotic, a terrorist, what the fuck ever. But remember who those people are too.

Rant over.

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Why do you Hate America?

If you don't like it, GTF out.

:hi:

[Nimrod]

3. Just a godless commie pinko f*gg*t

That's me.

:) :) :)

[Catch22Dem]

4. HAHAHA

:silly:

[skooooo]

That's just youth and inexperience talking...

Doesn't mean they would come back with those same attitudes.

[Nimrod]

5. Unfortunately...

The guy's pushing 40.

[Zorbet55]

9. Even more unfortunately

Some guys go to war fairly normal, but cross the hill and never get back.

[skooooo]

12. Oh, well in that case..

nevermind what I said. He's old enough to know better. Send him to Iraq then, if he thinks that will make him a man.

[merh]

2. The guy sounds like he suffers from *'s form of false bravery!

He is scared sh**less and instead of showing his fear and admitting to being terrified out of his mind, he uses that false bravodo, macho sh**!

He is terrified and he is too stupid to admit it!

[SoCalDem]

6. This is what happens with a "volunteer" military

People who JOIN up sometimes have many reasons..

Some join in patriotic fervor
Some join because they cannot find decent work
Some join because they need healthcare for their kids
Some join because they love guns, and the opportunity to "hunt" humans is tantalizing:(

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Remind the guy that the "ragheads" probably won't give him a

chance to do anything. He will never know what hit him.

Who are we fighting there now? If it is a few "insurgents" then why are large parts of Iraq off limits to the US occupation?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. My husband used to work with a guy like that

He's a Guardsman who keeps getting called up-to go to Oklahoma and fix vehicles that are shipped back from Iraq. When worked slacked off and there wasn't enough for everyone, my husband volunteered to stay home a day (which meant no pay, as he was paid on a commission) so the Guardsman could have the work. (My husband did it quietly, didn't make a big deal out of it-worked it through the service manager so the Guardsman never knew) The Guardsman got orders soon after to be shipped out again. He said something similar to what your co-worker said, though I think he added something to the effect that all Muslims should be killed because they are all no good.

My husband and I are Sufis (the mystical sect of Islam), but we don't advertise our faith. We just shook our heads, wondering what this guy would have thought if he knew. Later, my husband was let go because of lack of work (though the employer trumped up false charges so he wouldn't have to pay unemployment), so I don't know what happened to the Guardsman. I hope some day his eyes will be opened, and he'll find out that people are people.

[Kanary]

13. sigh...... I wish we lived in a world where kindness such as yours

would come back ten-fold.

It really means much to me to know there are still people like you on this planet.

:hi:

Kanary

[atreides1]

10. You're Not Unpatriotic

What you say makes sense, and it's practical as well. If someone says they unquestionably support all of the troops, then it also means that they support the torturers of Abu Ghraib and Afghanistan, those soldiers and marines that have been charged with murder, and those that are using Fallujah as a free fire zone.

I'm a veteran, I don't support all of the troops. I accept the fact that with an AVF you will find bigots, racists, psychos, and men and women who are just filled with hate, and the only reason they enjoy it so much is so they can brag about killing a 'Raghead'

But there are also men and women who feel the opposite, who are there because they think it's the right thing to do, and that they are trying to help the Iraqi people.

No cursing or flaming from me, my friend.

[Mojambo]

11. I stopped supporting ALL the troops after watching

some of the disgusting attitudes and behavior exhibited by them in F911.

I support most of our troops now...

[Kanary]

14. You're completely on target. Learned this during Vietnam.

Met someone who was proud of his gook nose and ear "collection".

I'm still sick to my stomach when I think about it..... the racism, and the sadism.

:puke:

No use kidding yourself it doesn't exist -- it most certainly does.

Kanary

[Dangerman]

15. I support ALMOST 60% - 70%of the troops

I do not support the torturers of Abu Graib prison, and I do not support some of the troops who were brainwashed by Bush's lies and killing Iraqis without remorse.

Those who felt that they were suckered by Bush's crap are the only ones that I support. My only support of the troops is to BRING THEM ALIVE ASAP.

It's not because I am "Un-American", which I'm not. I don't think SOME of our troops, the ones that are committing heinous atrocities and are being brainwashed by the Neo-cons, like the aforementioned Abu Graib torturers, deserves my support.

[Malva Zebrina]

16. the support the troops meme was invented by Republicans

and then we started to see yellow ribbons tied on trees and on mailboxes of those who were pro-war (BTW there are none left on my road, they faded and got torn and are woebegone and no one bothered to put up a new bright one)

The reaction to this meme by those who opposed the war, was one of guilt--if one did NOT "support the troops" and fly yellow ribbons from our mailboxes (a logically flawed meme) then one was "unpatriotic" and not grateful for the sacrifice these troops make to "defend our freedoms" So anti-war people started putting yellow ribbons out also.

So,now we have progressives repeating the illogical meme and expecting all other progressives to do so, and, if we all cannot do so because we realize the improbability and the fallacy of the meme, we are not "supporting the troops" who deserve unconditional support, and we are shunned by other progressives.

The truth is that someone is shooting the guns at civilians and someone did shoot and kill innocent civilians, and no doubt some were anxious to do so and others were appalled at what they were ordered to do, as is the case in any population.

It was a mistake to adopt the Republican meme, because it makes no sense at all to any who stop to think about what slogans they are shouting--and it turns progressives one against the other if the "other" does not agree that it is a good slogan.

How can anyone be against this war, against this mission and simultaneously say they support the troops, who are carrying out the mission? Are we to say that they are "only following orders"? Even the ones who went to purposefully kill Aayrabs?

A little dose of reality is necessary. I have seldom been one to jump on the most popular bandwagon without first parsing it out for myself. I am sorry that troops are sent to Iraq and dying innecessarily, for the lies of George Bush. I am sorry that they make a contract to put their lives at risk in order to get a college education or to make a little extra money to support their families or to get a job when few are available in their home town, but I cannot adopt the "support the troops" meme in all good conscience, because I do NOT support the mission. There is no way I, or anyone, can discern a troop who is against the mission from one who is out to kill 'Ayrabs , even little children, if necessary.