Moore writes: "I don't support the troops, America, and neither do you. I am tired of the ruse we are playing on these brave citizens in our armed forces. And guess what - a lot of these soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines see right through the bullshit of those words, 'I support the troops!'"
Portrait, Michael Moore, 04/03/09. (photo: Ann-Christine Poujoulat/Getty Images)
Those Who Say "I Support the Troops" Should Just Stop
04 January 13
don't support the troops, America, and neither do you. I am tired of the ruse we are playing on these brave citizens in our armed forces. And guess what - a lot of these soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines see right through the bull**** of those words, "I support the troops!," spoken by Americans with such false sincerity - false because our actions don't match our words. These young men and women sign up to risk their very lives to protect us - and this is what they get in return:
1. They get sent off to wars that have NOTHING to do with defending America or saving our lives. They are used as pawns so that the military-industrial complex can make billions of dollars and the rich here can expand their empire. By "supporting the troops," that means I'm supposed to shut up, don't ask questions, do nothing to stop the madness, and sit by and watch thousands of them die? Well, I've done an awful lot to try and end this. But the only way you can honestly say you support the troops is to work night and day to get them out of these hell holes they've been sent to. And what have I done this week to bring the troops home? Nothing. So if I say "I support the troops," don't believe me - I clearly don't support the troops because I've got more important things to do today, like return an iPhone that doesn't work and take my car in for a tune up.
2. While the troops we claim to "support" are serving their country, bankers who say they too "support the troops," foreclose on the actual homes of these soldiers and evict their families while they are overseas! Have I gone and stood in front of the sheriff's deputy as he is throwing a military family out of their home? No. And there's your proof that I don't "support the troops," because if I did, I would organize mass sit-ins to block the doors of these homes. Instead, I'm having Chilean sea bass tonight.
3. How many of you who say you "support the troops" have visited a VA hospital to bring aid and comfort to the sick and wounded? I haven't. How many of you have any clue what it's like to deal with the VA? I don't. Therefore, you would be safe to say that I don't "support the troops," and neither do you.
4. Who amongst you big enthusiastic "supporters of the troops" can tell me the approximate number of service women who have been raped while in the military? Answer: 19,000 (mostly) female troops are raped or sexually assaulted every year by fellow American troops. What have you or I done to bring these criminals to justice? What's that you say - out of sight, out of mind? These women have suffered, and I've done nothing. So don't ever let me get away with telling you I "support the troops" because, sadly, I don't. And neither do you.
5. Help a homeless vet today? How 'bout yesterday? Last week? Last year? Ever? But I thought you "support the troops!"? The number of homeless veterans is staggering - on any given night, at least 60,000 veterans are sleeping on the streets of the country that proudly "supports the troops." This is disgraceful and shameful, isn't it? And it exposes all those "troop supporters" who always vote against social programs that would help these veterans. Tonight there are at least 12,700 Iraq/Afghanistan veterans homeless and sleeping on the street. I've never lent a helping hand to one of the many vets I've seen sleeping on the street. I can't bear to look, and I walk past them very quickly. That's called not "supporting the troops," which, I guess, I don't - and neither do you.
6. And you know, the beautiful thing about all this "support" you and I have been giving the troops - they feel this love and support so much, a record number of them are killing themselves every single week. In fact, there are now more soldiers killing themselves than soldiers being killed in combat (323 suicides in 2012 through November vs. about 210 combat deaths). Yes, you are more likely to die by your own hand in the United States military than by al Qaeda or the Taliban. And an estimated eighteen veterans kill themselves each day, or one in five of all U.S. suicides - though no one really knows because we don't bother to keep track. Now, that's what I call support! These troops are really feeling the love, people! Lemme hear you say it again: "I support the troops!" Louder! "I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!" There, that's better. I'm sure they heard us. Don't forget to fly our flag, wear your flag lapel pin, and never, ever let a service member pass you by without saying, "Thank you for your service!" I'm sure that's all they need to keep from putting a bullet in their heads. Do your best to keep your "support" up for the troops because, God knows, I certainly can't any longer.
I don't "support the troops" or any of those other hollow and hypocritical platitudes uttered by Republicans and frightened Democrats. Here's what I do support: I support them coming home. I support them being treated well. I support peace, and I beg any young person reading this who's thinking of joining the armed forces to please reconsider. Our war department has done little to show you they won't recklessly put your young life in harm's way for a cause that has nothing to do with what you signed up for. They will not help you once they've used you and spit you back into society. If you're a woman, they will not protect you from rapists in their ranks. And because you have a conscience and you know right from wrong, you do not want yourself being used to kill civilians in other countries who never did anything to hurt us. We are currently involved in at least a half-dozen military actions around the world. Don't become the next statistic so that General Electric can post another record profit - while paying no taxes - taxes that otherwise would be paying for the artificial leg that they've kept you waiting for months to receive.
I support you, and will try to do more to be there for you. And the best way you can support me - and the ideals our country says it believes in - is to get out of the military as soon as you can and never look back.
And please, next time some "supporter of the troops" says to you with that concerned look on their face, "I thank you for your service," you have my permission to punch their lights out (figuratively speaking, of course).
(There is something I've done to support the troops - other than help lead the effort to stop these senseless wars. At the movie theater I run in Michigan, I became the first person in town to institute an affirmative action plan for hiring returning Iraq/Afghanistan vets. I am working to get more businesses in town to join with me in this effort to find jobs for these returning soldiers. I also let all service members in to the movies for free, everyday.)
|
THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community. |
 18 May 2013
|
 19 May 2013
|
 17 May 2013
|
 18 May 2013
|
 20 May 2013
|
 19 May 2013
|
 18 May 2013
|
|
17 May 2013
|
 18 May 2013
|
Comments
We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.
General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.
Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.
- The RSN Team
YOU ARE DEAD WRONG!!!
Personally I have two WHITE nephews currently serving. One in Afghanistan right now!
The all volunteer is because it takes too long and too much money to train a soldier these days. With all of the technology involved you would always have new recruits that don't know how everything works and training new people is much more expensive than keeping trained people around.
Really?? Tell us - are you the tiger who would do the drowning? I think you'd soil your slacks at just the thought of going head-on with someone in the military.
I also think that if something happened you'd be first in line crying about the lack troops to save your sorry ass.
N.
Tragically, your two nephews, gullible victims of propaganda created by the WAR MACHINE who voluntarily joined the military, will return home, if they do, as broken men, perhaps limb-less, certainly with PTSD and depression for the rest of their lives. Or they may join the shamefully high statistics of Vets who commit suicide, commits murder, or ends up homeless on the streets.
This is how the US takes care of its veterans. Don't forget
Agent Orange and how the US government lied, deceived and turned their backs away from countless thousands of Viet Nam Vets who greatly suffered the effects.
And shame on us that we have allowed this to happen.
Tragically, your two nephews, gullible victims of propaganda created by the WAR MACHINE who voluntarily joined the military, will return home, if they do, as broken men, perhaps limb-less, certainly with PTSD and depression for the rest of their lives. Or they may join the shamefully high statistics of Vets who commit suicide, commits murder, or ends up homeless on the streets.
This is how the US takes care of its veterans. Don't forget
Agent Orange and how the US government lied, deceived and turned their backs away from countless thousands of Viet Nam Vets who greatly suffered the effects.
Go for it, look up his numbers and you'll see they're right. It's not "left" or "right" it's "right" and "wrong" and you're wrong.
Please, support your "opinion" with facts that white children of privilege dominate the armed services.
Suicides Outnumber Battle Deaths in the Armed Services
S.E. Smith, Care2: Approxim ately every 80 minutes, a US military veteran commits suicide in the United States; for Iraq and Afghanistan, the numbers of veterans lost to suicide now outstrips casualty lists of those killed in action.
Read the Article
http://truth-out.org/news/item/13702-suicides-outnumber-battle-deaths-in-the-armed-services
Volunteering in the U.S. military began, I beleive, in the mid-1970s. Quite few years ago. Earlier technology, of course. And I've never read or heard from then on that the military became voluntary based on your assertions. New technology? Sure. Basic/fundament al training methods? Still exist (how could they not?).
Soldiers good at one thing and bad at another? Yeah. Using the appropriate traing methods? Why not? (Soldiers specialized for a particular field, e.g.)
As for the already trained, they had to start somewhere. So, beginning or later, expenses occur (and can increase, like any other "commodity" does; everyone and everthing seems to be a commodity under the current political/econo mic system).
Thus, it would appear that expenses go up regardless of a draft or volunteering, e.g., federal policies changing (or not changing) in regards to funding being more or less.
But no bringing back the draft, where one, e.g., with particular circumstances would find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Just as important, "forced participation" benefitting an imperial foreign policy.
You are the one who is dead wrong. The vast majority of military people are there because they have no other option of getting out of a dead end life. It's their only way of financing education. It's the only job that they could find given their qualifications. Why else do the majority of soldiers come from areas where there just is no employment that can support a person let alone a family? Why else does the military emphasize recruitment of undocumented aliens as a way of getting a green card?
If you have an army of 10 soldiers, and 5 are white and 5 are minority, it does seem, to the uninformed, that a 1-1 ratio of white to minority is significant and fair.
But here is where the math comes in.
If the pool of potential white soldiers is 100, then 5 solders accounts for 5% of the pool. If the minority pool is only 10, then 5 soldiers accounts for 50% of that pool! There is where the unfairness of the 'all volunteer army' raises its ugly head.
Numbers and facts, in the wrong hands, usually results in biased conclusions, or conclusions that support a certain agenda.
In the computer world there is this acronym-GIGO, which stands for Garbage In, Garbage Out. This applies, in this case.
Hmmm, I didn't know that Joe Biden's son was a poor minority.
Getting back to the problem at hand: thanks again to Michael Moore for speaking the truth.
If there's a reason the all-voluntary military was created, that isn't it. During the height of the Vietnam war, rich kids easily either evaded the then-draft, or got light duty. Think Dubya and the Creedaence Clearwater sont "Forturnate Son".
Back in the 60s & 70s the so-called anti-war movement was populated in large part by the rather well-off student children of well-off parents. The liberals of those days. Many ran off to Canada & other places to save their asses from the draft. Nixon's solution to the problem was the volunteer Army. I don't like the idea but it's what we have.
There always have been & always will be people who profit from war. An unpleasant fact of life.
I am a Nam vet. The poor treatment I received when I returned home was from the liberal community &, if you haven't seen them in action, you have no idea what filthy garbage-mouth trash liberals can be. Not all, but those that attacked (verbally) the troops were the lowest of the low.
The "Support the Troops" is a reaction to the liberals of the Vietnam era blaming the soldiers for the war. This was an attempt to show that it was understood politicians, not soldiers, were responsible.
Volunteer Armies are always mostly populated by the poorer segments of society. I am a firm believer in the draft. Everyone has an obligation to their country & should be at risk of serving.
Because the ones who profit from it control who goes on the air, and the people who go on the air are believed.
They are believed because people believe broadcasting is a meritocracy.
Lets say they just got uniforms, guns and food.
Certainly not enough to even begin to occupy Afghanistan or any of the other 130 bases around the world the empire governs for corporations .
So lets call the troops what they are- mercenaries for global capital
If you define mercenaries as those who can't find a job because they have all been sent overseas, and the military is the only alternative to absolutely nothing, then yes, they are mercenaries.
BUT, I don't define them as mercenaries. I define them as disenfranchised poor people who have been propagandized out of their presence of mind by too many "Rah-Rah" war movies.
Support Our Troops by bringing them HOME.
Michael has never been more correct than he is with this essay.
It is time we need to recognize the mercenary nature of the military and quit all the hypocrisy about freedom, democracy etc.Those words are a cover that legitimizes the violence and destruction that the U.S. metes out daily in order to advance so called capitalism( in reality taxpayer subsidy of the top 1%)Violence and destruction delivered through the "job"of being a soldier.
I am not against self defense,in fact soldiers who would protect our country under attack would do so because they love our country and its people, not in order to gain a monthly salary, benefits,career advancement or college degrees.However Our country has not been under military attack from an outside force for more than 60 years, instead we have wantonly destroyed , maimed and murdered millions globally.Perhap s if instead of taking the "job" of killing. (why are soldiers different than working for the Mafia , thats a paid killer too) people who become soldiers would apply themselves to uniting in order to create a future of safety and hope for all people,our country would not rest so uneasily.
They are mercenaries because they are fighting for money.
They are not fighting for freedom, or for democracy or to defend america or to keep americans safe.
They are fighting for money - hence the 50,000$ enlistment bonuses Bush set up.
They are not fighting for freedom, or for democracy or to defend america or to keep americans safe."
Every US soldier who fought in every US war or conflict was paid (or at least was supposed to be paid) for their service. Does that mean no US soldier ever fought for freedom, democracy, defense or to keep America safe? There's more to the term "mercenary" than money.
What is it about "figuratively speaking" that you don't understand?
Pretty sure freedom fighters in other countries aren't on salary, much less bonues.
I have seen 25k bonuses offered for signing on
$ 2000 , one is less a mercenary than the other?
During his senior year at a remote Appalachian high school, he was fair game to the recruiters who prowled the halls and ball ground every day, with glamorous stories of heroes who put on a pretty uniform, wowed the girls, went abroad and Made Their Country Safe For Mama and Sweetheart -- by doing what they did best, already -- shooting. There were NO decent jobs for many miles around -- thanks to the same crew of despicable criminals who gave us these wars -- but if you joined and shot some swarthy Bad Guys you didn't know anyway (plus -- left unsaid -- maybe a little kid and a granny or so), you WOULD earn a free ride to college and the good life. AND -- you WOULD get paid! So all the pleading in the world would not stop this poorly-educated , thoroughly indoctrinated boy from "the right thing." Yes, he knows better now. Innocence is lost -- shooting people is NOT shooting squirrels -- and dreams are darkened forever. This, friend, is your "mercenary." So easy for you to say ---
And Obama said, "let let by-gones be just that." Right!
And then they add the fine print that enslaves you after you've seen the reality.
We are all mercenaries,, it takes money to live in this society , but very few of us will sign up to kill others for money,skills,co llege degrees or a career.
If you want to support the troops I hope you are fighting recruiters in schools and I hope your no longer innocent is loudly and clearly spreading his hard won wisdom
Every word of discouragement is another life saved.
I cannot emphasize enough the extent of the brainwashing and pressure that recruiters use on these kids -- particularly the kids with no immediately clear and grand futures. With ours, the relentless emphasis was on "protecting your mother and your girlfriend." Keeping America SAFE from "camel-jockeys" who just can't wait to invade America and do bad things to women. His family did everything we could, to distract him, other than tie him up in the cellar till the war passed over.
He was outraged, horrified that we were SO "unpatriotic," in the face of such terrorism. After all, he was 18 and knew exactly what he was doing. Yeah.
You are so right -- we just want him home, nightmares and all. But I will have a hard time EVER forgiving the low-life "leadership" of this oountry, for what they have done to a generation of our children. And they did it for their OWN financial gain -- and ego.
these people aren't going to afghanistan to make a fortune.
i agree that they should stop. better to rake leaves for subsistence than fight a corrupt empire's battles and do the bidding of rich old white men who would sell you down the river for an extra penny on their balance sheet
by all means call Congress mercenary, call the Supreme Court mercenary, call the bankers, Halliburtin, Blackwater, Walmart mercenary
but you can't call the troops mercenary
Mercenaries are paid enormous sums, three or four and five times that of the gullible enlisted military. Fact, not fiction!
Keep in mind that most of the voluntary enlisted military live where there are NO jobs! They are manipulated into signing with bonuses, and promises of education and training for jobs. All BS.
Thats whats scary about America.
So who values life less?
The one who kills for penny or the one who kills for the big bucks?
How many times have you heard it said of an armed robber " and all he got was $25" with disbelief that someone would kill someone for such a small amount.
Thats basically what you are saying.
And I read nothing about punching out anyone's lights out or evidence that NOBODY ever thanked a Vietnam Vet.We did better than thank them - we stopped a war in which they were being sacrificed & poisoned by Agent Orange for no reason whatsoever .
Whistleblowers like Daniel Ellsberg, activists like the Berrigans and countless mothers, fathers and friends of too often ,dead and maimed, soldiers.And young people everywhere, at risk of being sent to give their lives for corporate profits.
Do you really think Iraq and Afghanistan are any less morally bankrupt?
The difference is in a private mercenary army vs a draft army, its quite obvious- you are going voluntarily and so who can really complain about the outcome.You volunteered in order to get paid and you're willing to kill on the bet that you'll win.When you don't, ,oh well, no one pays attention, except when the Defense budget needs to drum up more profits and then all at once remember "the heroes".That is exactly what Michael is writing about.
Did you admire the 9/11 hijackers for their expertise in completing a morally bankrupt mission?
So many of these guys are kids, and they believe what they're told. They have not had an opportunity to see the other side of things, or the larger picture. They get to find it out for themselves, in the most horrible, brutal, damaging way possible.
When I meet vets I say thanks first and try to just get their thoughts about any of it they're willing to talk about. Since it's my tax dollars supporting the wars, I feel like it's OK to ask. Some don't want to talk, many do.
I do think MM's suggestions are good, if one can overcome the anger in his piece. I feel shamed by it, actually. When was the last time I visited a VA hospital? Never.
But I will do it and soon. We need to care for these guys and share the truth with them, not demean or insult them. I see them as being swept along in a larger current in the river, just like we all are, to an extent. With different parents, different backgrounds, different learning experiences, they might not have gone to fight. But they did, and they have a wealth of information and even wisdom to share.
I think you are partially right in saying that the anti-war protesters alone did not bring the Vietnam War to an end but clearly they did play a role; no? In particular though i think the Vietnam Vets Against the War was a real turning point in at least getting some who had either supported the war or didn't think much about it either way to have to question things somewhat; after all these were vets many of whom had volunteered only to find that the war was not what they had been told. i also think an untold part of the story are the sectors of capital i.e., business that for their own reasons turned against the war. So, yes there was the moral bankruptcy and the length of the war as you point out but i don't think that is the whole picture either.
We need to support Iraq Vets For Peace and Courage To Resist, and pay close attention to the trial of Bradley Manning.
Not all "hippies" went the route of Jerry Rubin (Abbey never did for one) so i wouldn't overgeneralize although there are certainly enough that would fit the bill.
They got student deferments or had parents rich enough to pay their way out of the draft.
But they are not adverse from profiting off other people's kids sent to war
"I beg any young person reading this who's thinking of joining the armed forces to please reconsider."
Soldiers who were exposed to this deadly chemical found that after leaving service, many of them were "rotting from the inside out." I made friends with an army recruit, he served in vietnam. He said, "my doctors told me I have five or six years to live." He did not live those five or six years. Two years after he made that statement, he was "gone."
How human beings act to each other's faces does count.
Robert B, while i suspect we may disagree politically (though perhaps not) i too was taken aback (though not necessarily surprised) at what i thought was at best a flip and at worst a really over the top and uncalled for "sea bass" comment. What's perhaps more depressing is not just the number of thumbs down you recieve for making a comment just about this one line in Moore's piece but also the level of personal attack to which people have gone in disagreeing with you. A sad comment on the state of American politics and discourse.
The only way to genuinely support the troops is to bring them home and care for them.
To stop being the bullies of the planet.
To become a peaceful nation.
To take the money we now spend making and preparing for war and use it for peaceful and constructive purposes.
years: "Support Our Troops/
Bring Them Home Now"
Such bumper stickers are probably
still available
See also: www.waifllc.org
Alan McConnell, in Silver
Spring MD
It's not at that point yet. Not even close. But anyone can get involved with the vets who push for an end to the wars. Couaragetoresis t.org, Bradleymanning. org, Iraq Vets For Peace, and so forth.
"323 suicides in 2012 through November" would guess that this is underestimated.
Insurance does not cover suicide - and it is not so difficult yo fake one in the war zone.
It is the same for the general population - would like to see the rate of unemployed "death" compared to the same age group of general population.
Life insurance is the best way to feed family - no other nation on earth is killing itself because of MONEY.
I'm a Vietnam era veteran and more than 40 years have passed since I was honorably discharged. I still feel used and abandoned by the US government and the citizenry.
I'm a member and part of the cadre of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc. I have a VVAW bumper sticker on my car and occasionally will be thanked for my service. Frankly it always sounds hollow and simply irritates me, since the American war in Vietnam was an unmitigated disaster and has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions.
Not to forget that untold millions of people in both countries will still suffer to this day because of this illegal and immoral war.
There are no easy answers and petitioning the government is useless, since their masters are the To Big to Jail bankers and other denizens of Wall Street. However, I still go through the motions and politely ask the Senators and member of Congress that supposedly represent my interests to cut the defense (offense) budget drastically and get us out of the wars of naked aggression being perpetuated in my name.
Proof? They kill anyone, and everyone, including their own.
First they manifest a 'crisis', then they 'find blame' and attack without investigation.
A charade, Indeed.
Impeach. Now! (The President IS the Commander-in-Ch ief)
Bring our Children Home....NOW.
Elizabeth Warren said it best, "The game is rigged!" Sorry I wish it were not true, but the fact is that if we didn't create so many enemies we wouldn't have so many wars. If the USA wanted peace the world would have peace. If there was a $550 Billion peace budget we would have peace. Can you not see that those in a position of power will do everything they can to maintain defense spending? Weapons, oil, and drugs!! That is the goal of the military. Freedom and democracy haven't been on the list since 1947.
I could not see these things myself until I traveled alone and extensively throughout most of the world. People everywhere want peace. We are the terrorists. If you disagree with me pack your bag and prove me wrong. God I wish I were wrong.
Sad to say, but you're right.
War is becoming, more and more, a game of terrorism. Some terrorists use firecrackers and some use drones and threaten to use nuclear weapons.
And, truth telling he is in this article, per usual. Please, please, please Michael, consider running for office. For example, you'd make a fabulous gov. of Michigan. As I've previously pointed out in a reply to this same article, the evil villainaire rulers are shakin' and cussin' at the thought of you, Michael Moore, in any office, since they could not pull your string and have you do all they desire. And, also, fully script you? No way, Jose.
Keep leading us, Michael. Across the globe and we here in the U.S. of (greed and power) A.(ddiction) sooooo need you.
tax monies go to supporting a war that no one wants except the corporatized leaders in Congress. After working for four years in the Middle East, I realized they hate the US Government (without exception) because the US is there...in one form or another. Imagine if Russia occupied our country or parts of the country with their military presence or with whatever means (money, politics, etc), we would hate it and most likely resist. The same goes on in the Middle East and elsewhere that the US sends our troops. We do a grave disservice to other countries and ourselves to get militarily involved. We can support our tropps by opposing the pseudo wars and sending them home.
fundamentalists who seem 'hellbent' on
converting those of other faiths to their mind-numbing version of religion (and encourage their members in the military to make life difficult if not outright persecute those who do not go along.)
Military recruiters are not only allowed to visit Chicago public high schools, they are given offices to use for recruiting. The teacher reported that because the students are undereducated and there are no jobs for them, they quickly see that they are heading for a dead end future. The only possibility that they see for themselves is the military. She described her students as the next fodder for our perpetual wars. She is passionate about this impossible situation and the sign she carried read, "My Students Are Not Your Soldiers. End The Poverty Draft."
You really don't care, You protect your own political interests, sorry to say that, all who support him are blind and are what's called "usefull idiots. Our current president supports the same, if not a more aggressive foreign war policy then Bush did, where is the outcry of injustice? Why aren't you attacking him on these policies? I know why.
The additional taxes that the current pres. said would only affect the upper 1%, well it didn't. and the upper 1% was not effected. Michael aren't you part of that 1%? You! the Micheal Moore supporters, ie "usefull idiots" will be. Why aren't you attacking the current pres. on this? I know why.
Keep spending, keep killing, and to all the usefull idiots, when you get your new adjusted paycheck realize you are one of Michael Moore's "usefull Idiots" enjoy!
Support only Honest politicians, and support only those who don't secretively have their own aggenda. perhaps someone like Ron Paul?
I "support the troops". I will advocate in any way I can for the safety and well-being of anyone who signed on the dotted line and volunteered to lay down their life, if necessary for the protection of this nation. I will not, however, blindly praise every action by those who decide where our military is sent and who it fights--they have had a very poor track record for some decades now.
And no, I will not put a magnetic ribbon on my car. They are made in China and "support" no one but Chinese manufacturers.
And American ribbon distributors.
My grandfather was in the NAVY, on the first carrier into Japan as a radio operator, at the end of WWII. He worked all his life, raised four daughters, watched my grandmother die of Alzheimers and was able to afford a few months in an "extended care facility" by selling his home. My dad has been trying for years to get what they say he is entitled to from being in the ARMY, stationed in Saudi Arabia. He has a PhD, is a beaureaucrat par excellance, and gets nowhere with them. When I joined the AIR FORCE, I was an under 18 hick with a GED and no clue, which the recruiters happily took advantage of. Being the 3rd generation to have experienced the military, I figure no matter what you get, it will be in spite of military service, not because of it. Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. In military service, that comes in spades.
NONE of my descendants have even considered joining the armed forces.
(WWII vet - draftee)
If anyone wants to show true support for the military, demand that our government stop misusing and abusing them!
The second is to make sure they get the best of care for the traumas they have experienced and endured AND the best of help to integrate them into what's left of the country they left behind.
Help them to understand that they have been used by a corrupt and venal political and economic system - a warfare state that thrives on violence, intimidation and manipulation to extend and maintain its hegemony. They deserve our deepest sympathy, compassion and remediation for what's been done to them in our names.
They deserve the truth and our help dealing with it.
In 2002, Senator Inouye showed his support of the American troops by voting to keep them out of what he believed to be (and what has proven to be) a needless and warrantless conflict.
Back in those days, I was involved in some of the early computer chats.... I remember saying to conservatives, on several occasions, "You're in favor of these wars? I suggest that you enlist. If you can't enlist, pull out your wallets and pay extra to help military families, disabled veterans, and others, who will need your help."
Amazing! I never heard from even one person who said, "Yeah, I should do that." Instead, I heard lame excuses, complaints, suggestions that somebody else should pay the bills, etc.
That's how you spot the phonies. The phonies talk a lot about "supporting the troops" but they do surprisingly little.
Big Irony: Some of the phonies will attack the person who is against the war who has the courage and the honesty to say, "No." (Sometimes it's the anti-war protestor who gets accused of cowardice. Huh?)
You're right that it was the start of student apathy, but that would have happened, anyway. In four years, everybody graduates (or flunks out). Time moves on.
You left out Kent State, by the way – our own homegrown Tianenman Square. The '60s really sucked, in all honesty.
#1. Michael is right; he is brave to write what many of us have often thought, but were ashamed to admit...we are a flawed society, and the great experiment has gone awry.
#2. There is a direct connection between all the talk on gun control, the 2nd Amendment, a draft Army, and an all volunteer Army. The 2nd Amendment was in lieu of establishing a 'Standing Army' and the Militia Acts more or less mandated that you would be 'volunteered' in time of need, and bring your musket, powder and ball with you!
The current problem associated with a 'mercenary' type standing army can be solved by applying the rules of the Militia Acts to all Americans, that being that if you are male, white, between the ages of 18-45, and own a rifle, report for duty when your local commander calls you up. If you don't own a rifle, you are mandated to acquire one that meet certain requirements as specified in the Act.
#3. The Military, Industrial Complex is alive in well as shown by that fact that the best hammer costs $45 retail, but $700 when the military buys it through a lucky contractor. Also, Army trained soldiers making $1500/mo. are forced to 'train' private contractors to take over their jobs, and get $4500/mo. Go figure!
I can give countless more examples, but I hope you get the idea...we are a deeply flawed 'free' society.
The military buys a lot of stuff. If we spent even half of that helping the poor around the world then almost everybody would love the US. Instead we use the military to protect our wealth and exploitation of others minerals and labor.
We need a drastic change in policy.
The military should protect us when another country attacks us.
But now that Obama is taking out Al-Qaeda with drones, snuffing Osama bin Laden and just generally doing what you're supposed to do in a war, Obama is a war criminal? That's ridiculous. You could probably argue that every President is a war criminal. FDR? Truman? Not shooting back isn't the same thing as "peace."
you are exactly what I am ashamed of.
And not one single comment about that in this torrent of rage.
So,, until I see a uSA gov't completely de-jewed, yes folks, ZERO dual national israelis or jews in the American gov't, I will settle for nothing less than a Civil War on the rich, disposessing them of their ill gotten gains, at the expense of the united states of america.
and a GENUINE real separation of church & state, no more talking snake fairy tale followers in office either, this country was actually founded by Men who wanted freedom FROM religion, not of it.
for the past couple years i have been responding to facebook posts about supporting our troops by saying i don't support them by posting flag pictures; i support them by voting for people who will make sure they're protected while in harm's way, won't put them in harm's way for spurious reasons, and will bring them home. i get blasted for that too! you're not alone and you're not wrong.
g
Before point-and-shoot video games were popularized--ki lling sprees by youth were unheard of.
Now we get 3-4 a year.
Hollywood's lawyers' argue that it is a coincidence.
Kind of like the coincidence between smoking and lung cancer.
Mr. Moore & I both know that the biggest purveyors, profiteers from, and promoters of, youth violence, make violent video games and movies--and they don't belong to the 'big bad NRA.'
And a lot of kids have died making them rich.
Say it ain't so Mike--say it ain't so!!
I dont support the troops because I don't support the wars.
If I did support the wars we are in I would support the troops but I dont support the troops anymore than I would "support the troops" if the troops in question are the red coats of the late 1770's.
I dont support the troops because instead of making us safe and "defending our freedom" their actions further our debt and making us less safe and more hated.
I dont support the troops. I look on them, at best, with pity as dumb fools that are throwing their lives away to serve the business interests of multi-national corporations that we, the taxpayers, will be billed for their 'service' while said corporations plunder the resources of other countries.
And, at worst, I view them as willing participants in global subjugation and oppression so they can feel like a bunch of macho tough guys as they serve as the loyal lapdogs to the military industrial complex.
I dont support the troops. Any of them. It's a volunteer army now. They know or at least should know what they were signing up to do.
I dont support the troops. I support the civilians in other countries that have to suffer them. I done with supporting the troops on all levels.
I dont support the troops. I ONLY support them coming home.
B. Clinton and the last 5 administrations in public at the 1st opportunity.
ALL AIPAC Members be declared TERRORISTS and bounties put on them, esp Dov & Zellikow.
For me, this is a timely article because I was questioning how much I can continue to do. I am a single mother of two young boys, and in addition to maintaining a private practice, I started a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2009: Acupuncture for Veterans and their Families. AVF provides health care to veterans, those on active duty, and their immediate family members, at no cost to them. Since receiving 501(c)(3) status in July 2011, AVF has seen 165 people and provided 481 treatment sessions...read testimonials @ AVFinfo.org.
The main cost of the program is to provide payment for health care services rendered. In 2012, AVF survived and provided quality health care mainly because clinic locations are donated by the health care providers, 95% of supplies are donated, approximately 75% of the treatment sessions are donated, and AVF spends $0 on administration. In December, I wrote an article, (submitted to local newspaper & emailed to "interested parties") thanking the volunteers, added pictures of families being served, and asked the readers for end of year fiscal support. Not one person called or wrote to say anything, good or bad. We are however, thankful to those who have donated time and services, because the veterans AND their family members need more support than most people understand.
RSS feed for comments to this post