That which I wish to relay to you today concerns, not surprisingly, the military. Specifically, I would like to bring up my annoyance at the constant reminders that we need to “thank those who have fought and are fighting for our freedoms.” (The other annoying and no less dumb line about the military being, “If it wasn’t for the troops we would all be speaking German/Japanese right now.”) I won’t even get into the fact that it is difficult to point to a specific instance in the last 200 years when any military action by the United States government involved defending us from an enemy that actually threatened our traditional freedoms.
The issue I would like to bring forward is the fact that every holiday is now being turned into a thank-the-troops marathon. Memorial Day, Veterans Day, I suppose I can handle those. But Christmas? Independence Day? Please. I’m still waiting for Halloween to be taken over with the constant barrage of “remember those have allowed us to celebrate this pagan holiday of free-loading candy grubbers and vandalism.”
I suppose I am a traitor now. Someone better lock me up.
I fully support what your saying - its pretty scary just how fast rampant militarism is taking over American culture
When will someone challenge the basic idea itself? The troops are not in Iraq protecting ME or YOU at all . . . they are there ONLY to serve as armed guards while greedy corporations steal the country’s oil. Like the mafia boss stopping by to steal your money with armed thugs standing by.
It has absolutely nothing to do with Americans except we allow it and we foot the bills so those corporations (and their CEOs) can get richer. We will get what we deserve from other countries who don’t want this to happen to them.
So my thoughts make me a terrorist now? Under Bush’s vision for Amerika they would.
Because we’er at war you nincompoops!
Probably because they are deployed away from their families and friends and some of the nation wants to let them know that they have not been forgotten. Does remembering them hurt you in any way? Also, you may need to review your history.
Whether you like the fact that we are in Iraq or not, those people have volunteered to do a job that often takes them away from HOME. They don’t have the opportunity to share the “holidays” with family and friends like we do.
I don’t mind remembering them or thanking them wheneer I meet a member of OUR military.
What about Easter?? Delicious military bunnies.
What a tragedy that you would have to suffer such annoyance. Oh God — poor, poor you.
By the way, Independence Day is the celebration of a war having been won. So that’s probably why we associate it with the troops.
So you’re annoyed that someone who lost a loved one should be joined by others who appreciate their sacrifice? You’re obviously a small, self-obsorbed moron. The dignitiy of people who care to protect even you is clearly something you’re not capable of understanding.
I completely agree. Anyone that wants to support the troops in Iraq because they are away from their family should bring them home to their family. This is an all VOLUNTEER military so that means they wanted to join (no one made them). I don’t feel sorry for them and I don’t think I should support them more than giving my money to the government to pay for them. They decided to do this and so that’s what they have to do. I do not think they are heroes since it’s a job that they choose. If my home was being attacked (e.g. WWII with the Japanese) I will completely enlist and fight and the only appreciation I would need is the fact that my family is safe because of it. I wouldn’t except anyone else to do anything.
Agreed.
Normally during the holidays you mentioned, the current administration comes out and says something. They have been told by their SME’s to ALWAYS mention the ’support of our troops’ during any available public opportunity, and holidays are a perfect time to do so. This constant ’support our troops’ message serves to denigrate anyone who may be against the war in Iraq.
If your average American is left with only ONE CHOICE - Do you support our troops? - OR - Do you agree with the war? Which are you going to choose - supporting the troops! Are you allowed to do both? Not in the eyes of a true Republican.
Was my dad a HERO that should have been SUPPORTED in every way for going to a job he hated working for a boss he couldn’t stand for 30 years? Yep. But that doesn’t mean the company couldn’t have become a great place to work and they could have fired his boss and replaced him with somebody easy to work with, nor does it mean I have to like the company.
Oh, and people that go into war that are willing to DIE for their country are morons. Yes, even if they did it for the good of the country - they’re still a few bricks short of a load. Die for a country? Do they really believe their life meant anything? We all have to think it does, but it doesn’t really. The people on the ground actually fighting the war are pawns … the decision to retreat is made at the top.
Finally, what exactly was Iraq threatening the USA with? Speaking Arabic? Saddam was calmly running his little part of the world when Dubya & Co. came in one day and decided he was a THREAT. What threat? Did Saddam want Americans to start speaking Arabic? Did he have anything to do with 9/11? Was he attacking any American soil? Did he have WMD’s? Blah, blah, blah.
If you’re in Iraq right now and you’re fighting for Americans freedom you’ve been led down the garden path. Wake up and smell the coffee. Politely ask to be returned home and then quit. Do something else with your life. Supporting Dubya’s and Cheney’s oil interests are not admirable … you’ve got the wool being pulled over you. Give your head a shake.
Dave: At war with whom? We have not formally declared war (at all), except on a “concept” (that’d be “terrorism”). We’re winning it about as effectively as we’re “winning” the “war on drugs.” Oops. So who are we fighting? What, specifically, are “they” doing that strips away my freedoms? *My own !@#$ing government has done more to curtail my freedoms than any “terrorist” ever has.* What, specifically, are *we* doing to those specific people responsible for “attacking” my freedoms?
Josh: What about his history should he “review?” Please enlighten us. You ask how it *hurts* us to constantly be reminded of (and expected to salute) our precious troops overseas? It is *nauseating* to be reminded that our government has sent so many young volunteers to wage a pointless battle. It is disturbing to be expected to wave the flag and say “go U.S.!” and pat our soldiers on the back even as we know they’re being systematically killed by a much more persistent force.
t.a.m.s.y.: I was under the impression “Independence Day” was a celebration of that whole “declaration of independence” thingy — the formation of the ideas that define our country (well, that used to) and the creation of the government itself. It’s not a damned “wooot! We won the war! Go us! We killed a buncha jerks! Let’s shoot guns and drink beer and set off fireworks to celebrate!” thing. At least, it’s not really supposed to be.
Someone you know: Eat worms and die, pal. My father served in the U.S. Air Force for 23 years. He retired, with an honorable discharge. He continues to collect his retirement check from the government. He continues to watch the promises made to him by the government be whittled away every year (base closures all over mean he’s either had to move, or travel further, to receive the lifelong medical care he’s supposed to get, or settle for the pure insanity that is the current “CHAMPUS” health insurance system). His reasoning, which I agree with whole-heartedly, is that in his 23 years of service, his family (that’d be me, btw) has paid its dues and done its service. He told me awhile back (when I was approaching my 18th birthday) that he’d personally break both my knees if necessary should I ever enlist or be drafted into the military, because he was unwilling to give any more of his family or his family’s time to the military. He did more to “protect” his country and his family than you’ll ever know, and he’s done even more to protect *me* by warning me away from the military now. Don’t you dare invoke a soldier, former or present, as an automatic “don’t you feel bad?” to be shoved in anyone’s face whenever they question why we have to have a damned pep rally every friggin’ holiday. My family’s paid its dues; has yours?
Gotta agree here with the original post. Support-our-troops rallies suck. Conversely, I think throwing rotten veggies at them in the 70’s (because of Vietnam) was pretty crappy, too. They’re not all jerks (and we shouldn’t have done that to them then) but they’re also not all heroes. Please accept and deal with this. It’s an all-volunteer military — that means people who couldn’t get work elsewhere, or people who honestly wanted to join up so they could carry a real gun with live ammo to go “shoot some towelheads,” make up the bulk of our armed forces. Yes, there are exceptions, but the bulk of our modern-day armed forces are just beer-swilling gun-toting psychos with a government-issued license to shoot at stuff.
Want me to fall over myself trying to worship at every soldier’s feet? Want me to stand and proudly salute everytime someone belts out some sickeningly patriotic song at a karaoke show (prefaced, of course, with a drunken, southern-drawled dedication to “our troops/boys”)? Should I thank every John Q. Private for my (rapidly eroding) right to free speech, freedom from unlawful search-and-seizure, etc.? Sorry. Not going to happen.
I’ve thanked my father for what he did for all of us, and especially for me. I acknowledge the “risked life” aspect of the whole thing (for every enlisted soldier and every officer) and I do appreciate it. But I’m not going to stop saying “uh, guys, this is !@#$ing insane!” just because a bunch of puppy-eyed soldiers threaten to cry because I won’t get down on my knees to “service my heroes.”
Stirred up the water this time, didn’t you? Well, I will throw my two and a half cents into it.
Holidays based around the celebration of a military victory or the military should be about the troops. I do agree with you about how it is quite popular these days to “remember and support the troops”, and I feel that it is being used to often to further political desires. I also think that the surge of people who are Uber-Patriots are for the most part self-serving, and I ask you to question the strategic rise of some people’s commercial success based off of “patriotic” songs/movies/books/etc.
I think you have inspired a blog. Thanks!
What a load of bobbins, all of you. YOU VOTED BUSH AND CO IN! (apart from Florida of course) The USA needs oil. It needs it really badly. So badly that a country that can barely feed itself let alone fight a war but does have one of the worlds largest oil fields, is deemed a threat and therfore invaded. FOR YOU’RE FREEDOM! And to make matters worse, old Tony lets us become as hated as you people by joining that joker in the white house! Lucky old us. As for you’re holidays, be thankful and enjoy. There are many who won’t enjoy another day off. . . . .
at war with the islamofacist and all others that covet “our” oil that mu-ham-ed an alla are wasting
Willfe
you must have been a camp follower a long time. I realize that when you have seen as many hotel ceilings as you have you must have developed a real fear of abandonment.
I notice to that your ashamed of being a proud Confederate off-spring. But self-loathing will not make you feel any better about yourself.
Listen, I am certain that if you was to go back to pole dancing, your dad would forgive you for stealing his money from under his mattress (that he was saving up for some of dem new teethies) and let you back into the trailer house.
But, I believe to get forgiveness from the countless numbers of brave servicemen that you gave the clap to, might prove to be more challenging.
Semper Fi
Obviously, you are too much of a pussy to have ever entered the military. Maybe you don’t agree with the war in Iraq, but those are OUR men and women over there and they need our support.
You may continue on bashing me. I will still fight for you right to do that. Someone has to do it, you do not have the NADS!
Well in reference to numerous points from above, firstly, no need to take it out on the troops themselves, i may not actually be american, but respect soldiers (unless geneva convention is broken) so do the logical thing and try and vote the poor decision makers out (somehow)
secondly-this overwhelming support for troops and all is to ensure that a repeat of the public getting the US to pull out of vietnam wont happen again, which is merely a logical step
thirdly it also serves to get people to follow the government simply by letting the government control nationalism on behalf of the people, and the comment regarding the government taking more freedoms away than any terrorist could is brilliantly placed id say, as which government would refuse the chance to do whatever it wants, luckily the fact that parties vie for power means that they will make concessions to get into power, leading to democracy (unless they both stand to gain from each others power seizing gains)
with regards to holidays and the military, the original topic, its just the excess of a government trying to make its point that questioning its policy is madness, getting some to misguidedly attack the soldiers themselves giving the government more support of those offended through misguided comments, so when making your point, whatever it is, do not offend the individuals, as in reality it isnt up to them
(unless the whole idea of withdrawing from an army due to not beleiving in what its doing is followed, which is against army ethics where loyalty is highly regarded)
and as a military theorist, in the wars since the civil war -the US Mexican war, the US Spanish war, World War one, World War two, Korea, Vietnam and the two Iraq wars , as well as the smaller interventions, mexicans, spaniards, germans, and japanese alike could only dream of conquering the US while others were the US stepping in on behalf of allies, south korea, south vietnam, britain, the phillipines, and Kuwait, taking over britains role as the worlds policeman, US homeland security could not realistically be threatened unless a recognised military force debarks on US soil, which i cant see happening now (although the government stands to gain you fearing a landing craft full of afghans attacking new york)
and for the reference, US involvement goes by the principle of, iff not the strongest miliraty power in the world, who will, its merely the duty of modern states, and it benefits administrations due to them reienforcing democracy, or stopping ‘the aggressor’ which works well for the rest of the world which isnt militarily ambitious, and helps make the administration look popular, the Balkans conflict is an example of this, however throw in some ideology and you get vietnam, youre not fighting the aggressor, youre fighting communists, and the south vietnamese turned out to be heavily infiltrated and had a poor image, iff anyone has contrasting opinions, please go ahead, iff i see a better opinion it would be logical not to be stubborn when proved wrong
damn im a bit late