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.

I don’t mind remembering them or thanking them wheneer I meet a member of OUR military.

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.

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.

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.”

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!

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