Do you keep our nation's soldiers at arms length as you advocate peace?

[bigtree]

Do you feel that you have cast them aside on your path to peace in order to be fully rightous? Hope not.

I'm not a soldier, and I have never advocated senseless violence. But, if these soldiers are going to hell because of the fact that they chose to serve and defend our country then I'm going down with them, loving them and respecting them for their sacrifices. My choice. I won't leave a soul behind if I can help it. It would be easy as making cake to live the life of a pure peacenik. My youth was like that. But I've dedicated my time to advocate for our soldiers, at least while they are at the mercy of the mindless imperialists in the White House, and likely beyond that even. Our nation's rationale for military engagement has gone under this administration from defense to preemptive pursuit of greed and domination under the guise of 'democracy'. There aren't enough words to describe how thoroughly these folks have lost control over their lives given the laws that govern their conduct as soldiers. They need us to stand firmly beside them. Hope my fellow peaceniks will stand with me.

I won't mind reading dissenting opinions. I'll just read and not defend or respond, if you please.

[nashville_brook]

1. i don't think anyone doing peace work would "cast aside" vets

i'm not sure where this is coming from.

[tabasco]

2. I am a peace-loving soldier.

I am only in the IRR right now but I was active duty infantry for twelve years and I loved peace then too.

Bush has violated a sacred trust to the military by sending them to war without:
1. Just cause.
2. Expending all other avenues.
3. Attainable objectives.
4. An exit strategy.

#1 and 2 are the most vital, but 3 and 4 are important too.

[bigtree]

3. *

[Tactical Progressive]

4. The soldiers take the brunt of the inhumanity

of war, of our inability to evolve to solve our problems constructively, of the lies we tell ourselves to maintain our comfy world.

Even if they go in all gung-ho to kick ass, they still take the brunt.

We don't get to look down on them.

They get to look down on us.

[porphyrian]

5. Nope.

Only the republican pieces of shit like to make that argument. As much as they chant "support our troops," they sure are doing their best to fuck them in the ass every chance they get - cutting veterans' benefits, for example.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. This happened today

I was calling clients to schedule pest service appointments, and one told me her husband was coming home from Iraq in about a week. I blurted out "Oh, I hope he stays safe, and he remains in my prayers!"

She doesn't know that I protested the war-and does it matter? My caring for her and her husband was real; my caring for all beings is real. We are all One, and what effects one effects us all.

[G_j]

7. you seem to imply

that pure "peacenik"s "push the soldiers aside".
That is not my impression at all.
I'm uncomfortable with the way this question is being asked.
Is it just me?

[bigtree]

9. good point

I'm trying to discern where the folks who advocate peace and express distain for the soldiers are coming from. Just trying to flesh it out is all. No offense meant to peace lovers. It is possible to love peace and still respect and love the soldiers. Perhaps not so eloquently stated on my part, and your point is well taken. I've encountered folks who call themselves lovers of peace, but put the soldiers down. Do you acknowledge that reality? I'd like to just assume that all lovers of peace would also recognize the soldier's humanity, but sadly, in many cases, it's not so. I ask, therefore . . . and I want to understand where these folks are coming from.

[G_j]

10. I am part of a peace coalition

which includes Veterans For Peace and many other diverse groups.
We're all working together.

[bigtree]

12. thank you for your service and advocacy

[Gabi Hayes]

8. ''chose to serve and defend our country''?????

defend our country from WHAT?

a nation without a fricking AIR FORCE?

I could drone on, but they made their choices, and, if they signed up to serve and defend, they should have CHOSEN not to go to Iraq.

anyone with half a brain knows that the WORST thing we could have done in the name of defense of the realm was to invade that sad, sorry state

[AndyTiedye]

11. Support Our Troops! Bring Them Home!

Stop making our brave soldiers die for Halliburton!

[manic expression]

13. The US troops are part of such a horrible and disgusting action

and I cannot support them. I do not support the troops at all because they are carrying out wrongs. They alone possess their choice. They are responsible for their actions, and more generally, the results of the actions of the collective group (i.e. the US military). I will not (even though it hurts me to do so) stand beside an individual who contributes to such an effort.

To be brief, I oppose how the troops are used, portrayed and how many of them act.

I do not think they are "going to hell", and I sympathize with their position, but I will not support any member of such dastardly deeds.

[Mizmoon]

14. I don't know any soldiers to cast aside

I have a distant cousin who was in the Air Force for a few years. One year at Christmas she told me she hated it.

:shrug:

[bigtree]

15. *

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Soldiers are cannon fodder.

They are neither glorious or villains for the most part. They are the tools of politicians and the powerful, used as enforcers of policies they have nothing to do with.

Having been one (actually a marine), I have no particular sympathy for them, certainly no admiration for what they do, (they aren't carrying guns as fashion statements), but, neither do I hold any particular contempt for them.

Most of the ones that I knew in my 4 years of "service" were just ordinary guys trained to kill, bullied, brainwashed, fearful, trying to get by and get out.

The average GI is just folks, folks. No better or worse than the average citizen. Something that can't be said of their bosses who send them to kill for flimsy and, usually, dishonest reasons.

[bigtree]

17. *

[jdj]

18. some of us don't believe in righteousness and hell.

and I can't keep them at arms length since so many are all the way over in Iraq.

My position on the soldiers and their final destiny is irrelevant, as is everyone elses, regardless of whether or not I have a ribbon magnet on my car.

The people who can truly affect their lives have made their decision and that is to send them ill-equipped into slaughter.

I pay taxes and a I voted for Kerry. I really don't know what else I can do.

[Coventina]

19. The fish rots from the head.

Bushco is the ultimate criminal here.

But we ALL are stinking from it.

I'll say this, I think that soldiers that are still committing atrocities stink as well. They are the "enforcers" of this mafia, while Bush is the Don & his admin are "capos".

We're the people paying the protection money. So our hands aren't clean, but we're further down the chain.