What Does the Phrase "Support Our Troops" Mean To You?

[demobabe]

From Buzzflash:

As Professor Ira Chernus points out in an incisive commentary on TomDispatch.com, for him the phrase "support our troops" represents a holy, inviolable mantra in the American narrative.

It is a phrase so hot wired into Americans, and feared to hold an omnipotent power by those on Capitol Hill, that it cannot be understood through the lens of common sense and reason: Why send more American GIs to die in a war without mission or purpose, whose only apparent definition of "victory" appears to be that the U.S. will not be perceived as losing? But no one in power can even define what not losing would be at this point.

No such questions are allowed at the shrine of "support our troops." Trying to save their lives is not supporting them, but sending more to be killed is?

Maybe the phrase "support our troops" really is a selfish one for Americans. It means, perhaps, "I am an American – virtuous, Christian and white – and I am destined and deserve to be on the team of victory, because we are a benevolent nation trying to tame the world and fight back the heathens."

Or to Cheney and Bush, "support our troops" means that the natural resources of the world and geopolitical control of nations is the right of America, so we cannot afford to "lose."

More Here: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorials/126

[Hosnon]

1. I find it a bit insulting for two reasons:

1) It seems to assume the existence of a significant opposite, i.e., a group of Americans who are advocating that we refrain from supporting the troops. I question whether such a faction exists and, if it does, I certainly question its size. Saying it seems to be just as pointless as saying: "I support good things for this country."

2) It seems to be condescending. Due to the almost self-evident nature of the phrase noted in (1), it is insulting for someone to assume that I need it pointed out to me.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. guilt

The GOP's battle cry. They make you feel bad when you criticize the war and that you aren't supporting the troops.

Realistically people do feel for the troops being put in harm's way in a futile war.

[Poiuyt]

31. You're right, but I think the guilt goes back to the way the the Viet Nam vets

were treated when they returned. There was a backlash to that treatment and people started to over-react with the "Support the Troops' theme.

Now, "Support the Troops" has come to mean sending them into battle. They want to come home? "Nooooo, get back in there, we're supporting you!"

It reminds me of that scene from Young Frankenstein when Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) has summoned the monster (Peter Boyle) back to the castle by playing music. Boyle has climbed the walls to the top where Wilder is, but needs help in getting over the edge. When Marty Feldmon and Terri Garr go to help, Wilder stops them, saying "don't help him, he wants to make it on his own." The look in Boyle's eyes were, "SHUT UP! I NEED HELP! I NEED HELP!" Great scene.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Flag waving, yellow ribboned, cheap "patriotism", to keep the populace in line.

Cannon-fodder being lionized to prevent the citizenry from noticing the body-bags, amputations, disfigurements, and general carnage being inflicted on "our troops" for nothing but the ambitions of politicians and the profit of the "defense" industry.

It used to be "support our boys" back in the '60s. Same message, same results.

[genie_weenie]

4. I am the Government the Government is Me

what the government is doing must be good because if it isn't than I am evil and guilty. I understand on a sub-conscious level that when you question "Support the Troops" ipso facto you are questioning and accusing me.

[WI_DEM]

5. to me "Support the Troops" means "Bring them home--Now"

[cgrindley]

26. Bring them home now means Bring them home now

Why not just get a ribbon that says it that simply? I've got one. They're blue.

[peacetalksforall]

6. I hedge my answer - I make a distinction between soldiers and brass.

of the brass I make distinctions between the good ones and those who are involved in the profit of war, those who pimp for war on corporate networks and media, and those who love weapons of mass destruction and killing.

I support a military for defense. I oppose a military for imperialism and used in unwarranted ways against citizens.

I support those in the military with honorable intentions of DEFENDING THE COUNTRY and who have been betrayed and are now working for a corporate takeover of countries, regions, and orchestrated political coups and massacres.

I especially support well intentioned and innocent young kids who thought they would serve for all their private reasons - now betrayed.

[porphyrian]

7. "Acknowledge their service and don't put them in harm's way for a lie or profit."

Basically, the opposite of what republicants have been doing.

[percussivemadness]

8. Hypocrisy

'Supporting the troops" is nothing more than hypocrisy dressed up as patriotism.

What is really means to the vast majority of people is that if they say I support the troops, you won`t ask why their overweight spoilt brat is living off their credit cards.

Its typical of the "no responsibility, no morality" society we live in today.

Peace

http://www.wewillnotbesilenced.com

[catmandu57]

9. An over used over simplistic phrase

signifying mindless, thoughtless obedience to authority, I cringe when I hear someone spouting it, it's on the same level as those damn magnetic ribbons.

[Xenotime]

10. It's an order not a phrase..

Nobody tells me what to do.

[Phoonzang]

11. To me it means "Support the war"

The people who usually through that phrase around don't give a rat's ass about the troops.

[treestar]

12. It means some right winger is trying to make the troops into a

sacred cow and use guilt to try to deprive you of your right to oppose the political decision to have the war.

Thus any war they can think of must be supported, since there is always someone to do the fighting.

It is to try to get you to feel excluded, when you are part of society that pays your taxes and therefore supports the troops.

It is glamorizing those who do the actual fighting as though they are giving us a gift and therefore, we should be grateful and agree to everything they want, as if they are the Chimpadministration are one and the same. They are not giving us a gift. If a war were truly necessary in self defense, it could not be undertaken if the rest of us did not provide the weapons and feed the troops. We are part of it as much as they are in a legitimate war. Just because we are not the young men on the field does not mean we do not do our part. We would be the ones out there if we were the young men (and women, now).

It is officiousness on the part of the repukes, as if they and the troops are one and the same - what they are really saying is "support the repukes."

[Bonhomme Richard]

13. It means support those guys over there getting shot instead.........

of me so I can continue my life as if nothing is going on.

[Lobster Martini]

14. Read the comment by "jude54"

I had intended to comment on this editorial, but there is a response by "jude54" that is spot on. I will defer to Jude54. It's a great reply.

[Deep13]

15. absolutely nothing

It's just a meaningless sentiment.

[raccoon]

23. That's what Noam Chomsky said, that it's meaningless.

I think it makes the Bush supporters/war supporters feel superior, as if they support the troops and YOU don't.

[demobabe]

24. But it isn't meaningless.

If it truly meant nothing, than asking what it means wouldn't have elicited this many replies.

Our troops are there to protect us, and so obviously, we want to "support" them. It's clear if we say "DON'T support our troops" that it would seem unpatriotic or dangerous (who will protect us?).

We DO LITERALLY support them, everyday, by paying taxes.

However, Bush & Co. have conscripted this sentiment to promote their own interests.

"Support the troops" doesn't mean defend Americans against threats to America anymore.

It means "Give support to Halliburton and other corporate war profiteering companies by handing over taxes and cheering on our troops who are woefully unprepared for battle by these same companies, not properly fed, armed, or given proper medical care after they've fought and been injured for private corporate profits."

[ecstatic]

16. Bring them home, respect their dedication to fight for NOBLE causes

and refuse to let them to be used in dishonorable wars based on lies.

[gravity]

17. A sneaky way to say support the war

Support the troops is not about supporting the troops, but supporting the war. Its a political tactic that tries to make liberals either appear to hate the troops, or seem indecisive on the Iraq War.

[Rosemary2205]

18. I refuse to let the neocons change the meaning of "support the troops"

Support the troops has always meant

sending them only as a last resort

asking them to perform only honorable commands from superiors

sending them with the best supplies we can afford

taking care of their families while they are gone

taking care of them when they get injured for a lifetime if necessary




Yes, this country has fallen short many times in this goal. But to most Americans this is what support the troops has meant and America has reacted when the government failed to live up to that ideal. Now the Neocons want to change the meaning to "blind support of the president" and "don't ask questions" and "we send them with what we have" BS. Up is down and down is up with Bushco. Well I refuse to stop saying I support the troops all because Bushco is evil.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

19. The first place I saw that since Bush* came into office was on bumperstickers:

This was before the magnetic yellow ribbon craze.

The sticker said: "Support OUR Troops: Liberate Iraq" (Yes, the word "OUR" was underlined)

Since I opposed the "liberation" of Iraq, the emphasis on the word "our" on the bumpersticker alleged I was supporting some other troops of some other country, not OUR troops.

Translation: I was anti-American because I didn't support the "liberation" of Iraq.

The phrase gives me a bitter taste in my mouth because of that bumper sticker, even though I know it shouldn't; even more so because the people who scream it the loudest are those who lied to us about the war, about the "intelligence", about everything.

[BuyingThyme]

20. It's the same as "Heil Hitler."

It means, "I am a follower."

[subterranean]

21. When Republicans use the phrase, it means

keep your mouth shut and don't criticize the war, and don't question the President's decisions (unless he happens to be a Democrat). It really has very little to do with the troops.

Recently I saw a bumper sticker that said, "I Support Our Troops." I like that one better. It seems more like a personal statement rather than an order. Of course, even that could be taken to imply that some other people are against the troops.

[DuaneBidoux]

22. The phrase is a bit simplistic but for me it means...

Being behind your troops in carrying out their mission and being damn sure that their lives should be on the line for what they are doing. It means paying them enough while they are on duty so that their spouses back home don't risk losing their homes and lives. It means assuring that they have appropriate counseling to deal with adjustements in the field and back home if and when they get back home. It means making sure that you have the very best equipment and protection to help them do their job in the field. It means making sure they have the best medical and rehabilitation care if they come home wounded. It means making they have the best medical care to deal with war and general health issues. It means making sure they have a decent amount of money to live on if they are disabled or a decent amount of money for their families to live on if they are killed.

This is my minimum for "supporting the troops."

[cgrindley]

25. It only means "I Support the NeoCon War"

it has nothing to do with the troops. it's just mindless repuke propaganda.

[demobabe]

27. kick

:kick:

[Yavin4]

28. What The True Meaning Is - It's Okay For Other People's Kids To Die Or Be Injured

just not mine, and as long as I say, "I support the troops", I can overcome my guilt because in reality, I really don't give a damn if they die, come home injured, can't get adequate care, etc. I cannot be bothered. There, I put a yellow ribbon on my car. My sacrifice is done.

It's an empty slogan that achieves the dual purpose of making the ignorant amongst us believe that they're smart, and it relieves people from the guilt of not having their kids' lives on the line.

Any sane person who does support the troops want them home now, and want them to have all of the care that they deserve.

You support the troops by working for what's best for them, not Bush and his cabal.

[demobabe]

29. kick

:)

[Marie26]

30. STFU. nt