Posted by cav on January 11, 2006 at 08:07:30:
In Reply to: Red Fridays posted by kle on January 11, 2006 at 00:42:47:
I understand the desire of many Americans to support those in danger far away from home in military service. But I think an important distinction should be made. While I'm sure there are those who DON'T "support the troops", I think this is too often used as a propaganda tool. Many people are opposed to the WAR in Iraq, not the people fighting it. There is a vast difference between blaming and/or ignoring those who are called off to do military service on the one hand and voicing discontent with what many think is a bad investment and/or an unjust/unecessary war on the other.
If we blindly equate supporting the people who are doing the fighting with supporting the decisions that sent them to do it, we are drawing very near to fascism in which the state can do no wrong.
Democracy demands that opposing voices from within one's own nation speak out and in this tension the greatest good is supposed to be accomplished. Now I don't want to go into how well that works...that's a different discussion, but it just torques me when people try to make protesters out to be unAmerican, or unpatriaotic. When quite the opposite is true. Those who feel the need to exercise their right to protest are using and defending the very rights that those who "support the troops" claim to defend.
This has been an argument from the dawn of the Vietnam protests...it isn't about dissing the fighters. So by all means, if anyone wants to wear red and show support for the troops, do it. This is your right and you should exercise it. But when you see the person wearing the "Stop the war" gear, don't get angry...you BOTH are what democracy is about.
Lastly, if anyone wants to respond to this, please note that I was careful not to align myself with either faction that I mention, so please don't shove me into one. While I expressed my opinion about political attitudes, I intentionally did not include my own standing on the war issue. So feel free to rip into my post, but don't assume me to be on one side or the other when I haven't claimed to be (another thing that torques me about political discussions).
: ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The
: reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority". We
: are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record
: breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing.
: Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the
: vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and
: support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues
: each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message
: that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear
: something red.
: By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of
: red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who
: loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and
: family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our
: troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly
: more than the media lets on.
: The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for
: you?" is...We need your support and your prayers. Let's get the word out and lead
: with class and dignity, by example; and wear some thing red every Friday.
: IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON -- IF YOU COULD CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE
: BUTTON --- IT IS YOUR CHOICE. WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
: BRAVE.