Posted by PS on January 12, 2006 at 05:33:06:
In Reply to: ok, I'm stepping in it posted by cav on January 11, 2006 at 08:07:30:
: 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).
I couldn't agree more. This whole blurring of issues of supporting our troops vs. supporting the invasian of Iraq is getting old. I am tired of it.
I am also really tired of the blurring of Christianity with pro-war agendas. Jesus said nothing about waging military war for God, nor did any of the apostles. Pacifism is a viable Christian option, and much closer to the teachings of the New Testament than the American right wing today IMO.
So there... I stepped in a bigger pile than you did, cav. I win. (And my shoes smell worse.)
By the way...
Everyone--please don't use this board to publish propaganda not written by the posting party. Thanks.