Friday, January 27, 2006
LOVE THE TROOPS, HATE THE WAR: A "WUSSY" OPINION?
If we have learned anything from Vietnam, it's that we should support our soldiers whether we agree with the reason they fight or not. Look no further than the Iraq War. Many rational, patriotic Americans have protested the war, noting fabrications of the reason for the invasion—you know, no WMDs, no connections to al-Qaeda, that sort of thing. However, those same patriotic protestors have supported the soldiers carrying out the President's dirty work.
As they should, the Mailbox says. Whether we agree with the motive of their leader, soldiers have volunteered their lives to protect us. Regardless of who is in charge or what they order those soldiers to do, the Mailbox will always respect that sacrifice and be eternally grateful.
However, some soldiers take issue with that point, saying that if you support troops, you have to support what they do. Now, Joel Stein of the L.A. Times follows that logic and takes a contrapositive position in a controversial column. The first five words: "I don't support our troops."
The Mailbox doesn't think the position is wussy at all. What's wrong with "throwing a parade" to recognize the sacrifice they made? It takes a different kind of person to give up families, loved ones, lifestyles, careers and who knows what else to serve the country. We haven't had a draft yet—those soldiers over there right now volunteered to be there. But, to lump them in the same group as those who support the President's ill-advised motivations turns those soldiers into nothing but remorseless, sociopathic mercenaries.
The Mailbox disagrees with Stein on this one. Big time.
If we have learned anything from Vietnam, it's that we should support our soldiers whether we agree with the reason they fight or not. Look no further than the Iraq War. Many rational, patriotic Americans have protested the war, noting fabrications of the reason for the invasion—you know, no WMDs, no connections to al-Qaeda, that sort of thing. However, those same patriotic protestors have supported the soldiers carrying out the President's dirty work.
As they should, the Mailbox says. Whether we agree with the motive of their leader, soldiers have volunteered their lives to protect us. Regardless of who is in charge or what they order those soldiers to do, the Mailbox will always respect that sacrifice and be eternally grateful.
However, some soldiers take issue with that point, saying that if you support troops, you have to support what they do. Now, Joel Stein of the L.A. Times follows that logic and takes a contrapositive position in a controversial column. The first five words: "I don't support our troops."
I'm not for the war. And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken — and they're wussy by definition. It's as if the one lesson they took away from Vietnam wasn't to avoid foreign conflicts with no pressing national interest but to remember to throw a parade afterward.
The Mailbox doesn't think the position is wussy at all. What's wrong with "throwing a parade" to recognize the sacrifice they made? It takes a different kind of person to give up families, loved ones, lifestyles, careers and who knows what else to serve the country. We haven't had a draft yet—those soldiers over there right now volunteered to be there. But, to lump them in the same group as those who support the President's ill-advised motivations turns those soldiers into nothing but remorseless, sociopathic mercenaries.
The Mailbox disagrees with Stein on this one. Big time.
// posted by MoJoe @ 09:17 
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Joe,
Thanks for pointing me to the Stein column - interesting read. But I have to agree with you on this one. Maybe it's a Midwest thing; maybe it's because I have family in the military.
It's just not that easy for those guys/gals. They signed up, and they have to go. All the more reason to be extra damn sure before we get into these situations.
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Thanks for pointing me to the Stein column - interesting read. But I have to agree with you on this one. Maybe it's a Midwest thing; maybe it's because I have family in the military.
It's just not that easy for those guys/gals. They signed up, and they have to go. All the more reason to be extra damn sure before we get into these situations.
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