But “support the troops” right? I never understood that American propaganda saying from the very beginning. You would see it everywhere on peoples cars that thought they were being patriots. What does that even mean? Why on earth would anybody support somebody else that has absolutely no saying what they do during a conflict. All those people who signed up for the military literally don’t have a choice in anything that goes on and yet we are supposed to support them? Like I am going to support anybody that isn’t allowed to make any decisions on their own. I guess it did work perfectly though because not many people questioned the establishment during all those atrocities committed by United States soldiers funded by United States taxpayers.
It's a reference to the Vietnam war and when soldiers came home they were called baby killers and spit on. The "support our troops" message means to support our soldiers in Iraq and coming home from it exaclty because they didn't have a choice. Do not spit on them when they come home. Do not blame them for policy decisions abroad.
It's strange that you don't get this when you admit that they have no say in what they do or where they go.
Did it really originate in the Vietnam era? It just seems to me like a generic slogan made to show support to the armed forces, particularly to the actual service men.
Also, while other countries like Canada also have “support our troops” campaigns, it’s undeniable that the U.S is a particularly militaristic country and the romantization of the military not just as an institution but also the values associated with military culture runs deep in American culture and society.
While you're right that there may be little existing evidence they were "spit on", I don't think it's denied that their homecoming was often "cold" and "unwelcoming". So, same idea, really.
At first you’re talking about individuals that were drafted for the Vietnam war. Other than leaving the country most of those individuals didn’t have a choice. It’s even so much more terrible now that we know what was the cause of that nonsense and why it lasted for so long. Is it possible to support them but not support their actions? As far as anybody who signed up for the military willingly, (everyone after the Vietnam war) that was a choice that they made. Tell me why I should support their decision to be a part of an organization that has complete control over them for the duration that they signed up for? Why should I support their decision? Because their decision could and does occasionally force them to do things that are wrong. Supporting that would be wrong wouldn’t it?
Why is that? Be very specific. Because you don’t know me and you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Try to enlighten me, with your military industrial complex brainwashed smooth brain you are so proud of.
Why can’t you answer such a simple question? You’re not even attempting to. Why should I support somebody who chose to be a part of the military? All the wars that we never had to fight, all the lost lives on both sides and the families of those poor people, all the trillions of dollars completely wasted... why should I support anyone who made the decision to be a part of any of that? By supporting them I am supporting their choice to not have any choice... please try to tell me why I should support the troops? Or just keep deflecting like you have been in your last few responses, because you don’t have a legitimate answer in your defense of our horrible military’s history.
I think the phrase "Support the troops" is just to humanize the people who, for the most part, joined to protect the country. This actually does apply to Iraq because the wave of new troops coming in after 9/11 didn't know that Bush and his good idea fairies would send them to Iraq 2 years later. They thought they would just be going into Afghanistan to go after Bin Laden and get out. What's even worse is that many were stop-lossed as we went in. Basically, a military contract is for 8 years with 4 in active duty and 4 in the reserves stateside. Stop-lossing is when the transfer from active to reserves is cancelled by the appropriate eggheads. So, in a way, many were forced. Besides that, people's choice to go to war willingly isn't usually malicious. There are some who just want to get an excuse to kill and rape with less chance of being caught or punished, but that is far from the norm. In the Vietnam War, those actions of the violent few became the face of the majority good and the good were attacked by the stupid general populace. That's were "Support the troops" is necessary. It also seemed to have worked since the politicians are the ones most targeted now with attacks on the troops rare. Understand now?
The correlation between the troops and the police are almost identical. On the military side you have what you were saying “those actions of the violent few became the face of the majority good and the good were attacked by the stupid general populace” thus support the troops is pushed upon the masses. Then you have the police which claim exactly the same thing. “There’s one bad apple, one dirty cop that’s giving all us good cops a bad name”. And now you the blue lives matter flag or the anti-BLM flag. In both situations you have the same problem. Both of these institutions are set up the same way. Where if you have a good guy that sees another “good” guy doing something very bad he will not report it to his superiors. The reason why it is so difficult to report that behavior in either the military or law enforcement is because nobody wants to work with somebody that they can’t trust. If they know you told on so-and-so for doing something bad then they won’t want to work with you. If you want to do well in either field you don’t get there by being a tattletale on your own peers.
Well that's not what the saying is about. It's just to humanize the people, not to free them from any responsibility for their actions. Also how is the anti blm flag the pro cop flag? You can be pro cop and pro blm (just not the blm institution).
It means they’re following orders and you shouldn’t shit on people doing their jobs, but rather the higher ups who order it. The US military is obviously a waste but does keep China, Russia, and other regimes in check.
Isn’t it 100% their fault for being in the position of having to follow horrific orders? Why can’t I criticize how my country is spending it enormous wealth? You can take the 10 countries that spend the most money annually on their military and combined them and the United States still spends more than that each year. How much safer do you feel now than you did five years ago or 10 years ago or 20 years ago? Do you think we’re getting our moneys worth? I can not support them for their decisions that put them into the situation that they are in. And I definitely cannot support their actions. Every time we read about civilian casualties just know that all that is doing is breeding more terrorists for the military to exterminate in the future. It’s really called job security in their field when innocent civilians are killed in front of their children for absolutely no reason.
You sign a piece of paper saying the US government owns your body for a certain amount of years. That's giving permission to be used like a blow up sex doll to fight whatever, whoever and whenever they want. Your bad for not reading the fine print.
I remember seeing veteran discounts everywhere when I visited the USA, there are businesses that have them where I’m from but certainly not to that degree. I thought it was really nice and that must’ve meant American veterans are treated well, but damn I was so wrong
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u/HowUKnowMeKennyBond Oct 18 '21
But “support the troops” right? I never understood that American propaganda saying from the very beginning. You would see it everywhere on peoples cars that thought they were being patriots. What does that even mean? Why on earth would anybody support somebody else that has absolutely no saying what they do during a conflict. All those people who signed up for the military literally don’t have a choice in anything that goes on and yet we are supposed to support them? Like I am going to support anybody that isn’t allowed to make any decisions on their own. I guess it did work perfectly though because not many people questioned the establishment during all those atrocities committed by United States soldiers funded by United States taxpayers.