Support the troops, eh?
I'm not sure what all these I support our troops ribbon/stickers mean.
When I see one, my question is "How do you support your troops?"
Is it just a declaration of the heart? Because then it really is a political message. It's like saying you support "a women's right to choose" or such. Just as the stickers that say "I support our troops but not the war" is a political message.
If they are political messages, why are they declared on (some) government vehicles? I don't believe that's appropriate. The only way these stickers would be non-political would be if we're each and all of the same opinion, or at least supposed to be. I'm wondering if we're supposed to be.
Or do these I support our troops run deep with action and purpose? Are these yellow ribbon bearers writing our soldiers letters of encouragement so they'll remain brave and do us proud. Are they sending them supplies; bullets and wool socks, etc? Or is it enough that they'll see these stickers before they are deployed? Maybe they'll have fewer regrets about their experiences when they return home? In the old days that's what flying your flag symbolized, perhaps in a more obscure way.
Where are the stickers from those opposed to the troops? Peace-nik chickens! How about "I don't support the war monger's industry and suggest we shelve the notion of maintaining an army capable of offense."
To me, it's our Federal government's job to deploy the armed forces, and therefore their job to support them. Not the citizenry. The feds should feed, house and clothe our troops. The feds should send them the tools necessary to complete their mission. I figure when I pay my taxes, I'm supporting the troops in the way it's supposed to go down. I don't have a yellow ribbon sticker that declares, "I paid my taxes" Because that would be a succinct declaration of how I supported my troops.
When I see one, my question is "How do you support your troops?"
Is it just a declaration of the heart? Because then it really is a political message. It's like saying you support "a women's right to choose" or such. Just as the stickers that say "I support our troops but not the war" is a political message.
If they are political messages, why are they declared on (some) government vehicles? I don't believe that's appropriate. The only way these stickers would be non-political would be if we're each and all of the same opinion, or at least supposed to be. I'm wondering if we're supposed to be.
Or do these I support our troops run deep with action and purpose? Are these yellow ribbon bearers writing our soldiers letters of encouragement so they'll remain brave and do us proud. Are they sending them supplies; bullets and wool socks, etc? Or is it enough that they'll see these stickers before they are deployed? Maybe they'll have fewer regrets about their experiences when they return home? In the old days that's what flying your flag symbolized, perhaps in a more obscure way.
Where are the stickers from those opposed to the troops? Peace-nik chickens! How about "I don't support the war monger's industry and suggest we shelve the notion of maintaining an army capable of offense."
To me, it's our Federal government's job to deploy the armed forces, and therefore their job to support them. Not the citizenry. The feds should feed, house and clothe our troops. The feds should send them the tools necessary to complete their mission. I figure when I pay my taxes, I'm supporting the troops in the way it's supposed to go down. I don't have a yellow ribbon sticker that declares, "I paid my taxes" Because that would be a succinct declaration of how I supported my troops.