Is it better to be "Against the war, not the soldier"?

Question

I am against the War in Iraq, but not the Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, or Airman that are over there. How is being against the war, but supporting the US service men and women unpatriotic?

Answer 1

It's not unpatriotic to feel that way. I feel that way myself. In fact, even some soldiers themselves are against the war, but they often have to fight nonetheless. Don't let certain members of the media, who now comprise the Fourth Branch of government, determine what is and what isn't "patriotic" or "American".

Thank you again, Gardenfoot, for stepping up your questions game. I hereby retract the statement I made a few weeks ago about you being the dumbest person ever to post on Answers, as you have clearly proven otherwise.

Answer 2

Unfortunately there is no such thing as being against the war. Everybody, even the blood thirsty fighter hopes that hostilities will cease and the sooner the better (in any conflict).
Saying you're against the war but support the troops is, pardon me for saying so, guilt complex. You supported the war at some point and you now feel that you were mislead by somebody... Unfortunately as they say, you made your bed now sleep in it.
You're an American (I am not) and your duty as a patriotic American is to see this war through the end. And the more support you give your commander-in-chief the more comfortable he'll be in making decisions about the course of the war. I mean that if you give the man a hard time it becomes real hard on him to do what he has to do - fight on, end the fighting sooner etc...
He can only lead a population that is willing. And regardless of your feelings towards the war itself, the history has been written. Just how the final chapter is written is the key today - tactical withdrawal to save the lives of innocent Iraqi civilians would be a good idea.
I pray for your troops to conduct themselves in a professional manner that would at least help in salvaging some international respect and pride.

Answer 3

Explain to the service men & women how you manage to do the hair-splitting you call "supporting the troops but not the war."

It is this kind of thinking that demoralizes the troops in the first place. When the troops believe that the people back home don't care for them and what it is they are doing, they become disheartened, and then a self-fulfilling prophecy occurs. We end up leaving in second place. (Kinda like that little "police-action" we had in Viet Nam.)

These soldiers provide you with the freedom to make snide comments against your government and its leaders. They provide the blanket of security that (in the words of LTC Randolph C. White, Jr) the "...pessimistic television talking heads, high-browed newspaper writers, Hollywood idiots, or any other 'blame America first' crowd...speaking of the latte biscotti crowd...simple background chatter men...in the pit of their fickle, cowardly hearts...wish they could be like..." use to trash their country.

We should honor the men and women of the Armed Forces who have actually put their lives on the line for a country that they love. Support them and their cause. To do less dishonors them.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.

Answer 4

You need to answer the question, because you're the one taking the stance. Do you understand why you're against the war? Do you have an understanding of who is killing who, and that evil people who think they are pleasing Allah, are the real perpetrators, trying to start a civil war?

The evil in this whole matter are the muslims who interpret the Koran. They use this book to start wars, teach hatred, approve of murder, and to justify every evil act, in the name of Allah.

The governments of the middle east, if they are to survive, must develop sectarian governments that can govern without the Islam beliefs that both rule and manipulate it's people.

Your policy of being against the war, may not be unpatriotic, but it sure the hell is misguided.

Answer 5

actual, no. The 60's were an excellent era for activism, yet when we were given out of Viet Nam, and Nixon resigned, there have been no actual motives to get prepared about. How do you protest hostile to Ford or Carter? 2 tremendous men, a touch bland, yet not protest-inspiring.

Answer 6

Soldiers don't make policy. There are a lot of different reasons for serving in the military and condemning servicemen for the actions of elected officials is just plain close minded and stupid.

If you don't like the policy use your voice at the ballot box.

Answer 7

I agree with you. I support our troops and want to see them brought home safely. It's the president and his policies I don't support and there's nothing unpatriotic about that. I'd criticize anyone who doesn't respect or follow the Bill of Rights.

As Theodore Roosevelt said, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

Answer 8

Of course. Soldiers have no choice but to follow orders. We just have to make sure that do no vote for any representatives or senators who are pro-war

Answer 9

its better to be against the reason of the war cause if you stop that you stop the war.The ppl fighting might oppose it but its was their choice going into the army but its not their choice fighting cause its either life or death in a war

Answer 10

WAR HAS NEVER SOLVED A PROBLEM, I FIND IT FUNNY THAT THIS "Q" IS EVEN HERE...... I'M A NAM VET. LET ME ASK WHO SUPPORTED US? AND WHAT DID THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA DO FOR US? ( SPIT ON USE, CURED USE, LIED ON USE). WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO SERVE NOW, SOME ARE READY HAVING PROBLEMS THAT AMERICA DOESNT WANT TO FACE.
" TELL ME AMERICA WHAT R U GOING TO DO WHEN THIS IS OVER FOR UR BELOVED VETERANS"? KICK THEM TO THE CURB LIKE U DID "NAM" VETS BABY KILLERS, MURDERS WHAT OTHER NAMES WILL U USE............ D