What does it mean to support the troops?

Question

During the Second World War, supporting the troops had an entirely different meaning. It generally meant buying war bonds, holding scrap metal drives, conserving meat, and housewives working in factories to produce military hardware. In other words, it meant doing something. What does it mean in today's context?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

To me what it means is irreguardless as to wether or not you think the war is right, which I personally don't, be proud of the men and women that are over in Iraq right now risking their lives because the president has shipped them over their, wish our troops the best always

Answer 2

Supporting the troops doesn't mean that you can't criticize the war on terror. By all means feel free to do so, but don't forget that the vast majority of the soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan don't particularly feel like being away from their families, friends, girlfriends, hamburgers and cold beer. But they are. Yes, I know that they all volunteered to join the military, so they are only doing their job, and being deployed for a year or more at a time is par for the course. But it doesn't mean that they don't appreciate it when someone says thank you. Supporting the troops means that you acknowledge that they are making a sacrifice for the good of the US as a whole, regardless of where your political sentiments lie. It means a lot to a soldier who has seen kids get shot, friends get wounded or killed, missed their childrens births, birthdays, and graduations, had girlfriends and fiance' s break up with them, went on patrol in 120 degrees temps in body armor and long sleeve shirts and pants on the 4th of July while back here everybody takes a 4 day weekend, or just spent a year away from their family to have someone come up to them and say "thank you for all you do." Because to that person, when they hear that, it means that they didn't waste a year of their life for an ungratefull nation. They didn't put their life at risk for somone one could care less whether they lived or died. You don't have to buy war bonds, collect tin cans, or plant a victory garden, but there are still things you can do: Buy a serviceman or woman a beer, send magazines to soldiers, send some calling cards, send some homemade cookies and non perishables or go to one of the following websites to see how to help:
www.supportthetroops.com

Get a penpal at:
Hugsfromhome.org

Send Care Packages to Our Troops:
operationcareandcomfort.com
operationcarepackages.org

Hope this answers your question. God Bless America!

Answer 3

Supporting the troops today means passing good wishes and good will to the troops. Whether you like the idea of war or not, and I most definitely don't, then there is good reason to hope that the troops do not get killed. In my opinion, supporting the troops should mean the troops on both sides, hoping that no-one gets killed or injured. If they get sufficient support from an informed public, then we might be able to get rid of the present war- mongering governments, stop wars, and not need troops anymore. Let's have a completely new form of government which doesn't need war to balance its finances, and to pump up the oversized ego of the people in governments who create war.

John Lennon had it right.

Imagine there's no country
Nothing to fight and die for

Answer 4

Supporting our troops has a lot of meaning behind it. There are many ways that our troops can be supported. The two most common ways that Americans give support to the troops are through the donation of goods and services, and by giving moral and emotional support to the soldiers. An excellent website that offers many different options for people to show support for our troops is http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent1/?file=support_troops

The definition of supporting our troops really hasn't changed much throughout the wars that we have fought. They have all needed the support of physical and financial goods but they have also needed moral and emotional support to let them know we are behind them and they are not alone.

Often times some people will include a political agenda with their definition of supporting our troops but I believe that is simply a confusion between giving help to men and women in need and the reasons behind the war. Despite political agendas, our soldiers have basic needs that must be met.

Answer 5

As of right this second, the definition of "Support the Troops" is: don't criticize the government nor it's leadership or actions, because that can degrade troop morale and lend our enemies resolve and/or solace. Additionally, this "I support the troops" behavior is exemplified by the purchase and display of magnetized bumper ribbors, red, white and blue stickers with the word "PRIDE" on them, and through repeatedly vocalizing a benediction on the United States. Additionally, "support the troops" requires that individuals not question the means, methods or goals of our foreign military actions, nor the potential beneficiaries of said actions, because that could potentially call into question the legitimacy of the entire operation, and thus reduce troop morale and lend our enemies resolve/solace. To make a parody of this situation is probably not appropriate, but sometimes satire serves to wake people up. The fast-food generations treat civil service like a McDonald's cheeseburger: if it looks like meat and cheese, and it's definitely on a bun, they're not going to ask too many questions!

Answer 6

This soldier thinks the best way to support the troops is to research the facts before you speak, be wary if the information you get from the media, and remember no matter how much you think it is wrong we are there and we need to know our country is behind us, not bad mouthing us.

I realize there are many things I don't understand, so I don't comment on those things. So I think until you have worn the soldier's boots, you really have no idea if what they are doing is right or wrong.

Answer 7

It means the verdict's out and the jury's all for "killing people you've never met before" and "ravaging lands where it never occurred to you, that you would have liked to holiday . In an ancient Roman way, it's a thumbs-down "off with his head" roar for the gladiator at the sword's mercy, the Colosseum crowds being the warring public and the fallen Crowe representing Poland/Belgium..jez kidding. In an 80's girl-group sound track crux it means prancing to "I Eat Cannibals" which is worse than "I Smoke Cannabis" though I don't think Marley sang that at that time. Or any time. Or whatever. War Cry For Peace:Death to Death/War!

Answer 8

Supporting the troops means to not criticize them when they have done nothing wrong. This means respecting those who have fought for our country and not criticizing them in letters or any conversations. This also means supporting their families when they need it and none of that stupid protesting at a soldier's funeral. That is disgraceful and I believe a person should have to spend some time in jail for it. Something like that goes beyond freedom of speech.

Answer 9

It means standing up for the troops following lawful orders even though their commander has made bad decisions about their deployment. Thanks to the person who put up links for sending care packages or writing to soldiers.

It also means lobbying the government to sent an end date for the Iraq deployment, otherwise it seems our troops are there on an open ended ever changing commitment and the best way I can support them is to try and get them out of there.

Those who say this hurts the morale of our troops, are underestimating the soldiers' commitment and their understanding of their job and the oath they took. They are not swayed by public opinion, they are sworn to do their duty and they do it admirably; that is why it is our responsibility to see to it that when they are deployed it is just and righteous and lawful.

Answer 10

It means to support the people who are fighting this stupid war for a President who should send his daughters to fight too. I support our troops, just not Bush. It scares me to know that this conversation may be monitored because of Bush. Think about it.