Why doesn't anyone know/care?

Question

I asked this question about three weeks ago at night and was wondering what the day crowd would say today...

This is kind of a rant...but here I go....I don't understand why people got so behind the soldiers once the "War on Terror" started?!? I spent the first 17 years of my life outside of the United States while my dad served our country. I had a great time and I'm not complaining about that but no one seemed to care before the war...I never saw "Support the Troops" bumper stickers. While I understand being stationed overseas isn't the same as being deployed to a war zone...it's just as hard. My parents grew up in the same town their whole lives and then spent 20 years away from our families and friends! Didn't people think that was important! The military is needed in other places besides the US and Iraq. I don't know if people just don't know that people go overseas to places other then Iraq or if they just don't care?

I don't feel sorry for myself...I'm feeling sorry for the people in Italy, Germany, England, Japan, Korea, Turkey....etc. who seem to be left unoticed.

Does anyone know that the NATO building in Ramstein, Germany was bombed about 10 years ago? I don't think so...because it did not make national news. So I guess...the few people who were killed weren't as important as those in Iraq?

I'd also like to add...it's not just my family...I'm not to sure on numbers but it's a lot of families that do this selflessly.

Answer 1

Ignorance is bliss...or most people think. I guess most people don't think about it unless it's on the news and in their faces everyday. I have family in the military and know (somewhat, I've never left the country) how you feel.

Answer 2

We cannot be both present and absent at the same time. The 'answer' to your question is simple for me. Many people don't know, or fail to realise the extent of the enormus world outside the doors of the communities, cities & states which makes 'caring' impossible. Those that do know definately care. I only spent 12years active duty but it was extremely 'eye-opening' to be in Europe the 1st 3 years & then maturity 'sets in' on the 2d 3 year tour. Just being outside the US alienates us from 'seeing' the support for our troops. I can say there are more displays of support since the towers went down but that should be fairly obvious. The support was there before Sept 11th but my concern is that the Stratigic Air Command of my era was disbanned around the time of the fall of the wall in Berlin. I had no idea that we didn't have the kind of close air support we needed to prevent the 911 from eventuating. There's plenty of other life problems to preclude overt concern of troops not directly involved in actions like Afganistan & Iraq.

Answer 3

You need to go back about 15 years, my friend. The American people got behind the soldiers with the whole "Support Our Troops" initiative when Desert Shield/Desert Storm kicked off. It was started primarily by Vietnam veterans and their families and friends who saw how terribly American soliders who served in Vietnam were treated upon their return. They were reviled, spat upon, called "baby killers," and virtually ostracized by much of society. They didn't want the same thing to happen to the next generation of the U.S. Armed Forces. That's why they made the point that the troops were simply doing what they were told and serving their country because they love the U.S., so the mantra became "Support our troops, even if you don't support the war in the Gulf."

Answer 4

It's not logical to expect the same pride and praise and support of our far-flung troops in time of peace. They do their jobs in war AND peace, but putting one's life on the line and fighting bravely for the greater good is going to get more attention from your average joe every time.
We could say the same thing about a bunch of firemen who live in a city where there hasn't been a fire in a decade. If they play poker and read for 10 years, they're not likely to get a whole lot of attention and praise. But if there's a fire and they do the job they were trained to do and end up saving 13 orphans from certain death, the public will support and cheer and throw parades all day long.

Answer 5

I know that is crazy but it seems day by day more and more people think soldiers are doing wrong thing but our soldiers have been station oversea for ever like in the place you were in and thing people should support our troops all the time or not at all but that is just me because i support our troops all the time when they are here and there or any where

Answer 6

As the son of a career military man, I understand your question.

There are two aspects to this. The first is that when we are not at war, people take the military for granted. In those times, those in the limitary are not at risk the way they are when a war is on. In addition, they are not pulled away from their notmal lives as they are in war. Most of them are there by choice.

The second aspect of this has to do with Vietnam. During that war, a lot of people felt that the US was mistaken to be there. In retrospect, those people have been proven to be right. Unfortunately, many were not able to separate their feelings for the people who sent the soldiers there from those who were sent. After the war, many Americans felt that even if we did not support the war, we should have supported the men who went to Vietnam to fight.

Many Americans learned from our mistakes. The majority of Americans now feel that we were wrong to invade Iraq -- but we know that the people being uprooted from their homes to go over their to fight are deserving of our support.

I'm proud of the service my father gave to this country during wartime and during peace time. I don't need a bumper sticker to remind me of it.

Answer 7

Of course we know that our troops go other places other than war zones. They do alot of peace keeping missions also. As for the support of our troups it's always been there it just got brought to light when the whole Iraq situation happened. I have gone down a street and seen many a tree with a yellow ribbon on it. You shouldn't worry about if people care you should just be proud of your family.

Answer 8

No they never cared but at least now they fake it.

I will also throw in that they don't need to care, it's not their job.

In Late August or early September 2001 I wore my Dress Blue's to my Uncles Wedding and Some of my Distant relatives from the coast said:
"can you decide not to go if they want to send you some where?"

I said I could not

"why would you want to join the military then?"

I said that someone has to

And her reply sums up what everyone is thinking "well it doesn't have to be you"

I am not complaining, we all make choices and I have chosen this life, and that is as it should be. I have the right to chose to serve and they should have the right not to care.

Answer 9

They don't care for the military at all anyway!!

It is all LIP SERVICE!!

They care so much they are cutting those killed in Iraq widows benefits from $25,000 to $13,000 and then telling the widows with small children to go get a job!

Not ONE REPUBLICAN on this site even gave a crap! They suggested that they should find jobs! Hell, they are dead, what do they care, it wasn't them!

Meanwhile Bush is giving tax cuts to the rich and budget cuts to the Veterans Hospitals!

You really think they care about the military!

Ever been to a Memorial Day parade. The turnout would make you sick, except in Washington!! They are too busy cooking burgers and getting drunk!

Answer 10

People are very busy and uninvolved on many issues. It seems that, as long as what ever is going on doesn't effect them or their lively hood, they don't react to every day occurrences.
Your parents made a very patriotic and self less decision when they joined and served in the military,but that was their choice. The young men and women who are sent to fight, and often become injured and lose their lives concerns the whole country.