What does "Support The Troops" really mean?

Question

I have two brothers, an uncle, and my fiancee in the U.S. Military. One of my brothers is currently serving in Iraq. "Support The Troops" is a very popular slogan but can you really support the troops without supporting the war? What does support the troops really mean? The troops don't decide to go to war. They're ordered by the Commander-In-Chief (the President). Could supporting the troops mean bringing them back home? I certainly support that. Is that slogan just being used to make people actually support the war? Please let me know your thoughts.

For those who answered to tell me to ask my relatives, I know what supporting the troops mean to me. My fiancee is in the Army, if I don't support her, what is that saying? I mean what does that saying mean to you? If support the troops mean sending care packges and thanking them for being in the military then yes I fully and whole-heartedly support them. Support the troops to me means protecting them and giving them the tools they need to be safe. That is not the same thing as supporting the cause they are fighting for. I don't support the cause, because Iraq is not better now than before the war. They weren't involved in 9-11. They weren't fighting a Civil War. The didn't have hundreds of Iraqis dying daily. We didn't have U.S. troops dying daily in a war. We destablized their country and now made it a possible shelter for terrorists. Saddam had no link to Al Queda. We went there because our govt told us they had WMD's. They didn't. I want the troops safe, I don't support the war.

Like someone mentioned during Vietnam, the troops were spat on. We should NEVER. EVER do that to people who risk their lives by joining the military. Also to the guy who said that he cant say he support Hillary without saying that he supports her mission. Well Hillary decided to run, the troops didn't decide on their own. Hillary wasn't ordered to run, so thats a poor analogy.

Answer 1

To me, Support the Troops is something I believe in whole heartedly. It means to Honor our Fallen, Respect our Wounded, and understand that every man and woman who has dedicated their life to defending our country deserves esteem and thanks for what they have done. What most Civilians dont understand is that most of the men and women that defend this country dont consider themselves heros, and are certainly not shown how much they really are heros. It's not that they all want to be known as just a military member, because they are people too, they just want to know that the world is not illeducated about what it is they do or what they are about. They have families, friends, and a personality just like everyone else.

A perfect example is that when Anna Nicole died there were days of news and "mourning" over her... but what about the men and women that give their lives every day to protect this country? Where are their stories? Why is it only my husband, his colleagues, and military families that bother to know the name that is on the list.

In short, Support the Troops means understand that the man/woman next to you could either be a service member or the spouce/familymember of one. Yes, the troops fight for your right to express your opinon, but show some respect because you never know who is standing in earshot of you. I am proud to not just say my man is a Marine or a Hero, but also a WONDERFUL man.

Answer 2

I don't think you can support the troops unless you support the cause. If you don't support both, you undermine both. Our troops suffer and so does our country. Just because the liberal news media could never support an effort by a Republican President does not mean that you cant. If for no other reason, do it because your family is serving. Don't be misguided into thinking there is nothing good going on over there. I want more than anything to bring them all back. But I also know whats at stake. And don't believe that crap about I support the troops by bringing them home. These are the same people that spit on our troops when they get off the plane. Support our troops means unwavering support.

Answer 3

There are too many people claiming to support the troops without taking the time to understand how to support the troops. It's also become a slogan to mean, "I don't believe in this war, but I..." Troops go to war. It's what we train to do in peacetime, therefore, you can't separate supporting the troops from supporting the war effort. In fact, by not supporting the war effort (which you can do even if you would like it to be done better), you are undermining everything the troops do for a living. It's like supporting the baker without supporting the bakery. It can't be done.

Answer 4

War is an ugly thing, we all hate it. But on the other hand I and all of those who volunteered to go to the middle east know that defending the rights of individual freedom no matter what sometimes comes with sacrifices. We are not the aggresors in the big picture here. I believe we are fighting evil pure and simple. to say I support the troops but not the war like many politicians have said including Hillary Clinton and Obama is nonesense to me. What if I said ok Hillary is on a mission to become president of the United States and I support her 100% but I do not support her mission.

Answer 5

I have a son who is scheduled for his second deployment to Iraq this summer. I think support the soldiers means more than one thing.

First, while they are in a war zone, we should do all we can to keep up their spirits --send letters and packages, etc.

Second, work to get them all home and out of a war that should never have been started.

Third, when you meet a serviceman or woman, say a big "thank you" for their service. I was just out of high school when the Viet Nam war was going on and these poor men would come home from absolutely hellish conditions and be met by so-called "peaceniks" yelling at them and spitting on them.

I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT EVER AGAIN!!!!! I do not support the war but I support the men and women who volunteer for the job, knowing what it means.

Answer 6

Supporting the troops means more than slapping a yellow ribbon on your car. Supporting the troops means writing your representatives when they are voting to cut the troops pay and benefits. Supporting the troops means electing leaders who will use the troops for defending our country, not invading other countries. Supporting the troops means giving to veterans charities. Supporting the troops does not necessarily mean supporting their commander-in-chief. Supporting the troops means wanting them home safely, not stuck in the middle of a foreign civil war.

Answer 7

I think it means not getting angry at the troops for doing their job. Even though someone might not agree with us being in the Middle East, they should still be positive towards the troops because they have a hard job to do and need all the encouragement they can get. You don't have to support the war, just the people forced to fight in it.

Answer 8

Yes, you can support the troops without supporting the war. Troops are individuals, and you're recognizing their individual service - not the war they're in, or the country they're being sent to.

You can send a care package to a soldier or thank a veteran for serving their country without getting politics in the way.

Answer 9

I would like to show my love & support for you & your family... & am at loss of words of what would be appropriate. (I want to say something that they really wanna hear...) Should I say thank you for your sacrifice & their working hard to achieve peace. How about I'm sorry for the difficult job at hand. It's hard to look & pics & watch tv about what they are in the middle of & I just have a hard time seeing anyone having to go thru that.
please, that sounds a little harsh to ask him why he doesn't just ask them... I took it more of a way to bring it up & see peoples' responses of how they feel about the sacrifice him & his family are making. Thank you again by the way, questioner. Sometimes things come out a little harsher than people mean, but just in case....
It seems every generation has its war. My Dad served in the army & my Grandpa served in the army in WWII & he won't talk about it but my Grandma says he had nightmares. They are all very patriotic & proud of their service.
I saw a man in fatigues (at a local grocery store) who was very gentlemanly & pulled out a cart for me, & I almost said to him thank you for your service but I didn't notice a name tag, or anything & wasn't sure if he was someone who just likes to wear fatigues out of patriotism (cuz anyone can get fatigues?). I dwelled on it & wished I had said it, anyway, even if he wasn't a serviceman. He was a patriot, and a gentleman. I gave him a happy smile with my eyes & held his look & said thank you, at least.
I hope your son has a safe, productive deployment, Marilyn, & to the questioner, too, & hope there will be peace soon, a solution & they can come home. {hug}

Answer 10

Ah, very good question. If you're a bank or other commercial business, supporting the troops is basically restricted to flying a banner above your front door. If you're like most of those people pretending to be patriots, it's as easy as slapping a 99 cent sticker on your car bumper. If you're a REAL supporter, you realize that not only do you NOT have to support the war to support the troops - it's not even relevant. Soldiers go to war because that is what they do for a living - it's their job. Disagreeing with the war has, in my opinion, absolutely NOTHING to do with it - it's like getting mad at the mailman because you got a bill in the mail.

To me, supporting the troops means taking action. It means sending letters and care packages to people I've never met and know only by name. It means putting my personal feelings about the war aside when I meet or talk to a soldier or veteran because they agreed to die for their country and my opinion is not relevant to the performance of their duties.

The real question that should be asked of people who CLAIM to support our troops is this: WHAT are you doing to support them? Do you think they benefit from a bumper sticker on your car? I don't think so. Do you think they benefit from people taking the time out of their busy days to write a heartfelt message of thanks? Probably. Do you think that an 18 year old Marine, gone from his hometown for the first time in his life, and who witnesses death and destruction on a daily basis, wants to hear about every day events in the life of a stranger in a letter that, if only for 5 minutes, reminds him that, somewhere, life goes on as normal? Yes.

In short: being a patriot and supporting our troops is not about waving a flag. It's about being selfless, putting your own feelings about the war aside and making a difference in the life of those who are prepared to die to defend our way of life.