What does "support our troops" REALLY mean? And isn't this a pointless statement because how much support...

Question

can an individual citizen give?

Support only comes from funding and that comes from the president or congress, depending on circumstances. So when politicians say "support our troops", aren't they really saying "support the president" or
"support the republican party" or
"I want to 'appear' patriotic"?

I don't see how citizens can provide any actual support for soldiers half a planet away from home. And every time I hear this, it has political implications or is used as a sound byte to promote something.

DC: if those things are happening, then they should be hearing about it. The citizens should not turn a blind eye to injustices just to make troops believe that everything they do is great.

Answer 1

"Support the troops" is the mantra of fascists. It means "Don't question authority."
Can you imagine a 1930s era German patriot speaking against fascist imperialism?
The best way to support the troops is to promote peace through diplomacy, to dramatically stack the deck against an adversary when diplomacy fails, to keep them out of harm's way when legitimate U.S. security is not at risk, and to support them during their transition to civilian life.

Answer 2

"Support our troops" means "yes or no, do you support the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with their endeavors". It's a fairly simple concept, really. By giving your support, you don't have to pony up any material or tangible goods, you just state "I support the troops". You can not support the troops too, if you want, the choice is yours.

Support is not only funding, support is support, yes or no do you support the people?

Many people do provide support to soldiers, they see them when they return, they make efforts to meet them and send them things like care packages, to stay in touch with them, to help look after their families while they are gone.

"Support our troops" does not mean support the president and Republicans, you are grossly misinterpreting this phrase to suit your point, which does not exist. A Democrat can support the troops and still be a Democrat, and still oppose the war. Everyone should support our men and women in a time of war, we have it a lot easier then they do. They all want to be back here, but somebody has to go over there and fight.

Answer 3

I believe the slogan "Support our troops" goes way beyond the funding.
What effect do you believe initiatives and proposals like telling the enemy when we are going to leave has on the troops who are on the front lines and in harms way? Or our esteemed Senate leader publicly announcing that we have lost the war? Or the constant barrage of negatives that is printed in the media? Or the widely publicized public demonstrations against the war?
Regardless of ones opinion as to whether we are on the right battle field or whether we need new strategies or policies concerning our war on terror - we must be aware that our troops are presently in Iraq and doing a very, very difficult and dangerous job. This is the reality - and as long as the terrorists feel that all they have to do is continue to feed the anti-war sentiment in this country by maintaining a level of chaos, death and destruction, the United States, once again, will, sooner or later, pull out and throw the people that have supported our effects under the bus.
The terrorists cannot win militarily - but they damned sure can win the public opinion war in this country.
I believe that if they see a true united front - their Jihad will collapse under its own inability to recruit people who support - with their lives - their ideology of hatred and world domination. All in all, it is a shame that support or opposition to this effort has become such a right or left political issue. You don't need to be a republican or democrat to see the importance of showing the enemy a resolute and united front - any opposition discusions and dissentting views can be debated freely without some air head in Washington publicly telling the enemy that we have lost the war.
It should be self evident that statements from a senator calling our effort, "Bush's Viet Nam" do a hell of a lot more harm than any good.
In short - a united effort - that's what supporting the troops is really going to take.

Answer 4

So should citizens spit on troops when they come home then as they did in Vietnam?

Should citizens call the troops baby killers a some do today even?

Someone gets sent overseas to fight, and you don't think they want to hear the population is behind them, expecially since we depend on volunteers now? If you think its all about "appearing" patriotic, then you are completly lost. First people would stop re-enlisting, then the volunteers stop.

Public opinion is a weapon being used by enemies. The most recent direct example of this was with how Spain was targeted and ended up leaving Iraq after the bombings. The enemy bases thier tactics on how they think they can manipulate elections and public policy. They know they can't win a stand up fight, so they fight with information, proganda, and occasionally direct action to shift public opinion. I would not be suprised if OBL wishes he thought up the line "I support the troops, but no the war." Its like telling you kid before a track meet, "Your not going to win, but I support you."

Answer 5

Well Moxie my boy.....

1 Send packages to our troops. Cd's, food, personal items.
2. Support the USO with CASH contributions and or gifts for the troops.
3 In every town there are dependents of service people that can use some help. (free babysitting, home repair, gift cards for the dependents.)
4. Through the Red Cross or USO find a warrior that would like a kind word or email from a stranger that appreciates what he/she is doing.

How is that MOXIE, my lad? And some of these ideas requrie zero money by a patriot like you and your friends.

If you would like more ideas....email me....I have more.

Answer 6

Ya - it is humorous to work out all those "help our troops" issues on the lower back of peoples' autos - yet our troops have been denied weapons and armor and bypass away and rotation - and while they get residing house they are denied scientific help and so one etc. individuals are commonly finished idiots - they simply want to appear as if they help troops - commonly they do no longer care. The war does not touch them - they simply want their tax rebate verify.

Answer 7

You are correct. Support our troops is politically correct and very much popular statement. But once when you start to think deeper why do we have to support our troops which invaded foreign countries and keep killing civilian population there all in the name of $ and oil than more brightest of us begin to understand. However regardless to foreign land invasions our sons and daughters in Iraq and in Afghanistan need our full support. Because of our blood and oil thirsty criminal leaders those young men and women are getting killed and wounded.

Answer 8

Do you have any idea how demoralizing it is to hear that the military are murdering innocent people, or that this country is falling apart, or that the war is a complete failure? How would you feel if someone told you that as a parent your children are evil, or they should be incarcerated? Support can be just as much positive reinforcement as $$$.

Answer 9

They can show support in many different ways. Number one being sending care packages. I have heard of people doing this regularly.

Answer 10

From the conservative handbook page 9:

Support Our Troops, cliche - rhetorical device used to shutdown debate about Iraq.

(see "you go to war with the army you have" regarding actual troop support)