I got older last week.
Send presents!
Not to me, though.
To them:
Same reasons as ever:
Supporting the troops is an apolitical job... Remember: Don't Do Nothing. Showing support is important, but so is doing something in support.
There are many local and national programs for care packages, supporting military families with loved ones in harms way, and supporting veterans in need of assistance as well. A little time and money from everybody who can goes a long way.
Here's a handy link of various organizations that do care packages. I'm a big fan of the USO and Anysoldier.com myself... and definitely check out the local project, Toys-For-Troops.
"Until they all come home..."
If you needed an extra excuse... make it my birthday present.
Great video here. Bring them home. Now.
Call for an end to American Imperialism.
Why is it that the GOP, the party of conservatives, traditionally the Anti-War party, is following in lock-step to the drumbeat of the neocons, aiding and abetting the Dems in painting conservatives as warmongers, while the Dems are as much or more in favour of this stupid, illegal, and immoral war as are the neocons who have commandeered the GOP?
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Prevention is better than treatment ...
Another great video - The Philosophy of Liberty.
By all means, support bringing them home if you feel that is the proper and necessary course. But until that happens, I think they'd appreciate helping out as much as possible, there and for their families back home. And no matter what to do what you can to help support our veterans of the current and prior wars in whatever way you may be able.
On the poem. Very passionate. Well done. I'd point out one of the factual errors though, " no senators' sons are being sent out to slaughter" as a suggestion that congress lacks any children serving, which is inaccurate on both sides of the aisle. Many are veterans themselves... also on both sides of the aisle.
The yellow ribbon may appear to be an empty symbolic gesture. But by actually doing something to support them, including but not limited to advocating for policies you think will serve them best, you can do your part to change that.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
"Why is it that the GOP... blah blah blah"
Why are you blatantly trying to threadjack? This post isn't even about either party, nor whether the war is right or wrong, or anything of the sort. Just asking, regardless of your politics, and regardless of the policies you support to help out as best you can.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Happy Birthday Glock.
http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/ChelyWright/Bumper-Of-My-SUV--12024487
It' s no threadjack Glock. If you really want to help the troops, work to stop the war. Either you are part of that solution or you are part of the problem.
Stunningly, it's actually possible to do both.
RSW... thanks!
Regnad... apparently I am "part of the problem." Sorry. But, as I am someone who advocates a policy that includes putting and keeping our soldiers in harms way on this particular issue, and as you are someone who advocates removing them from harms way on this particular issue... what exactly about that difference makes it any less important for you or I to support them while they still remain in harms way and to support their families and those who've come home to the best of our abilities?
Are you under some mistaken impression that by showing me an anti-war poem and repeating an anti-war bumper sticker and then tossing out some insults and negative labels... that somehow I'll realize the error of my ways? Do you honestly believe that you've made a compelling argument that will magically make the war over? If that's your plan, you might want to consider helping out in other ways too... because I don't think you'll be changing any minds any time soon.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
This is an excellent way to support the troops, whether one supports the war or not.
MMM... I thought so. Thanks to the internet and my family mostly being on e-mail now... I was able to shoot this same message to them earlier to get everybody on board. Beats an ugly tie I'll never wear!
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Glock yes it's a good idea to support the troops. I also don't think that you are helping the troops to pull them out of Iraq just as they are seeing real success from all their sacrifice. It will be really sad if Obama wins only to have him pull the troops out prematurely because he just really doesn't understand, only to have to send the troops back in to help again, it really is the wrong time to let the democrats take over National Security.
I also don't think that you are helping the troops to pull them out of Iraq ...
These kinds of comments always remind me of those drivers who refuse to turn around after they've taken a wrong turn. Hands clenched on the wheel at 10 and 2, knuckles white, they refuse their wife's pleas to "turn around, we're going the wrong way!"
"No, honey look - doesn't that oak tree look familiar? I think we're finally headed in the right direction!"
Some people just cannot admit when they are wrong. They'd rather drive for hours out of their way than admit they made a mistake and turn the car around.
Enough of the insanity. We should have never invaded Iraq. It was a mistake. And refusing to turn the car around now is just making the mistake worse for this generation and for many generations to come.
Rich Lowry today:
If you have just pushed your car more than 1/2 of the way thru the mud hole, now is not the time to turn around.
The car ain't halfway through the mudhole. It's halfway to the bottom. Deeper swamps ahead. Keep going!
You're right Dboon some people can't admit their wrong. There has been no inprovement or success in Iraq has there, you and Kcin have always been so objective and positive about Iraq?
There have been successes in Iraq, but who the **** started an insurgent war with no implementation of anti-insurgent tactics until several YEARS into the war.
As you know, I've got mixed feelings about pulling the troops out at this stage, but an Obama run plan in Iraq certainly can't be any worse. And he's smart enough that even if he's wrong maybe he'll just be wrong for a COUPLE of years.
The other thing that strikes me is the contrast in connect with troops that Glock and RSWB display. In my position, I spend a lot of time with families with loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan (including my own) and I honestly haven't met a single person who is worried that "their sacrifice will be for nothing" if we pull out.
What I love about our men and women fighting for the country abroad is that they embody the sentiment that Glock is asking for in this thread--some support the war, some deeply oppose it. Some love our president, others would be elated if he fell off a bridge.
However, regardless of their personal feelings, they do what is asked of them--their very best on behalf of the country. This is why the abrasive vilification of the troops on both the radical left and right during these conflicts is so sickening.
If only--in terms of health care, adequate preparation and resources for their jobs, non-deceitful recruiting practices and support at home--we all did the same.
Xian-that's you're opinion which I think is in the minority when it comes to how the American people feel about losing young lives in a war.So it's ok if Obama misses it by a few years? But Bush has blown it based on you're educated and experienced military thinking.
Iraq has been a great success in terms of the corporate profits and amount of money spent. In terms of body counts, though, ya gotta admit it really is pretty much a mediocre skirmish. The civilian casualties, although significant at a million give or take a couple hundred thousand are fairly respectable, but hey as compared to WWII, it really doesnt add up to amount to very much. WWII, now that was a war to die for, eh?
And WWI, that was the Great War until #2 came along, and it certainly wasnt any small potatoes, nosiree, hey with the Trench Warfare, and the invention of the Tank, and Aerial warfare, it was definitely a serious war. And dont forget Gallipoli. And dont forget the disease. They had influenza in WWI and that wiped out millions, and even made the pigs sick. Nothing like that in Iraq. A few cases of PTSD? Just proof that they're just a bunch of candy-asses.
So Iraq, its just sort of ho-hum. Now, if we'd bomb Iran...that could be a WAR, man. Let's show them towel heads.
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And --- What exactly could constitute a Non-Deceitful Recruiting Practice?
"Let's show them towel heads."
Even if you're being sarcastic, I'd prefer you avoid the overt racism.
You are correct that the slur is over-the-top. It is not part of my personal vocabulary. But it is a rather consistent feature of the vernacular of the pro-War with Iran crowd, & was near verbatim quote from some pro- War with Iran stuff that I have seen in the past few days. Dehumanisation of the enemy via racism and xenophobic slurs seems to be a necessary pretext to any act of war.
"But it is a rather consistent feature of the vernacular of the pro-War with Iran crowd, & was near verbatim quote from some pro- War with Iran stuff that I have seen in the past few days. Dehumanisation of the enemy via racism and xenophobic slurs seems to be a necessary pretext to any act of war."
I have never heard it used by anyone reputable advocating the use of force to deal with Iran. Source or link, please?
And --- What exactly could constitute a Non-Deceitful Recruiting Practice?
Telling youth all of the pros and cons of enlisting and then following through on any promises made to them about assignment, etc.
It is in our nation's best interests to have enlisted men and women who want to be there.