Why those who say "I Support the Troops" really don't
BeaverFever @ Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:07 pm
$1:
I Do Not Support the Troops
Why those who say "I Support the Troops" really don't
by Michael Moore
I don't support the troops, America, and neither do you. I am tired of the ruse we are playing on these brave citizens in our armed forces. And guess what -- a lot of these soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines see right through the bull**** of those words, "I support the troops!," spoken by Americans with such false sincerity -- false because our actions don't match our words. These young men and women sign up to risk their very lives to protect us -- and this is what they get in return:
1. They get sent off to wars that have NOTHING to do with defending America or saving our lives. They are used as pawns so that the military-industrial complex can make billions of dollars and the rich here can expand their empire. By "supporting the troops," that means I'm supposed to shut up, don't ask questions, do nothing to stop the madness, and sit by and watch thousands of them die? Well, I've done an awful lot to try and end this. But the only way you can honestly say you support the troops is to work night and day to get them out of these hell holes they've been sent to. And what have I done this week to bring the troops home? Nothing. So if I say "I support the troops," don't believe me -- I clearly don't support the troops because I've got more important things to do today, like return an iPhone that doesn't work and take my car in for a tune up.
2. While the troops we claim to "support" are serving their country, bankers who say they too "support the troops," foreclose on the actual homes of these soldiers and evict their families while they are overseas! Have I gone and stood in front of the sheriff's deputy as he is throwing a military family out of their home? No. And there's your proof that I don't "support the troops," because if I did, I would organize mass sit-ins to block the doors of these homes. Instead, I'm having Chilean sea bass tonight.
3. How many of you who say you "support the troops" have visited a VA hospital to bring aid and comfort to the sick and wounded? I haven't. How many of you have any clue what it's like to deal with the VA? I don't. Therefore, you would be safe to say that I don't "support the troops," and neither do you.
I don't "support the troops" or any of those other hollow and hypocritical platitudes uttered by Republicans and frightened Democrats. Here's what I do support: I support them coming home.
4. Who amongst you big enthusiastic "supporters of the troops" can tell me the approximate number of service women who have been raped while in the military? Answer: 19,000 (mostly) female troops are raped or sexually assaulted every year by fellow American troops. What have you or I done to bring these criminals to justice? What's that you say -- out of sight, out of mind? These women have suffered, and I've done nothing. So don't ever let me get away with telling you I "support the troops" because, sadly, I don't. And neither do you.
5. Help a homeless vet today? How 'bout yesterday? Last week? Last year? Ever? But I thought you "support the troops!"? The number of homeless veterans is staggering -- on any given night, at least 60,000 veterans are sleeping on the streets of the country that proudly "supports the troops." This is disgraceful and shameful, isn't it? And it exposes all those "troop supporters" who always vote against social programs that would help these veterans. Tonight there are at least 12,700 Iraq/Afghanistan veterans homeless and sleeping on the street. I've never lent a helping hand to one of the many vets I've seen sleeping on the street. I can't bear to look, and I walk past them very quickly. That's called not "supporting the troops," which, I guess, I don't -- and neither do you.
6. And you know, the beautiful thing about all this "support" you and I have been giving the troops -- they feel this love and support so much, a record number of them are killing themselves every single week. In fact, there are now more soldiers killing themselves than soldiers being killed in combat (323 suicides in 2012 through November vs. about 210 combat deaths). Yes, you are more likely to die by your own hand in the United States military than by al Qaeda or the Taliban. And an estimated eighteen veterans kill themselves each day, or one in five of all U.S. suicides -- though no one really knows because we don't bother to keep track. Now, that's what I call support! These troops are really feeling the love, people! Lemme hear you say it again: "I support the troops!" Louder! "I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!" There, that's better. I'm sure they heard us. Don't forget to fly our flag, wear your flag lapel pin, and never, ever let a service member pass you by without saying, "Thank you for your service!" I'm sure that's all they need to keep from putting a bullet in their heads. Do your best to keep your "support" up for the troops because, God knows, I certainly can't any longer.
I don't "support the troops" or any of those other hollow and hypocritical platitudes uttered by Republicans and frightened Democrats. Here's what I do support: I support them coming home. I support them being treated well. I support peace, and I beg any young person reading this who's thinking of joining the armed forces to please reconsider. Our war department has done little to show you they won't recklessly put your young life in harm's way for a cause that has nothing to do with what you signed up for. They will not help you once they've used you and spit you back into society. If you're a woman, they will not protect you from rapists in their ranks. And because you have a conscience and you know right from wrong, you do not want yourself being used to kill civilians in other countries who never did anything to hurt us. We are currently involved in at least a half-dozen military actions around the world. Don't become the next statistic so that General Electric can post another record profit -- while paying no taxes -- taxes that otherwise would be paying for the artificial leg that they've kept you waiting for months to receive.
I support you, and will try to do more to be there for you. And the best way you can support me -- and the ideals our country says it believes in -- is to get out of the military as soon as you can and never look back.
And please, next time some "supporter of the troops" says to you with that concerned look on their face, "I thank you for your service," you have my permission to punch their lights out (figuratively speaking, of course).
(There is something I've done to support the troops -- other than help lead the effort to stop these senseless wars. At the movie theater I run in Michigan, I became the first person in town to institute an affirmative action plan for hiring returning Iraq/Afghanistan vets. I am working to get more businesses in town to join with me in this effort to find jobs for these returning soldiers. I also let all service members in to the movies for free, everyday.)
© 2012 Michael Moore
Why those who say "I Support the Troops" really don't
by Michael Moore
I don't support the troops, America, and neither do you. I am tired of the ruse we are playing on these brave citizens in our armed forces. And guess what -- a lot of these soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines see right through the bull**** of those words, "I support the troops!," spoken by Americans with such false sincerity -- false because our actions don't match our words. These young men and women sign up to risk their very lives to protect us -- and this is what they get in return:
1. They get sent off to wars that have NOTHING to do with defending America or saving our lives. They are used as pawns so that the military-industrial complex can make billions of dollars and the rich here can expand their empire. By "supporting the troops," that means I'm supposed to shut up, don't ask questions, do nothing to stop the madness, and sit by and watch thousands of them die? Well, I've done an awful lot to try and end this. But the only way you can honestly say you support the troops is to work night and day to get them out of these hell holes they've been sent to. And what have I done this week to bring the troops home? Nothing. So if I say "I support the troops," don't believe me -- I clearly don't support the troops because I've got more important things to do today, like return an iPhone that doesn't work and take my car in for a tune up.
2. While the troops we claim to "support" are serving their country, bankers who say they too "support the troops," foreclose on the actual homes of these soldiers and evict their families while they are overseas! Have I gone and stood in front of the sheriff's deputy as he is throwing a military family out of their home? No. And there's your proof that I don't "support the troops," because if I did, I would organize mass sit-ins to block the doors of these homes. Instead, I'm having Chilean sea bass tonight.
3. How many of you who say you "support the troops" have visited a VA hospital to bring aid and comfort to the sick and wounded? I haven't. How many of you have any clue what it's like to deal with the VA? I don't. Therefore, you would be safe to say that I don't "support the troops," and neither do you.
I don't "support the troops" or any of those other hollow and hypocritical platitudes uttered by Republicans and frightened Democrats. Here's what I do support: I support them coming home.
4. Who amongst you big enthusiastic "supporters of the troops" can tell me the approximate number of service women who have been raped while in the military? Answer: 19,000 (mostly) female troops are raped or sexually assaulted every year by fellow American troops. What have you or I done to bring these criminals to justice? What's that you say -- out of sight, out of mind? These women have suffered, and I've done nothing. So don't ever let me get away with telling you I "support the troops" because, sadly, I don't. And neither do you.
5. Help a homeless vet today? How 'bout yesterday? Last week? Last year? Ever? But I thought you "support the troops!"? The number of homeless veterans is staggering -- on any given night, at least 60,000 veterans are sleeping on the streets of the country that proudly "supports the troops." This is disgraceful and shameful, isn't it? And it exposes all those "troop supporters" who always vote against social programs that would help these veterans. Tonight there are at least 12,700 Iraq/Afghanistan veterans homeless and sleeping on the street. I've never lent a helping hand to one of the many vets I've seen sleeping on the street. I can't bear to look, and I walk past them very quickly. That's called not "supporting the troops," which, I guess, I don't -- and neither do you.
6. And you know, the beautiful thing about all this "support" you and I have been giving the troops -- they feel this love and support so much, a record number of them are killing themselves every single week. In fact, there are now more soldiers killing themselves than soldiers being killed in combat (323 suicides in 2012 through November vs. about 210 combat deaths). Yes, you are more likely to die by your own hand in the United States military than by al Qaeda or the Taliban. And an estimated eighteen veterans kill themselves each day, or one in five of all U.S. suicides -- though no one really knows because we don't bother to keep track. Now, that's what I call support! These troops are really feeling the love, people! Lemme hear you say it again: "I support the troops!" Louder! "I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!" There, that's better. I'm sure they heard us. Don't forget to fly our flag, wear your flag lapel pin, and never, ever let a service member pass you by without saying, "Thank you for your service!" I'm sure that's all they need to keep from putting a bullet in their heads. Do your best to keep your "support" up for the troops because, God knows, I certainly can't any longer.
I don't "support the troops" or any of those other hollow and hypocritical platitudes uttered by Republicans and frightened Democrats. Here's what I do support: I support them coming home. I support them being treated well. I support peace, and I beg any young person reading this who's thinking of joining the armed forces to please reconsider. Our war department has done little to show you they won't recklessly put your young life in harm's way for a cause that has nothing to do with what you signed up for. They will not help you once they've used you and spit you back into society. If you're a woman, they will not protect you from rapists in their ranks. And because you have a conscience and you know right from wrong, you do not want yourself being used to kill civilians in other countries who never did anything to hurt us. We are currently involved in at least a half-dozen military actions around the world. Don't become the next statistic so that General Electric can post another record profit -- while paying no taxes -- taxes that otherwise would be paying for the artificial leg that they've kept you waiting for months to receive.
I support you, and will try to do more to be there for you. And the best way you can support me -- and the ideals our country says it believes in -- is to get out of the military as soon as you can and never look back.
And please, next time some "supporter of the troops" says to you with that concerned look on their face, "I thank you for your service," you have my permission to punch their lights out (figuratively speaking, of course).
(There is something I've done to support the troops -- other than help lead the effort to stop these senseless wars. At the movie theater I run in Michigan, I became the first person in town to institute an affirmative action plan for hiring returning Iraq/Afghanistan vets. I am working to get more businesses in town to join with me in this effort to find jobs for these returning soldiers. I also let all service members in to the movies for free, everyday.)
© 2012 Michael Moore
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/01/03-6
commanderkai @ Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:52 pm
I really have nothing more to say to Michael Moore.
Gunnair @ Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:55 pm
commanderkai commanderkai:
:roll:
I really have nothing more to say to Michael Moore.
I really have nothing more to say to Michael Moore.
Don't know why. His rhetoric is certainly no worse than the rhetoric that says they support them while also supporting them to go to some place like... Iraq... when clearly... clearly... there was no reason for them to be going.
commanderkai @ Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:07 pm
Gunnair Gunnair:
Don't know why. His rhetoric is certainly no worse than the rhetoric that says they support them while also supporting them to go to some place like... Iraq... when clearly... clearly... there was no reason for them to be going.
But why bother sifting through his rhetoric to maybe find something interesting? What's the point? Was there anything that wasn't actual rhetoric in that article? From what I scanned, not really.
The one thing he says is that he puts priority in hiring returning vets for a movie theater he owns (although not actually saying he employs such vets), and he allows them free entrance to movies. If it's true, good for him.
martin14 @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:04 am
commanderkai commanderkai:
Gunnair Gunnair:
Don't know why. His rhetoric is certainly no worse than the rhetoric that says they support them while also supporting them to go to some place like... Iraq... when clearly... clearly... there was no reason for them to be going.
But why bother sifting through his rhetoric to maybe find something interesting? What's the point? Was there anything that wasn't actual rhetoric in that article? From what I scanned, not really.
The one thing he says is that he puts priority in hiring returning vets for a movie theater he owns (although not actually saying he employs such vets), and he allows them free entrance to movies. If it's true, good for him.
True, at least he does sift through some of the bullshit that so many say
"I support the troops but not the mission",
which is also a lot of hogwash.
Foxer @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:19 am
martin14 martin14:
True, at least he does sift through some of the bullshit that so many say
"I support the troops but not the mission",
which is also a lot of hogwash.
I'm not sure why that's hogwash.
It seems to me to be quite possible for a person to believe in the sacrifice and service of a person who's chosen that life, and yet believe that the specific task they've been given is not one you believe in.
And I do believe it's important to distinguish between the two. I think Mr Moore forgets his history. In the 70's soldiers who were returning from a very unpopular war were attacked and maligned for 'participating' in that war. In short - people took the dislike they had for that war and put it on the soldiers, many of whom had served honorably and weren't responsible for being sent over there.
That was a pretty horrible thing for many of those vets. I think there IS value in saying "while i protest the mission, I'm not condemning the men and women who've chosen to serve and had no role in choosing or defining the mission".
I think he's way off base here. I think it's very important and very valuable to distinguish between being against a mission that the soldiers may have been sent on, and being against the soldiers themselves.
martin14 @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:56 am
Respect isn't support.
I believe the people who need to make this kind of distinction are deluding
themselves, and trying to delude everyone else with their qualitative BS.
They support neither the troops nor the missions, and that's fine,
but don't lie about it.
Whether I do or do not do something to help the military or vet organizations,
as in support them, I certainly don't need to broadcast it.
Those who do need to broadcast their falsehoods, well I follow..
In a room full of people, the ones who scream the loudest
'I am not an alcoholic',
usually are.
andyt @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:05 am
The biggest canard is if you don't support the mission you can't support the troops (in the sense of wanting the military personnel to be treated decently). So for every war, people fall in line because they don't want to be seen as unpatriotic. Just a way to shut up opinion. We saw it with the cut and run bullshit - what did the Reformacons do, but cut and run in the end. They certainly can't claim they stayed until the successful prosecution of the war.
Guy_Fawkes @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:34 am
Meh it's all just nice fluff, kinda like when a cashier asks you "Hi, how are you?" They dont really give a fuck how you are, but it sounds nice and is supposed to sound polite and caring. Same thing with support the troops (or what ever your slogan is), it sounds nice and people think they are being nice. Really all the average person wants is to keep their life from getting worse, they dont care about the troops, or the whales or their carbon footprint. So when someone wears a "I support the troops" pin, flag or claims they do, I think; well that's nice.
Gunnair @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:39 am
Guy_Fawkes Guy_Fawkes:
Meh it's all just nice fluff, kinda like when a cashier asks you "Hi, how are you?" They dont really give a fuck how you are, but it sounds nice and is supposed to sound polite and caring. Same thing with support the troops (or what ever your slogan is), it sounds nice and people think they are being nice. Really all the average person wants is to keep their life from getting worse, they dont care about the troops, or the whales or their carbon footprint. So when someone wears a "I support the troops" pin, flag or claims they do, I think; well that's nice.
I'd submit it's more than mere fluff. Those who proclaim it are making a statement and going out of their way to make that statement - be it a pin, car magnet, etc.
It's a public declaration, one made in good faith, and we should appreciate it....especially in light of the fact that we don't always get that support from the government or the general public and the CF's members can be pretty damned vocal about how little they think the general public thinks of them and their efforts.
Guy_Fawkes @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:48 am
Gunnair Gunnair:
Guy_Fawkes Guy_Fawkes:
Meh it's all just nice fluff, kinda like when a cashier asks you "Hi, how are you?" They dont really give a fuck how you are, but it sounds nice and is supposed to sound polite and caring. Same thing with support the troops (or what ever your slogan is), it sounds nice and people think they are being nice. Really all the average person wants is to keep their life from getting worse, they dont care about the troops, or the whales or their carbon footprint. So when someone wears a "I support the troops" pin, flag or claims they do, I think; well that's nice.
I'd submit it's more than mere fluff. Those who proclaim it are making a statement and going out of their way to make that statement - be it a pin, car magnet, etc.
It's a public declaration, one made in good faith, and we should appreciate it....especially in light of the fact that we don't always get that support from the government or the general public and the CF's members can be pretty damned vocal about how little they think the general public thinks of them and their efforts.
I'm not quite sure I can agree, now if they are close to a soldier I could see their claim as genuine (though why they would feel the need to parade their feelings about soldiers is beyond me). However it's also thoughts like this that irk me:
Gunnair @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:54 am
Guy_Fawkes Guy_Fawkes:
Gunnair Gunnair:
Guy_Fawkes Guy_Fawkes:
Meh it's all just nice fluff, kinda like when a cashier asks you "Hi, how are you?" They dont really give a fuck how you are, but it sounds nice and is supposed to sound polite and caring. Same thing with support the troops (or what ever your slogan is), it sounds nice and people think they are being nice. Really all the average person wants is to keep their life from getting worse, they dont care about the troops, or the whales or their carbon footprint. So when someone wears a "I support the troops" pin, flag or claims they do, I think; well that's nice.
I'd submit it's more than mere fluff. Those who proclaim it are making a statement and going out of their way to make that statement - be it a pin, car magnet, etc.
It's a public declaration, one made in good faith, and we should appreciate it....especially in light of the fact that we don't always get that support from the government or the general public and the CF's members can be pretty damned vocal about how little they think the general public thinks of them and their efforts.
I'm not quite sure I can agree, now if they are close to a soldier I could see their claim as genuine (though why they would feel the need to parade their feelings about soldiers is beyond me). However it's also thoughts like this that irk me:
That particular one is an American slogan that has gained use in Canada and I hate that one with a passion.
As for the rest, if Joe Lunchbox appreciates the work done by a sailor and wants to show that he appreciates it with a yellow ribbon on his car, then good on him. I appreciate the appreciation, because I don't see much of it from the Government at times.
Stop being such a cynical fellow and appreciate the effort!
Guy_Fawkes @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:58 am
Meh, if you want to support the troops take the cash you would have spent on you support the troops bling and donate it to a military charity. Ya you might not get as much attention, but you'll do a hell of a lot more good.
Unsound @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:16 am
in this age of facebook activism i suppose a bumper sticker or a lapel pin is a step above just clicking "like" on a webpage, but it's a small step.
i don't imagine it hurts anything, as long as nobody's feeling too smug about how much they're "supporting" the troops.
Foxer @ Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:07 pm
martin14 martin14:
Respect isn't support.
Meh. Splitting semantic hairs there I think. For most people they mean pretty much the same thing. You can't state how other people are using the word on their behalf.