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Please support our troops.

Started by Gameteen Apr 21, 2006 at 7:03 PM 66 replies 7.5k views

Original Post

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:03 PM

EDIT: Apparently I opened up a huge can of worms, so before you kill me, please remember, THIS IS NOT MY OPINION! I merely want a discussion about the facts and opinions, so please, respect everyone, even if they don't agree with you. If it means that much to you, I'll format it! Excuse the chain letter part. I forgot to remove it, and yes it is annoying as hell! Just something to think about. Original message: Remember them Civilian life vs. Military life Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes. He stays up for days on end. __________________________ You take a warm shower to help you wake up. He goes days or weeks without running water. __________________________ You complain of a "headache", and call in sick. He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward. __________________________ You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends. He still fights for your right to wear that shirt. __________________________ You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket. He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags. __________________________ You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you. He knows he may not see some of his buddies again. __________________________ You don't feel like helping out your dad today, so you don't. He does what he is told. __________________________ You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls. He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists. _______________ ___________ You complain about how hot it is. He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow. __________________________ You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong. He does not get to eat today. __________________________ Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes. He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean. __________________________ You go to the mall and get your hair redone. He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today. __________________________ You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over. He is told he will be held an extra 2 months. He does as he is told. __________________________ You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night. He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home. __________________________ You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday. He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume. __________________________ You ditch class to go to a movie. He goes where he is told. __________________________ You roll your eyes as a baby cries. He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet. __________________________ You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything. He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting. __________________________ You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him. He hears the gun fire and bombs. __________________________ You see only what the media wants you to see. He sees the bodies lying around him. __________________________ You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't. He does what he is to ld. __________________________ You stay at home and watch TV. He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat. __________________________ You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable. He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire. __________________________ You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him. If only there were more men like him Is life so dear or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! — Patrick Henry [Edited by - Gameteen on April 22, 2006 8:48:29 AM]

alnite

410

alnite

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:08 PM

I support troops but I don't support unnecessary wars that cost these soldiers their life.

shmoove

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:09 PM

Being anti-war != not supporting the troops.

Just something to think about.

shmoove

slowpid

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:11 PM

Do you have a viewpoint on this, why are you posting it without saying anything?

Sneftel

297

Sneftel

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:13 PM

If you truly cared about our troops, you'd fix the indentation and line endings of that post.

Hypocrite.

justo

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:14 PM

this almost inspired me to go put on my "don't support the troops" shirt, but i couldn't pick which one i wanted to wear (i have 8).

Macerlask

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:14 PM

just wait for the Draft...

justo

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:16 PM

Quote:
Original post by Sneftel
If you truly cared about our troops, you'd fix the indentation and line endings of that post.

Hypocrite.

you don't feel like fixing the cut and past job, so you don't.

he does what he is told.

think about it!!!!!!!!

IronGryphon

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:25 PM

There was at least 1 line missing on the OP.

Military : He/She volunteered.

This may seem a bit harsh but speaking from experience (18 years active duty and counting) just because someone is in the military doesn't put them in a status of benevolent peacekeeper. There is just as much complaining on this side of the fence as there is in the civilian world. The only reason you don't hear about it is because it is against regulations to publicly speak out one way or another.

Don't get me wrong, I love what I do for a living and sleep sound at night but my reasons for being in are my own. I would rather someone come out and say they disagree with what the military is doing as long as they understand it is the elected civilians that dictate the mission.

lethalhamster

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:30 PM

This thread sucks.

No one blames the troops for the war in Iraq(at least they shouldn't be) they should blame the government, and more specifically BBUUSSSHH!!!

Flarelocke

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:34 PM

It's as if the author had never heard of tents. Being woken up by mortar/rpg fire probably does suck, but it doesn't happen every day at every location.

LessBread

558

LessBread

Apr 21, 2006 at 7:59 PM

Quote:
Original post by Gameteen
>>> __________________________
>>>
>>> You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
>>>
>>> He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to
>>> his dog tags.
>>> __________________________

That's cute. Would that be a government issued cross?

Quote:
Original post by Gameteen
>>> __________________________
>>>
>>> You don't feel like helping out your dad today, so
>>> you don't.
>>>
>>> He does what he is told.
>>> __________________________

Is this spam propaganda for teens or something?

Quote:
Original post by Gameteen
>>> __________________________
>>>
>>> You criticize your government, and say that war
>>> never solves anything.
>>>
>>> He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their
>>> own government and remembers why he is fighting.
>>> __________________________

Um, what about he fights to protect your right to criticize the government?

Quote:
Original post by Gameteen
>>> __________________________
>>>
>>> You see only what the media wants you to see.
>>>
>>> He sees the bodies lying around him.
>>> __________________________

The media doesn't want you to see the bodies. You have to search for those pictures on the web...

iNsAn1tY

120

iNsAn1tY

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:07 PM

Quote:
Original post by alnite
I support troops but I don't support unnecessary wars that cost these soldiers their life.

Almost exactly my sentiments.

I'd add 'probably illegal' to 'unnecessary war'.

Scet

111

Scet

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:11 PM

Quote:
Original post by Gameteen
>>> PLEASE REPOST!! OUR HUSBANDS/WIVES, SONS/DAUGHTERS,
>>> COUSINS, FRIENDS ARE OUT THERE FIGHTING AND RISKING
>>> THEIR LIVES FOR US!! PLEASE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

Seriously, spamming the lounge with e-mail chain letters is not cool.

Anon Mike

117

Anon Mike

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:16 PM

Quote:
Original post by LessBread
Quote:
Original post by Gameteen
>>> __________________________
>>>
>>> You see only what the media wants you to see.
>>>
>>> He sees the bodies lying around him.
>>> __________________________

The media doesn't want you to see the bodies. You have to search for those pictures on the web...

I was under the impression the media did want you to see the bodies (bodies == news after all) but the government/military wouldn't let them because it could harm support for the war. Like all the hoopla about censoring pictures of caskets a while back.

"She can tell you ’bout the plane crash with a gleam In her eye - It’s interesting when people die"

ChemicalImbalance

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:27 PM

I support both the troops and the cause.

SticksandStones

105

SticksandStones

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:34 PM

Quote:

>>> You put on your anti war/don't support the troops
>>> shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
>>>
>>> He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

Not unless he is fighting World War II.

LessBread

558

LessBread

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:36 PM

Quote:
Original post by Anon Mike
I was under the impression the media did want you to see the bodies (bodies == news after all) but the government/military wouldn't let them because it could harm support for the war. Like all the hoopla about censoring pictures of caskets a while back.

Perhaps that was back before they started wearing flag lapel pins? It seems these days that the media has become very squeamish about showing dead bodies - with warnings from television newscasters that the following footage might be disturbing and so on.

As far as what the government doesn't want shown goes, the government can shove it: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Take a look at these pictures, Photographs From Iraq: March 22 - April 12, 2006, and then consider my initial comment. If the media wanted to show pictures of the bodies, they would. There are plenty of them to show. See also: Searched for the phrase 'Photographs From Iraq'. Found 109 items (6.4656 seconds). That's a years worth of combat pictures from Iraq.

One area of television news that doesn't seem to fear these pictures is Spanish language news.

SticksandStones

105

SticksandStones

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:41 PM

Quote:

Perhaps that was back before they started wearing flag lapel pins? It seems these days that the media has become very squeamish about showing dead bodies - with warnings from television newscasters that the following footage might be disturbing and so on.

I blame the FCC. Like on Family Guy: "Today we recieved 20 phone calls and, as you all know, one call equals a billion people. So 20 billion people were offended..."

LessBread

558

LessBread

Apr 21, 2006 at 8:58 PM

Quote:
Original post by SticksandStones
Quote:

Perhaps that was back before they started wearing flag lapel pins? It seems these days that the media has become very squeamish about showing dead bodies - with warnings from television newscasters that the following footage might be disturbing and so on.
I blame the FCC. Like on Family Guy: "Today we recieved 20 phone calls and, as you all know, one call equals a billion people. So 20 billion people were offended..."

Yeah, well Family Guy got it wrong. Too much joking around, not enough paying attention. It's not the FCC, it's Brent Bozell and the Family Research Council, the Parents Television Council and the Media Research Center that are the culprits.

Single Group Dominates FCC Complaints.

Quote:

...
The number of indecency complaints had soared dramatically to more than 240,000 in the previous year, Powell said. The figure was up from roughly 14,000 in 2002, and from fewer than 350 in each of the two previous years. There was, Powell said, “a dramatic rise in public concern and outrage about what is being broadcast into their homes.” What Powell did not reveal—apparently because he was unaware—was the source of the complaints. According to a new FCC estimate obtained by Mediaweek, nearly all indecency complaints in 2003 — 99.8 percent—were filed by the Parents Television Council, an activist group.
...
The prominent role played by the PTC has raised concerns among critics of the FCC’s crackdown on indecency. “It means that really a tiny minority with a very focused political agenda is trying to censor American television and radio,” said Jonathan Rintels, president and executive director of the Center for Creative Voices in Media, an artists’ advocacy group. ... At issue is a process that once relied upon aggrieved listeners and viewers contacting the FCC, but that increasingly is driven by organized groups with a focus on programming content. The FCC does not monitor programming for fear of assuming a role as national censor; it relies on complaints to initiate its indecency proceedings.
...
The PTC has worked hard to achieve its influence over broadcast content. Founded in 1995 by longtime conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III, it set out to make an impact in 2003, including what it called “a massive, coordinated and determined campaign” for more action by the FCC against broadcast indecency. “We delivered on that promise,” Bozell said in the group’s annual report.
...

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