Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Support the Troops?

Hey, why the hell should I support people who are carrying out the whims of a president I don't like. They chose to sign up for the military; hopefully they were well informed on their duties before registering (otherwise I pity them). So for all intensive purposes, I believe my answer is no. No I do not support the troops. I support our men and women insofar as I don't wish to see them maimed or killed. I support their right to do with their lives whatever they wish. I respect their decision to put their lives in the hands of our president. However, because I don't support the war in any of its aspects or on any of its fronts, I cannot support the troops or their actions abroad at this time. If the war was just, sure I'd support them. I'd even fly one of those mini flags on my mail box or bumper sticker the back of my car to hell. Only of course, if the war was just.

Now I know what some people are going to say, republicans mostly, and those who can't think outside the box, or for themselves. "You're not being patriotic!" To this I can only reply, "NO SHIT." If being patriotic means supporting all of my country's endeavors into other nations, regardless of intent, endangering the lives of our service men and women, and making my country the laughing stock of the rest of the world, then yes I am un-patriotic in your eyes.

I like to see it as I am being more patriotic by choosing to express my true feelings instead of waving my rights in an effort of bipartisan camaraderie. I am patriotic, I use my rights on a daily basis. I fight for what I see as the best route for this country to take. I believe that when our leaders have veered off course, that is the responsibility of every citizen to help correct them. I am a Patriot.

Furthermore, I don't fly flags and I don't pledge allegiance to any symbol. That's what they are, symbols. I think George Carlin put it best. He said that "it's best to leave symbols to the simpleminded." If there was a pledge to the freedoms of speech, religion, press, petition, etc. I'd sure as hell pledge to that. But I won't pledge my allegiance to a country, if in doing so I pledge myself to unfailing support for it's leaders. Will I stand for the National Anthem? Yes, that's different. Instead of concerning yourself with singing it next time you're at a ballgame (though I am in support of that too) just listen to the words and see what this country was founded on and the sacrifices of the men and women who made it so.

Then they say that this is the same thing, that support for our Founding Fathers and support for our troops today requires the same commitment, that I'm a hypocrite. Unfortunately, if you really think those thoughts through you'd see the difference. (I support the troops from WWI and WWII too if it matters.) It is humanly possible to believe in one war and not another because of the reasons behind it. The way I see it is that you people who decide that capital punishment is okay but euthanasia or abortion is not are the ones being hypocrites.

Yet I know, maybe you have reasons too. Then again, once your dead, there's no reparation for a crime, there's no suffering, unless you believe in hell that is. By the way, it's also considered a sin to believe that someone is going to hell. Did you know that? Of course, frying someone is much better than making them labor out the rest of their lives building us shit, being a productive member of society and all. Besides, who gave the government the right to end a person's life? But I digress, this has little to do with the troops.

If you want to support our troops why not do them a favor and bring them home. How about this, instead of buying flags or yellow ribbons, send them a couple of dollars so they can properly equip themselves. Now that's supporting the troops. Hell I'd even do that; I don't want them to die after all. Besides, I'm sure they'd be more grateful for flak jackets than they would for yellow ribbons and flags (left out in the rain or tied to a car and progressively shredded). Then again, maybe some of them are simpleminded too just like the rest of you. Me, I'm practical. To me, helping the troops has to be something tangible, something that will keep them alive on the battlefield.

But hey, I know what you're thinking. I'm nuts right. Sure as Hell I am. Besides, what's a democrat to do? Actually fighting a war would be too much, right? Funny thing is, I am fighting a war, you're just to simpleminded to figure it out.

PROOF POSITIVE... Something in the last paragraph can be taken two ways. Do you see it?

No comments: