Support Our Troops

You may be unaware of the controversy over the "Fuck The Troops" group on Myspace (http://groups.myspace.com/fckthetrps).  Although a large majority of our country claim to support our troops overseas, there are still people who display this kind of ignorance over the issues in the Middle East and how they are being handled.  It's okay not to agree with our country's solutions, but it is not okay to hold the troops that are there fighting responsible.  To do so is ridiculous and unfair.  Perhaps war is not the answer, but neither is hate.  The right to freedom of speech is provided in our constitution.  So, it is the right of the members in this group to express their opinions.  However, a line must be drawn.  Support must be provided in times such as this rather than such negative displays.  What members of this group do not realize is that the soldiers they are criticizing and soldiers who have fought for our country in the past are the people who have fought and continue to fight for their right to create such groups.  The way these people choose to exercise that freedom is ironic.

  It is important that as American citizens, we show our support.  We don't have to be patriotic and display yellow ribbons everywhere if we don't want to, but to make attacks on the military is just wrong.  We need to recognize that almost 3,000 men and women have died as a result of this war, perhaps only with the knowledge that they were fighting for a cause... for a country.  Another 12,000+ have been wounded.  You can pray.  You can hope.  If you don't want to do either, at least go here: http://icasualties.org/oif/BY_DOD.aspx and look at the list.  Read each name and think about each person as if they were your next door neighbor.  Be thankful that each person on that list died for something he or she believed in, whether they questioned the war or not.  Don't blame these fallen soldiers for the war.  Thank them for dying for your country.  Then, think about the thousands of men and women who have been to Iraq and are still there, fighting for you.  Support isn't necessarily sending care packages and yelling out to the world that you care.  It's appreciating the people who have sacrificed their lives to fight for us.

Here is one of many messages sent to a friend of mine who is currently serving in Iraq.  This person had the audacity to personally attack my friend...

And for your lil FYI bringing up the fact that you are fighting for MY freedom is getting pretty old. You are not in it for nobody but yourself your just thinking about that lil check that your getting for being over there so dont give me that bullshit that your over there to protect our countries freedom! Lets just say that you are over there for your country (which is not true) ask yourself this little question what has your country did for you??? NOT A FUCKING THING!!! And you say you're over there so i can have a live a comfortable life here!!! WHAT THE FUCK HAVE I DONE FOR YOU???? huh huh??? I'll wait.......The answer is shit!!!!All i done for you is piss you off and i pat myself on the back for it...Good JOB MANDA!!! SO KICK FUCKING ROCKS DICKHEAD!!!!!!!

Here is the message I wrote to her:

What is ironic about your attacks against ANY soldier fighting in Iraq is that the only reason you can speak the way you do is because of the freedoms America constitutes on behalf of its citizens. If you think a soldier is fighting overseas only for a paycheck, you are not only mistaken... but unfortunate and ignorant. You are unfortunate because you neglect to see the risks involved with serving in Iraq AND the meaning behind that service. You are ignorant because you are putting a price on life. Do you honestly think that someone would risk his/her life for money? That accusation is ABSURD. I don't blame you for your mistaken criticism, I blame the fact that you lack a general understanding of the government and the military. No, soldiers don't owe you anything HOWEVER your personal protection is not their sole purpose in serving America. You don't have to agree with the war to appreciate the troops. It is not a soldier's choice to fight in Iraq, but it is his/her choice to join the military - a choice that holds great honor. I don't know where you've learned about the history of our country, but America is in fact founded on FREEDOM, CHOICE, LIBERTY, and DEMOCRACY for all people. There is nothing wrong about fighting for these things.

I thought I'd share this with you because it is a prime example of hatred and ignorance some Americans (more than we think) possess.  I have a feeling this girl is going to end up feeling very ashamed some day.  Like my mother said, "Have we learned nothing from the way Vietnam veterans were treated?"  Before you judge a soldier and accuse him/her of such atrocities, educate yourself and consider the circumstances.  That's all I ask.

Previously posted at: www.brickfish.com