There are numerous posts that discuss our troops and feelings on the president and everything that applies to war; but, there aren't very many posts about how the war is touching those at home. It's a common misconception that people who have family in the war are ultimately anti-war. It sounds as if that would be the case, but what if society is wrong on what they think those at home feel? Every one is so busy bashing the president for his tactics but presidency is not an easy job and those in the military and those at home understand that. I went to see the President speak one day, and he took questions from his public. One of my fellow students stood up, and proceeded to badger the president on his tactics. Not only did he rudely act when the president was responding, but he interrupted him as well! The president dismissed him for his ignorance and mvoed to the next question, since obviously he didn't want an answer, he just wanted to act like a hot shot in front of the world. He didn't realize he only looked like a fool.
I asked my friend who is in the Navy what he thought about this whole ordeal. Obviously, he does not enjoy being away from home and his fiance, but he knows that it's necessary. Also, he told me that it was really hurtful that all these people are protesting the war. In his opinion, when you protest the war, you are protesting the soldiers in it. This "one nation" has completely separated and destroyed the morale of the soldiers. If we start doubting why we are there, then the soldiers will too. The soldiers are fighting for your right to protest what they believe in.
I also have a friend that just came back from a year in Iraq. He said it was horrible there, but he knew what had to be done and he didn't sign up for the military to not take action. He is tired of people telling him that the war is wrong and that he's fighting for a lost cause. What gives American citizens the right to bring down those that are fighting for our freedom? It's a sad state of affairs when the military gets the short end of the stick from those they are fighting for.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Iraq has nothing to do with our freedom. Iraq is not a threat to American freedom, and neither are terrorists. Terrorists threaten our saftey and well being and comfort, but not our freedom. Iraq didn't, and probably never could have the military power to stand against America. Not every war is fought to defend American freedom, or my right to protest.
Anti-war protest is almost always focused on ending a war which people feel is unwinnable or stupid. Only the most ignorant blame the soldiers for the war, or even look down on them. Your suggestion for handling this war seems to be to let the big wigs handle it and have everyone else stay out of it because directing a war is a difficult job.
You feel bad that soldiers have to look back at America and see unhappiness with the war they are fighting instead of total support. The way I figure it not every war deserves our total support, and just because our soldiers are involved doesn't mean we have to pretend it is all pine nuts and daisies. Most people support the troops, but want to end the war.
I don't think many people join the military without expecting, or at least accepting, seeing some kind of action. They accept the responsibility of handling any conflict their country chooses to put them in. The rest of us, and many soldiers, believe that those conflicts should be good and winnable wars. Should our soldiers and our people simply accept any war our leaders decide to start for the sake of troop morale?
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.
well I was going to respond "The soldiers are not in Iraq to protect our rights of protest or our freedom, they're in Iraq to fulfill the wargames of grown up little boys and line the pockets of a certain group of neo-cons. The soldiers should begin to doubt why they are their. They are worth more than to be fodder for those reasons. Sometimes the truth hurts but its less damaging than turning a blind eye."
but I liked what you wrote better so I'm stealing it and copying and pasting it below:
CNTRL+C
www.worldcantwait.com
I hate the way people try to emotionally blackmail others into supporting the war by using, I stress that, USING the troops and their families to generate compliance from objectors to the war.
Bush and his cronies are the only threat to freedom and democracy the US faces today. They are the ones who are slowly turning America into a giant prison.
Haha - do you really believe - NOW - that the Iraq war is about creating freedom for Americans? Take a look at the following quote (from Bloomberg):
"I understand the angst of the American people. I know people are weary of war,'' the president said in a speech to the American Legislative Exchange Council in Philadelphia today (July 26). If the U.S. leaves now, the region would erupt in chaos," he said.
Notice that he cautions that if we leave, the "REGION [Iraq] will erupt in chaos," not that Americans will lose their freedoms. Even Bush doesn't advocate the war is about freedom for Americans. I believe it's time for you to READ some news, and take a breath of the bloody & dirty air whafting over from Iraq.