i support...
Not long ago, Barak Obama made his first big public mistake in his presidential run. In a visit to Iowa Obama said, "We ended up launching a war that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged, and to which we now have spent $400 billion and have seen over 3,000 lives of the bravest young Americans wasted."
It didn't take long for his opponents to take hold of that statement and brand Obama as one who does not support the troops! And in an even shorter amount of time, Obama issued apology after apology hoping to reconcile and make sense of his statement.
These three words, "support the troops," are ones I don't quite understand. For the most part, this phrase has been co-opted by the Right so as to imply that anyone who stands in opposition to this war stands in direct opposition to the men and women in our armed services. While this viewpoint is losing momentum - as is the support of this war - the phrase still carries weight and still moves people to think in a very particular way; hence, Obama's apologies.
So help me out. How do you define and make sense of these three words: support the troops?
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It didn't take long for his opponents to take hold of that statement and brand Obama as one who does not support the troops! And in an even shorter amount of time, Obama issued apology after apology hoping to reconcile and make sense of his statement.
These three words, "support the troops," are ones I don't quite understand. For the most part, this phrase has been co-opted by the Right so as to imply that anyone who stands in opposition to this war stands in direct opposition to the men and women in our armed services. While this viewpoint is losing momentum - as is the support of this war - the phrase still carries weight and still moves people to think in a very particular way; hence, Obama's apologies.
So help me out. How do you define and make sense of these three words: support the troops?
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posted by jch at
7:23 AM
11 Comments:
You're right - too many have tried to define the term by equating it with supporting the war. Then, they're able to demonize those who oppose the war by suggesting they "don't support the troops."
I think many who oppose the war would say that they're attempting to support the troops by getting them out of the middle east and back home safely (as opposed to keeping them in harm's way for no good reason.)
It's also interesting the John McCain said the same thing last week on Letterman, but it hasn't seemed that he's getting nearly the attention Obama did (although perhaps I've just missed it if he has.)
Here's the reasoning I believe is behind the "support the troops" = "support the war" thinking: Our troops don't have the luxury of questioning orders. If an order is given, it is to be followed without question and without hesitation. The chain of command must always be respected and protected. So the soldier and the orders/mission they follow are inseparable.
Former military personnel and parents of soldiers understand this for the most part, but as a civilian I haven't experienced receiving orders so I don't fully grasp it. It is easier for me to separate the soldier from the mission, upholding the value of the individual outside of the machine of command. So I can say I support the troops (and pray for our enemies) while not supporting the course their commanders have chosen. In doing this I have split the chain of command and some people just can't imagine this separation. Thank God we as Christians have been given a new mission that is greater than the commands of this age.
-Russ
I guess in order to accept that someone you cared about died for a lie you have to convince yourself that it wasn't really a lie. You have to displace the blame somewhere besides where it truly belongs, in this case liberals who "don't support the troops." Otherwise, wouldn't the loved ones of the dead and screwed up for life be storming the doors of the White House and Congress demanding answers and a stop to the bloodshed?
Thank you Russ for your thoughts.
I read your blog earlier today and have been thinking all day of how to write a 'correct' answer to your question and I still don't have one, so forgive my ramblings, I am not a good writer, but here I go...
My husband is a captain in the Air Force and I am so proud to be a military wife. From my point of view to 'support the troops' means for you to thank them for the sacrifices they make daily. You pray for them to stay safe in harms way. You realize that they have FREELY given of themselves to provide Americans with freedom and comfort. For those of you who are not familiar with a military family or life I can imagine that some of these concepts seem a bit unrealistic or that I am overinflating the purpose our military serves. Trust me I am NOT. Everyday there are lives given not just in Iraq but all over the world. Our men and women in uniform have chosen to fight for our country, to keep us in the comfortable position we are in. One of my husband's favorite sayings is that "Freedom is not free." There is so much we as the general public are not privy to (and really I thank God for that, sometimes I enjoy being naive). There's so much we take for granted everyday that our military makes possible for us. Just this morning my husband left, he cannot tell me where he is going, he cannot tell me what he will be doing, he cannot even contact me to let me know he is okay and that is something military families deal with everyday.
I do believe that we as Americans have a right to an opinion. I for one am not happy with the situation in Iraq at all, but I do realize that the troops are doing their job, they are following the commands given to them, they are doing it because they love our country. We owe them so very much. In my humble opinion supporting the troops does not mean that you have to agree with all issues in the military, I certainly am heartbroken and upset at all the lives lost in the Iraqi war, and I do not know how we are going to get out of there. But judging decisions of our government should not affect our feelings for those who are trying to do the right thing. Those that joined the military to protect our country, to protect you. There is a fine line between not supporting the war and supporting the troops, because the troops are the ones at the front lines. They are the ones dying and putting themselves at risk everyday.
The most I can hope for is that we as Americans start praying diligently, praying for wise decisions from our government, our military leadership, and for the troops themselves. We are so deep in Iraq right now it is foolish to say just 'bring everyone home', that cannot be done. We need a plan and since you and I are not the ones who will devise this plan we need to PRAY for those that will.
Support the troops by asking God to protect them, they are lonely, they are scared, they are proud, and they are heroes. There is no quick fix to this situation. I for one am a little scared because the more people get angry with our government and the war in Iraq the more they become complacent about the military. The less they pray and the more removed the become from our troops. We hear everyday on the news so many troops killed or Iraqi citizens and we have started to become numb to it all.
My problem with people is the way they phrase things, that goes for politicians and citizens alike. We are deep in a war at the moment, troops are dying everyday, don't use these statisitics to get claps at a pep rally. Don't trivialize the deaths of these Americans. They are real people with families and friends, they are doing all of this in service to you. Pray for the troops, love the troops, give them your 'support'. This has been a long and intense war for our military and their families.
I certainly hope I did not come across 'preachy' or on a soapbox, that was not my intention. It is just all too easy to refer to the military as troops and forget they are people, just like you and I, with families and loved ones. People that are willing to sacrifice their lives for us.
God please help to protect our servicemen, give them strength and courage as they fight, grant our leadership wisdom so that there might be an end to this war. Amen.
Personally, I don't think you can separate the war and "supporting the troops." They are one and the same. The troops are in the war and fighting for us. Although I may not agree with decisions made about this war, I am a part of this American family and just like any other family, I should support my family, whether we agree or not. We are in this mission, we need to do whatever possible and needed.
The real problem is when there are answers to the problems, but these answers get caught up in the politics and become non negotiable. I don't think you can take the politics out, so I agree with Jesse and suggest we pray hard and pray long and pray often for God to rule, not the politicians.
Perhaps the "support the troops" phraseology says a lot all by itself. Shouldn't it be "support OUR troops"?? Not "the" troops, OUR troops.
Perhaps the "support the troops" conflict lies with those fighting this war who believe in it, therefore "support the war" becomes synonymous with "support the troops". They aren't really concerned with who-did-what-wrong, but believe in their purpose there. You (Joe, as one who does not support the war) are at opposite ends of that spectrum with the fighting troops who do believe in it. It is up to YOU to make the ends meet.
Some of our troops ask to be sent back. They don't ask to be sent back because they don't believe in the purpose, or because they love a bloody battle, but because they believe in the purpose, because they love freedom and believe it is worth fighting for. And that freedom they love is not just freedom for Americans. Indeed, freedom is not, never has never been, free.
Have you seen the news piece where a group of people meet the troops at DFW every day, expressing their appreciation? Who can tell if they are right-wing or left-wing, or middle-of-the-road, and who cares? They are there expressing love and appreciation. These people know how to "support our troops."
To see this awesome piece, go to ABC News Video, February 2, "Veteran Welcoming Committee".
My friend and colleague, Mark Elrod, posted a related entry today that you might find interesting.
I think "support the troops" got connected to "support the war" by people who wanted us to support the war and know how much we don't want to not support the troops. Nobody wants another post-Vietnam scenario, spitting on soldiers returning from combat and calling them names. Knowing we don't want to be viewed that way, support of troops becomes connected to support of war.
This is further complicated by the fact that "support the troops" can mean that you support them as soldiers (what they do) or as people (who they are).
Let's say my son Harry grows up and decides to enlist. I may object to him enlisting because I am against him taking up arms. Therefore, I support him (and would never want to see him spit on or cursed at), but I don't support his being a soldier. So, do I "support the troops" or not?
Or say that I am for him enlisting in the military and serving his country and taking up arms. I support him as a person and as a soldier. Then the country enters into a conflict that I find honorable. I support the war and the troops.
Or, as is the case many find themselves currently in, my son enlists and I am proud that he did. Then the country enters into a conflict that I find dishonorable and pointless. Now I am for the troops by being against the war.
Whatever it is, this much is clear, it isn't as simple as "support the troops"="support the war".
Except in this sense; soldiers don't get a say in honorable or dishonorable or right and wrong. A good soldier, almost by definition, follows orders. So, to be against the action is to be against those who carry out that action.
The problem with soundbite phrases is that they leave no room for truths that can't be parsed out in soundbites. This is complicated.
I can say this. I am against this war. I struggle, as a Christian, with whether I can ever be for any war, no matter how just. I would not be for my son serving in the military. But I would never be for him being spit on, cursed at, and shamed. I would never show him anything but love and respect, even if I couldn't love and respect what he did.
I hope that makes some kind of sense.
To the commenter Jesse,
You are a hero, too. I live in an Air Force town and work with lots of military spouses, and they've taught me that the *families* of service members pay a tremendous price for their country...and often without a word of thanks.
One great way to support the troops would be to support the families left behind! Free babysitting, play dates, wood chopped, meals prepared, cars serviced, homework help, a shoulder to cry on...there must be a million ways to take care of the families of those who volunteer to serve this country.
The first thing I thought when reading these was, I don't think anyone who wrote these are in the military. With the exception of my wife, Jesse, I'm not sure anyone is directly connected to the military. If I am wrong, please let me know. Since I am in the Air Force let me tell you what I think about the question at hand. You can not support me if you don't support what I do. You can look it this way, I am the mission and the mission is me.
The problem at hand is the general public doesn't have all the information. The vast majority of opinions are based on what is heard on the Communist News Network, also known as CNN. I can't fault the public to listen though, that's their only way to find out what's going on. What I do fault them on is not acknowledging the fact they don't know everything and that just maybe they don't know the whole story.
Let me use a movie to help me out. I'm sure most people have seen "A Few Good Men" with Jack Nickelson. In it he states the fact that people have the luxury of not knowing what he knows. Indie says people have died for a lie. I wonder if Indie got any of the Top Secret briefings that the President got. Or any of the many Secrect/Top Secret briefings I received throughout the years concering the "lie". I can assure you, CNN didn't.
If I told you there was a "dirty bomb" in your city today but it was collected, it might cause mass panic in the streets. However, if I just take care of the problem and not tell anyone, you'll sleep well that night and the problem is still gone.
You have to trust the government is doing what's in the country's best interest. Part of that is supporting the troops and what they do. It is our right as Americans to question those who we have appointed to represent us. However, I would ask that before you question those making decisions, you look to see if you have the credentials to do so. I would not expect the CEO of AT&T to change the way he does business just becuase I said he was doing it wrong when I have no business sense at all.
I wonder how many of you have asked a solider, airman, marine, or sailor what they think? Remember, there is not one person in arms that is doing this against their will. Everyone single person has done so strictly voluntarily. That is one of the things that separates our military from others.
Also, how many of you who say you support the troops have actually done something to support them? I hope most if not all of you have. I know my wife sure has.
Hopefully I have given some insight to you. I imagine that some of you don't believe a word I'm saying and you'll still go on blasting the war/troops. I'll leave you with this. When you blast the war/troops, you are blasting the very thing that is giving you the right to do so.
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