Thread: I Don't Think Magnets Support Our Troops

As the title of this thread implies, this is my opinion. I know there will be opposing opinions but please, just read what I have to say before you close your mind. A sticker does not "support our troops". Let me tell you, as a veteran of the U.S. Military, what I believe it means to "support our troops":

1. You do not support the actions of a government that would
put me in harm's way for frivolous or self-serving
reasons.

2. You do not support the actions of a government that
would put me in harm's way unless it has become
unavoidable and necessary to protect the people and/or
property of the United States of America.

3. While I am stationed in a war zone, please think kindly
of me, realizing I am in harm's way not because I want
to be there but because I am doing my duty, as I swore
to do when I joined the military. You must also re-
assure my friends and family of this at every possible
opportunity.

4. When I return home from a war zone, thank me. Thank me
for being there so the war might not be here. Thank me
for being there so that you might not have to be. Thank
me for being there to fight and, if necessary, die
alongside your son, daughter, brother or sister.

I don't really expect you to care what I feel or why I feel it. But in the event you are interested, for your edification the reason I am worked up over this is because when I was in the military, doing my duty aboard a nuclear powered, ballistic missile submarine, we pulled into several U.S. ports and were greeted by angry people protesting and telling us to leave. These people were not only taking us for granted, they also credited us, the crew of the ship, with some sort of authority to decide what we did with our submarine. I recognize the sacrifice made by our military and I respect them, no matter what they are ordered to do. The stickers are not to show support for the individual soldier. They are showing support for G. W. Bush and his choice to invade a sovereign country, a choice that should not be supported by anyone who truly is concerned for the young people in the military.
In the days of old, the leaders of the people were also the leaders of the military. When a king decided to invade a foreign land, he would be leading the invasion with his sons right beside him. You can bet, in those days, the decision to attack was made much more carefully.