Thank A Soldier Week

[Mona]

" American soldiers are risking their lives all over the globe defending America's interests and defending the freedoms that many of us take for granted.

Do you take Soldiers for granted?

Backstage at the Country Music Awards, celebrities provided messages of thanks to soldiers around the globe as part of the launch for Thank A Soldier Week which begins December 19th.

During Thank a Soldier Week (December 19-25), Townhall.com is encouraging Americans to stop for a moment and give thanks to the men and women risking everything for us.

[Idlethought]

"American soldiers are risking their lives all over the globe defending America's interests and defending the freedoms that many of us take for granted.


Question: What freedoms are they defending for us? As well as what interests are they defending? I was under the impression that they were pawns being used to TAKE interests for us.

Enlighten me preeze.

[c-rex]

Hey Idle,
Nice troll. The guys on the ground in Iraq are dying because they got ordered over there, not because the 82nd Airborne woke up one morning and decided it would be fun to take out Saddam. If you have a problem with the way the military is being used talk to your Congressmen, don't blame the troops. The Marine in Iraq that just took a bullet died doing his duty and doing his best to protect us, not out of some desire for power.

Also in case you've forgotten (the trendy American thing to do) we have troops still on the ground in Afghanistan hunting down al-Aqaeda. We have troops all over South East Asia in advisory roles helping train local forces to catch terrorists and so on and so forth. The fact that these people are willing to risk their lives, the well being of their families should they die and spend Christmas in some god forsaken hell hole makes them at least worthy of our thanks.

-C
.

[Idlethought]

To protect us from what?

[Jon885]

Well if it wasn't for the soldiers that have enlisted in the military there would be a draft and you would probably be fighting over there. So whether you agree with the war or not there's a reason you should be thankful to them.

So you don't have to fight because they do. There's an interest.

[Quartermaster]

From whatever threat that was in Iraq that lead Bush to bring us to war there. The solider doesn't make the decisions, the politicians do, so if they're ordered to the wrong place at the wrong time, that's too bad for them. Doesn't make it any less lousy though.

Does not apply to non-Americans, don't be a goof...yet...

[c-rex]

al-Qaeda comes to mind Idle. You remember 9-11 and everything? All the combat operations in Afghanistan working to catch the people that did it and make sure they can't plan another attack. Unless of course you're one of those people that thinks the CIA did 9-11, or Mossad.

[Idlethought]

Well if it wasn't for the soldiers that have enlisted in the military there would be a draft and you would probably be fighting over there. So whether you agree with the war or not there's a reason you should be thankful to them.

That I can agree with. But it still seems kinda fucked up that I'm thanking them for dying for the wrong cause.

From whatever threat that was in Iraq that lead Bush to bring us to war there. The solider doesn't make the decisions, the politicians do, so if they're ordered to the wrong place at the wrong time, that's too bad for them. Doesn't make it any less lousy though.

In conclusion: You're a dumbfuck, Idlethought.

And that threat was what? There was no threat in Iraq. They werent firing on us until we went there.
And resorting to namecalling is just childish.

al-Qaeda comes to mind Idle. You remember 9-11 and everything? All the combat operations in Afghanistan working to catch the people that did it and make sure they can't plan another attack. Unless of course you're one of those people that thinks the CIA did 9-11, or Mossad.

Did it ever occur to you that the people that flew the planes into the world trade center were CIA operatives trained in the US? Did it ever occur to you, also, that we still have yet to capture Osama bin Laden? Sure I'll thank those soldiers over in Afghanistan for attempting to hunt down the dudes that attacked us but those in Iraq have no reason to be there. As messed up as it is I cant really see anything to thank them for.

[FireWolf238]

it's very simple: there is a culture out there that believes we americans are destroying it but existing
so to fix that problem, these people try to kill us at any costs. just look at isreal, that country is fighting this war for the last 58 years of it's exsistance, and israelies never attacked anyone. the arabian middle east hates us for exsisting ant not for invading iraq.

[NERD]

I believe Idlethought is not unaware of why the troops are sent overseas, but rather questioning the validity of the military campaigns they are involved in, particularly of Iraq and Afghanistan.

I say he has a point of questioning the purpose of those military campaigns, when half the country was divided on sending the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, raising the same question as he did.

And firewold- it's much, much more complicated when it comes to discussing Israel.

[Idlethought]

it's very simple: there is a culture out there that believes we americans are destroying it but existing
so to fix that problem, these people try to kill us at any costs. just look at isreal, that country is fighting this war for the last 58 years of it's exsistance, and israelies never attacked anyone. the arabian middle east hates us for exsisting ant not for invading iraq.

Actually the middle east hates us for backing Israel which really shouldnt be the country that it is. It was comprised of lands taken from the original inhabitants who were forced out at the end of World War II I believe. So yea, thats why they've been attacked for 58 years, cause technically they dont belong there.

[Quartermaster]

Idlethought That I can agree with. But it still seems kinda fucked up that I'm thanking them for dying for the wrong cause.
------------------
And that threat was what? There was no threat in Iraq. They werent firing on us until we went there.
And resorting to namecalling is just childish.

It isn't the soldier's faults for being in a useless campaign started by politicians, the soldier's don't have too much of a say in where they go and simply have to follow orders because life just sucks ass that way. They assumedly joined up to serve and sacrifice themselves for the country, doing what they believe is best despite the royal fuckup on the part of the politicians.

And I'll agree with you on that: It is kinda fucked up, however that is a whole other discussion entirely.

[Jon885]

"That I can agree with. But it still seems kinda fucked up that I'm thanking them for dying for the wrong cause." -Idlethought

Then maybe you would be more comfortable just being grateful to soldiers for enlisting in the military. Without these "pawns" you would be fighting for a war that you don't believe in.

[Idlethought]

"That I can agree with. But it still seems kinda fucked up that I'm thanking them for dying for the wrong cause." -Idlethought

Then maybe you would be more comfortable just being grateful to soldiers for enlisting in the military. Without these "pawns" you would be fighting for a war that you don't believe in.

So I'm supposed to be happy that theyre dying instead of me. I cant dig that its just too messed up.

*edit*Ill feel sorry for them yes. I'll think its a damn shame yes, but I still cant feel thankful that theyre where theyre not supposed to be.

[Quartermaster]

Not happy, respectful and lucky for the fact.

*Edit: Not for where they are, the fact they're willing to be there.

I'll warn you against venerating authority TOO much though, that never ends well.

[NERD]

I believe it is more patriotic to raise concerns than to obey the authority blindly.

EDIT: Shit, misspell. Idle, if you could correct that in your quote of my statement, I would appreciate it. That misspell changes the meaning of it altogether.

[Idlethought]

I believe it is more patriotic to raise concerns then to obey the authority blindly.

My thoughts exactly

*edit* If you wanna honor the soldiers then help em out by trying to bring them back

[c-rex]

Ah yes, because our respect for the troops means we love authority and follow it blindly. You know you can support the troops with out supporting the corrupt government.

[NERD]

Ah yes, because our respect for the troops means we love authority and follow it blindly. You know you can support the troops with out supporting the corrupt government.

I believe that's what Idle was talking about.

[Quartermaster]

How the hell does honoring soldiers have to do with following authority? I want to honestly know how you made that connection.

Idlethought: I'm terribly sorry for my initial outbreak, I believed you were a troll up to no good. I'll be changing my post now.

[Idlethought]

I just dont like how theyre phrasing it I suppose. "risking their lives all over the globe defending America's interests and defending the freedoms that many of us take for granted."

I just wanna know what interests and freedoms of ours are being attacked so viciously that we have to be in a perpetual state of war is all.

[FireWolf238]

how about being alive? i grew up in isreal, it is not uncommon there to call ur relatives to find out if everyone's still ok after every suicide or other bombing

[Jon885]

So I'm supposed to be happy that theyre dying instead of me. I cant dig that its just too messed up.

*edit*Ill feel sorry for them yes. I'll think its a damn shame yes, but I still cant feel thankful that theyre where theyre not supposed to be.

One of the points I was trying to make that you missed is being grateful for a soldier enlisting in the military isn't the same as being grateful for a soldier dying in this war. I don't agree with the war in Iraq but soldiers still have my gratitude for enlisting in the military.

Feel sorry for soldiers all you want but a soldier has no use for your pity. That would probably just lower their morale.

[FireWolf238]

yea,the reason i respect soldiers is the fact that they got the guts that most of us don't. and also al the shit they go through and still stick around...even if this war is wrong, you have to respect what they deal with all the time

[akitaka]

Feel sorry for soldiers all you want but a soldier has no use for your pity. That would probably just lower their morale.
This is pretty much dead-on, though, mainly because a soldier generally doesn't understand the feeling of true fear, and dearth, until after battle. This is even more pronounced when they look for positions/status of honor, such including the "defending my country" mentality, that is easily polarized in the second that they lose a fellow soldier, or worse, have to kill an innocent, in order to vanquish the marked enemy.


yea,the reason i respect soldiers is the fact that they got the guts that most of us don't.
I remember reading a thread regarding the absolute break-down of the author's friend, who had returned from service after supposedly killing a little girl (used as a shield).

Had he known that he was supposed to do this, ahead of time, he most likely would not have enlisted. Him joining, and going through the traumatic event, is not exactly courage; it's simply a situation he was put in, as a result of his choice to join the military. When he deals with it later in a positive manner, putting his spirit back together, is when we can call him courageous.

It's easy to see a soldier as an upstanding character model, but the way that they see themselves, before and after war, change quite a bit. There's a good reason in why veteran psychiatrists exist.


==
As for the main topic of thanking a soldier, I'm indifferent. Sure, it can be mentioned that because of their enlistment, that a draft hasn't gone underway, but the present fact is that it hasn't happened. Until I'm forced to take another's life for an ambiguous cause, the feelings of sympathy won't be genuine, thus making my online submition an empty "thanks, for defending our borders".

[FireWolf238]

thnx that's actually what i meant....