anti-war prtesting

[KEVWYO]

So guys and Etta () ... I am having some serious cognitive dissonance issues with the anti-war protesting I saw today. I am sure what I saw today has been repeated in nearly every community across the country to varying degrees. As my wife and I passed by the federal courthouse in Eugene, Oregon today there was a rather large and vocal but apparently well behaved protest (cops were very relaxed). I am on this forum record as being no fan of Bush or the Iraq war and so one would expect me to side with the protest and it's participants today.

On the one hand it made me proud that we live in a country that allows this and it's participants need not worry about being killed or abused at the hands of the government unlike protestors in Tibet who do have to worry about such reprisals right now as an example. On the other hand though I was also embarrassed by the protest. The protest seemed to not be able to make the distinction between horrible policy on the part of the government and the fact that our troops are where they are at becasue it's their duty and job and are there not of their own choice. Taunts and signs were made between those who held signs saying "support our troops" and "stop the war".

So on the one hand I am able to intellectually side with the anti-war protestors I find it "uncomfortable" for lack of a better way to describe my feelings in regards to how that protesting is done and how it doesn't seem to seperate policy from troops.

Would it be a back handed compliment or an insult if a sign said "I support our troops even though they are the tools in carrying out inept foreign policy"?

[Delija]

Originally Posted by KEVWYO

Would it be a back handed compliment or an insult if a sign said "I support our troops even though they are the tools in carrying out inept foreign policy"?

As a combat veteran, I would not have been insulted at all with such a sign. Because that is how I thought of myself - and most of us who were drafted at the time I was felt the same.

But I'm not so sure this would not be an "insult' of sorts to those who volunteered. My guess is that you would get mixed reactions.

The military is pretty good at indoctrination..(maybe you know first hand, maybe not).....guys that are in get pretty gung-ho about their assignments. Basic training and A school, AIT, whatever it's called these days is about physical training and mental toughness- leads to a strong belief in the chain of command and the fact that they are always doing the right thing for our country as long as they follow orders.

Of course there are always exceptions and there are guys that lose their motivation for one reason or another...seeing friends killed, stop losses, plain 'burn-out', etc.

Actually we see it here on XDTalk pretty regularly. Just say "Support our troops....bring them home to safety'" (or something to that effect) and you'll see how much of an uproar that can cause among the supporters of the war. And of course you'll have your share of those that agree.

This being a gun forum .....logical to expect a more "hawkish' general sentiment than among the general population.

A year or so ago I wanted to see if I could measure the sentiment....here's the results:

Poll, War in Iraq

peace,
D.

[Frenchy]

As a Nam vet, I had no problem with protesters that were able to separate the policy from the troops.
Another problem I have is flag burning. While I support their right to do it, their reasons are bogus. The flag symbolizes our nation, not the government and it's policies.
I suggest that if they want to burn something, try this...

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Yes, protesters who can't make the distinction between the troops and the policy makers are morons.

Just like the protesters who spit on soldiers.

Just like the ones at Berkeley who imply that the soldiers are murderers and try to kick out their recruiting office.

Just like the far-left blogs who call our soldiers murderers on a daily basis.

Just like Jack Murtha who claims that our soldiers purposefully kill innocent civilians in cold blood.

I've got no problem with war protesters who can make the distinction. The ones who can't just make it easier for the pro-war crowd, who can point at them and say..."See, all the war protesters hate the country and they hate the soldiers."

Frank

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Originally Posted by Delija

A year or so ago I wanted to see if I could measure the sentiment....here's the results:

Poll, War in Iraq

peace,
D.

That is one of my all-time favorite threads!

Thanks for helping me bring it to light again.

Frank

[Judge]

there is a way to respectfully express dissent from the policy without disparaging the troops or their mission. Unfortunately, most 'anti-war' folks, including some on here, don't understand or care about that distinction.

[Delija]

Originally Posted by Judge

there is a way to respectfully express dissent from the policy without disparaging the troops or their mission. Unfortunately, most 'anti-war' folks, including some on here, don't understand or care about that distinction.

Really? Can you give any examples? I would be very interested to see if you can come up with one solitary example of the 'some on here" assertion.

Thanks,

D.

[Delija]

Originally Posted by FrankRizzoXD40

That is one of my all-time favorite threads!

Thanks for helping me bring it to light again.

Glad I could accommodate you. I would hope that maybe instead of gloating again about the polls results that perhaps you actually read my opening post this time around. It was not (IMO) at all contentious. I gave my very clearly stated reasons of exactly what motivated me to start the poll.

Thanks in advance for the consideration.

Peace,
D.

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Originally Posted by Delija

Glad I could accommodate you. I would hope that maybe instead of gloating again about the polls results that perhaps you actually read my opening post this time around. It was not (IMO) at all contentious. I gave my very clearly stated reasons of exactly what motivated me to start the poll.

Thanks in advance for the consideration.

Peace,
D.

I've read it many times and I've already commented on it in that thread.

You should re-read the thread.

Thanks,

Frank

[ichy_trigger]

The protest seemed to not be able to make the distinction between horrible policy on the part of the government and the fact that our troops are where they are at becasue it's their duty and job and are there not of their own choice.

Sorry to burst your bubble but every soldier in the military these days is there on their own free will. With as long as this war has been going on, I dont think enyone joins thinking they may not go to war. You speak as though soldiers have no choice, everyone one of us that has served, raised our own hand and spoke the immortal words from our own lips. Thats what makes this country so great, people are willing to do what others fear to do so that others are able to march around with their signs and talk about what they THINK the soldiers are feeling.