# To those of you who say I'm not supporting the troops... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700 "2003-04-01T14:05:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/1 "2003-04-01T14:05:39Z")
FUCK YOU. I’m not against the troops, I’m against the war. It is not mentioned in the constitution that I have to shut the hell up once a war starts. I am against the war, I am not going to be yelling “Baby killers” when I see a soldier. If I don’t agree with the war or if I don’t honk at a “support our troops” group on the side of the war I’m automatically against the troops. Just because there are no “Pro war” rallies, only “support our troops” rallies doesn’t mean that if I don’t wave I’m against the war. I AM SUPPORTING MY TROOPS, I AM NOT SUPPORTING THE WAR. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/2 "2003-04-01T14:11:08Z")
Why do you hate America so much? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/3 "2003-04-01T14:23:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clayton\_e \* > \*\* I AM SUPPORTING MY TROOPS, I AM NOT SUPPORTING THE WAR. \*\* If you have troops, you gotta support them. I wish _I_ had troops… ---
**Author:** ![Creative\_Munster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Creative\_Munster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creative_Munster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/4 "2003-04-01T14:26:17Z")
My thoughts exactly, yojimbo. He must be some Saddam loving commie. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/5 "2003-04-01T14:29:28Z")
I’d say he even has a poster of the big S on his wall 😃 Oh and as I said in another thread I support the troops so much I’m very angry that arrogant lying bastards are putting these people’s lives on the line. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/6 "2003-04-01T14:34:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimbo \* > \*\*Why do you hate America so much? \*\* Classic, my man, classic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/7 "2003-04-01T14:36:48Z")
If you love Saddam Hussein so much, why don’t you marry him? Huh? Why don’t you just admit that you’re in love with him and you want to kiss him? Cue organ music: _Do you, **clayton\_e** , take this man Saddam Hussein to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health?_ I think you do! You Saddam-lover, you! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/8 "2003-04-01T14:38:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*If you love Saddam Hussein so much, why don’t you marry him? Huh? Why don’t you just admit that you’re in love with him and you want to kiss him? Cue organ music: > > _Do you, **clayton\_e** , take this man Saddam Hussein to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health?_ > > I think you do! You Saddam-lover, you! \*\* I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Saddam is already taken. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/9 "2003-04-01T14:39:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clayton\_e \* > I’m not against the troops, I’m against the war. This comment is not meant personally, **clayton\_e**. Many people feel as you do. Still, I cannot understand what it means to support the troops, but oppose what they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/10 "2003-04-01T14:42:08Z")
[Bill Hicks] I was in the unenviable position of being _for_ the war, but _against_ the troops. [/Bill Hicks] ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/11 "2003-04-01T14:42:14Z")
Move to Canada, you un-American hippie. Or Commiehippiestan. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/12 "2003-04-01T14:45:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\*This comment is not meant personally, **clayton\_e**. Many people feel as you do. Still, I cannot understand what it means to support the troops, but oppose what they’re doing. \*\* This lack of empathy seems to permeate a lot of conservative thinking. He means (correct me if I’m wrong) that he appreciates the enormous sacrifices that the individuals in the armed forces are making - nominally in support of their country - without supporting the polticial decisions that put them there. That isn’t so hard to understand, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/13 "2003-04-01T14:49:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\*This comment is not meant personally, clayton\_e. Many people feel as you do. Still, I cannot understand what it means to support the troops, but oppose what they’re doing. \*\* Don’t spin, **december** , that’s a very unfortunate way to phrase it. You can support the troops (as in: “I support the US military, whom I consider brave professionals acting out a dangerous and often necessary duty”) whilst at the same time objecting to the _political_ decision to engage in a particular war, say Gulf War 2.0. Anti-war people who support the troops aren’t opposing what the troops are _doing_ - it’s the military’s job to carry out the commands from higher up. They oppose those higher up political commands. Seriously, what is so difficult about that? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/14 "2003-04-01T14:55:04Z")
Hmm, very similar to something I’ve been wanting to post for a couple of weeks: Listen, assbomb. I was born in Iowa. When I was seven I moved to New York State. When I was 18 I moved to Boston, the cradle of Freedom. Except for a few trips to Niagara Falls, I’ve never been outside of this country, you fucknose. I have a valid MA driver’s license. I vote. I pay taxes. I speak English. I love my mom, I love hot dogs, I love apple pie, and I can almost nearly tolerate baseball. Listen up you fucking war-mongering syphilitic hermaphrodite – I. Am. An. American. Just because I don’t support the war does not make me French or Russian or fucking Botswanan. Just because I think Bush is a pus-filled rodent doing an imitation of Bozo the False President doesn’t mean my vote counts less than yours (although it doesn’t count for much, apparently). I. Am. A. Fuh. King. American. And if you insist I am not, I expect to be excused from my taxes from now on, you jingoistic pig porker. Oh, and another thing. Yes, I realize that countless US soldiers paid for my free speech with their blood. I realize that my precious freedoms cost American lives. I am not dishonoring them by excercizing those rights. You, however, by insisting that I shut up and fall in line, DO dishonor them. You rectumhead. Whew, that fealed real good. ---
**Author:** ![Creative\_Munster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Creative\_Munster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creative_Munster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/15 "2003-04-01T14:59:03Z")
Then you got types like OliverH who seem to not mind at all if our soldiers die. Like they deserve it for being there. I can’t even begin debating with the bastard because his responses are so ludricous. Maybe I should have opened up a new thread for this. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/16 "2003-04-01T15:03:02Z")
“Support the troops” is a euphemism, I think. “Pro-war” is a distasteful term to many, just like “anti-choice” or “pro-abortion”, so they say “support the troops” instead. It sounds better, and they can accuse those who do not support the war of not “supporting the troops”, which, of course, sounds like a bad thing. There was one asshat standing on a footbridge over the interstate this weekend who cut to the chase. His sign read “Give War A Chance”. I suppose I should respect him for his honesty. :rolleyes: You can turn this back on them, of course. After all, you can support the troops as human beings, and work for peace so that they can come home safely. You can be angry at their commander-in-chief, as I am, for abusing his power and putting their lives at risk for a dubious cause. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/17 "2003-04-01T15:12:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tdn \* > \*\*Listen, assbomb. I was born in Iowa. When I was seven I moved to New York State. When I was 18 I moved to Boston, the cradle of Freedom. Except for a few trips to Niagara Falls, I’ve never been outside of this country, you fucknose. I have a valid MA driver’s license. I vote. I pay taxes. I speak English. I love my mom, I love hot dogs, I love apple pie, and I can almost nearly tolerate baseball. > > Listen up you fucking war-mongering syphilitic hermaphrodite – I. Am. An. American. Just because I don’t support the war does not make me French or Russian or fucking Botswanan. Just because I think Bush is a pus-filled rodent doing an imitation of Bozo the False President doesn’t mean my vote counts less than yours (although it doesn’t count for much, apparently). > > I. Am. A. Fuh. King. American.[/SIZE] \*\* Then why don’t you go back to Iraq and live with your butt-buddy Saddam? Huh, Mr. I-love-Saddam-Hussein? > [@](#): > > **Oh, and another thing. Yes, I realize that countless US soldiers paid for my free speech with their blood. I realize that my precious freedoms cost American lives. I am not dishonoring them by excercizing those rights. You, however, by insisting that I shut up and fall in line, DO dishonor them.** When is somebody going to put a stop to you anti-American types and your seditious propaganda? What you don’t seem to understand is that countless US soldiers paid for your free speech with their blood. Don’t you realize that your precious freedoms cost American lives? ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/18 "2003-04-01T15:22:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamex \* > **"Support the troops" is a euphemism, I think. “Pro-war” is a distasteful term to many, just like “anti-choice” or “pro-abortion”, so they say “support the troops” instead. It sounds better, and they can accuse those who do not support the war of not “supporting the troops”, which, of course, sounds like a bad thing.** BINGO. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/19 "2003-04-01T15:27:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > **Then why don’t you go back to Iraq and live with your butt-buddy Saddam? Huh, Mr. I-love-Saddam-Hussein?** Tried it. It didn’t work out. He would leave dirty socks on the floor. He never did the dishes. His toenail clippings were all over the coffee table. And he was always putting the neighbors through plastic shredders. Let’s face it, the man was a SLOB. Then why do I still miss him? ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700/20 "2003-04-01T15:28:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > What you don’t seem to understand is that countless US soldiers paid for your free speech with their blood. Don’t you realize that your precious freedoms cost American lives? Damn straight. If it wasn’t for brave American patriots fighting against British tryanny you’d all be speaking English now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-of-you-who-say-im-not-supporting-the-troops/165700.md?page=2)