# What does "support our troops" mean, exactly? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 7, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080 "2004-10-07T19:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/21 "2004-10-07T23:29:46Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > No it means support those who have thier lives on the line regardless of your political affliation. If this was the Pit I would add the douchbag comment but I will refrain. So “Support our Troops” means… support our troops? I’d _like_ to see it interpreted as “don’t blame the military for doing their best to obey stupid orders made for political reasons”, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/22 "2004-10-08T00:36:35Z")
It’s a meritricious way to try to extort support for Bush. Essentially it plays to a false dilemma that anyone is opposed to the war must want the troops to die. It’s vicious, dishonest political bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/23 "2004-10-08T00:44:34Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I’d _like_ to see it interpreted as “don’t blame the military for doing their best to obey stupid orders made for political reasons”, myself. I can buy into that. Especially as you look further down the ranks. I’m much more concerned about the guys fighting on the ground than the generals sitting in their offices. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/24 "2004-10-08T00:45:20Z")
Or perhaps it is a sincere sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/25 "2004-10-08T00:54:23Z")
> [@Evil One](#): > > Or perhaps it is a sincere sentiment. Yes . . . suckers can be very sincere people. They’re still suckers. ---
**Author:** ![Psychodispotic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@Psychodispotic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psychodispotic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/26 "2004-10-08T00:57:09Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > So “Supp/ort our Troops” means… support our troops? > I’d _like_ to see it interpreted as “don’t blame the military for doing their best to obey stupid orders made for political reasons”, myself. Aye, aye! With the bill of goods sold to these mostly honorable sorts comprising our volunteer military, I have great empathy for their plight and can only imagine the frustration felt in chasing a basically undefined and unattainable goal. The poor bastards are kind of stuck in the muck. However, to me, the blasted yellow ribbon barrage means nothing more than the flag outbreak we experienced after 9/11/01. A sort of pseudo patriotism to give you the warm fuzzies, simultaneously dismissing the obvious call for an honest discussion on the misguided leadership our great country is exerting on the rest of the globe - or at least trying. My question becomes, “What is the best way to express support for the TROOPS, but not their demented, hubris filled order givers?” ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/27 "2004-10-08T01:21:50Z")
What it ought to mean: I do one or more of the following: I write letters to a soldier I send comfort items/care packages to a soldier I mow the lawn of a military wife whose husband is deployed I support businesses who treat their activated Nat’l Guard employees well I donate to the Red Cross’s troop support efforts I’ve written letters to my legislator about military pay snafus etc etc etc What it does mean: ?? I have no idea. For some people it means “bring them home” and for some people it means “never talk badly about the war” and for a lot of people it probably means “I’m a moral, patriotic person who never does a damn thing but I did buy this sticker. Admire me.” ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/28 "2004-10-08T01:32:16Z")
I always assumed it was an indirect way of saying “I’m a Republican”. I’ll support our troops by casting a vote to get our Douchebag in Chief out of office. ---
**Author:** ![Psychodispotic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@Psychodispotic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psychodispotic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/29 "2004-10-08T01:36:07Z")
maybe it should read: \*\*I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! \*\*_Now if we could just get a commander to not mis-lead them . . ._ ---
**Author:** ![mailman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@mailman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mailman)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/30 "2004-10-08T02:21:51Z")
To me the words “Support Our Troops” are Orwellian in the extreme. They are ambiguous in a way that makes anyone who questions the actual meaning open to being called a “douchebag,” or worse. [Rusalka, I’m not talking about you here.] I am talking about anyone who openly states that these words are a wedge designed to throw support further than just the troops. Obviously, support those who put the troops where they are, support the program, support the war. Language is powerful. Orwell knew it; get the people to mouth slogans without examining them, and you are well on your way to a totalitarian state. Yours very truly, The Douchebag ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/31 "2004-10-08T02:29:23Z")
I’m afraid that it usually means,“Support my printing company. Your guilt is my profit.” ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/32 "2004-10-08T02:49:48Z")
In my onpion, the yellow ribbins show a generic, well meaning message of support to those who are risking their lives, regardless of the motives of those in charge. The more partisan ones (my neighbor two houses down has the yard sign and the bumper sticker) say Support President Bush and our troops ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/33 "2004-10-08T05:31:23Z")
I support the troops. They take it out of my check. I don’t need no stinkin’ yellow ribbon to prove it. (Hey, check the lyrics. Yellow ribbons are about **prison,** not soldiers!) As far as I know, the troops can’t see your silly bumper sticker from Iraq, anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/34 "2004-10-08T06:58:01Z")
If you’re a Republican, “Support Our Troops” means you’re a terrorist sympathizer if you have any criticism of the administration; it means that patriotism=blind loyalty to whoever’s in charge; it means “Why do you hate America?” If you’re a Democrat, it means that you want the war in Iraq to be handled as well and as expeditiously as possible, so the soldiers who aren’t dead yet can come home before they are dead; it means, you had better have a damn good reason before you kill 1000 and more Americans and countless (certainly uncounted) more Iraqis; it means “expose Bushco’s financial and political reasons for lying about Iraq and sacrificing thousands of human lives for no valid reason.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/35 "2004-10-08T12:48:06Z")
Guy down the block from me has two signs out by his driveway entrance: “Support Our Troops” and “Kerry/Edwards for President”. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/36 "2004-10-08T12:49:15Z")
Well, actually the latter one just says “Kerry/Edwards”. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/37 "2004-10-08T13:59:01Z")
☹ As a Republican and veteran who does _not_ support our C-in-C in this folly in Iraq, I’m saddened by the partisan tone here, suggesting that I would willingly want to kill, maim and slaughter thousands of by uniformed countrymen just to make a political point and support a politician. If this is the sort of rhetoric the Democrats are coming up with, I won’t be voting for Kerry/Edwards either. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/38 "2004-10-08T14:24:35Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > …I’m saddened by the partisan tone here, suggesting that I would willingly want to kill, maim and slaughter thousands of my uniformed countrymen just to make a political point and support a politician. I’m very puzzled. Which post do you believe makes such a suggestion? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/39 "2004-10-08T14:31:02Z")
Ditto. It seems, rather, if there is a partisan slant here, that Kerry/Edwards supporters suspect “support our troops” means “support our President”. IOW, it actually has little to do with our troops in particular, and more to do with their Commander. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/40 "2004-10-08T14:33:01Z")
> [@bughunter](#): > > “I an unable to draw a distinction between criticism of the rationale for going to war and lack of sympathy for the poor sods who have to fight it. Therefore if you criticise our commander in chief, I shall interpret it as a sign of disrespect for my son/daughter/freind/neighbor/casual acquaintance who is deployed east of the Greenwich Meridian and, by extension, a direct insult to me and my political beliefs. So shut up and move to France if you don’t like it.” Seldom have I seen the nail hit so squarely on the head. This is exactly what I think someone means when I see someone displaying a Support Our Troops bumper sticker. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080.md?page=3)