# 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:** 2\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/81 "2004-10-14T07:01:14Z")
I don’t support the troops. It’s not so much hostility as a lack of interest. I’m pretty much indifferent to the fate of any man so indifferent to his own life as to join a standing army. Oh, you’re not indifferent to your own life? Could have fooled me. You chose to give your life up for a rich man’s cause, before you ever knew what that specific cause would be. You’ve already dehumanized yourself. I have no obligation to notice you or think about you one way or another. Deserters, on the other hand, I support sincerely. The awakening of a human consciousness is a beautiful thing. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080/82 "2004-10-14T07:05:24Z")
(Actually, I do sympathize with members of the military, & have several friends serving now. That was a bit of “devil’s advocate.” Really, though, I see “support our troops” as code for “support the war” if it’s to have much meaning at all. And I’m under no obligation to agree with administration policy.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-support-our-troops-mean-exactly/268080.md?page=4)