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Aug. 16th, 2007
The context is important: http://stevetassie.livejournal.com/76374.html
What I said:
Our troops are out there because they are doing what they believe in.
As an American who knows a small number of troops actually in or recently in Iraq, I can say that at least our troops are doing what they are ordered to do. They believe in our country and they believe in our military and they believe in our government, but, in my limited sample size, there's a huge division as to whether or not they believe in the war in Iraq.
It's important to remember that once someone joins the military, they never do anything because they want to do it anymore. They do it because that's their job. They took up a career path that may well mean laying down their life for their country. They understand that. It does not mean they agree with any particular fight, skirmish or war that they may be involved in. It doesn't mean they don't agree, either. It just means they have a job and it's a job they believe in.
But, see, that doesn't matter.
Supporting our troops doesn't mean putting words in their mouths, or expressing what they believe in.
Supporting our troops means asking your government, every single day, if the lives it's spending are justified. Because my government and your government are run by politicians whose primary job is to get elected. I don't know about you, but I have no faith in the morals of anyone whose primary job is to win elections. What I do have faith in is that if there are people who, every single day, ask the government the hard questions, and make them answer, then maybe there will be some accountability.
Anyone who simply parrots rhetoric and believes the party line is doing themselves and their country a disservice.
What I said:
Our troops are out there because they are doing what they believe in.
As an American who knows a small number of troops actually in or recently in Iraq, I can say that at least our troops are doing what they are ordered to do. They believe in our country and they believe in our military and they believe in our government, but, in my limited sample size, there's a huge division as to whether or not they believe in the war in Iraq.
It's important to remember that once someone joins the military, they never do anything because they want to do it anymore. They do it because that's their job. They took up a career path that may well mean laying down their life for their country. They understand that. It does not mean they agree with any particular fight, skirmish or war that they may be involved in. It doesn't mean they don't agree, either. It just means they have a job and it's a job they believe in.
But, see, that doesn't matter.
Supporting our troops doesn't mean putting words in their mouths, or expressing what they believe in.
Supporting our troops means asking your government, every single day, if the lives it's spending are justified. Because my government and your government are run by politicians whose primary job is to get elected. I don't know about you, but I have no faith in the morals of anyone whose primary job is to win elections. What I do have faith in is that if there are people who, every single day, ask the government the hard questions, and make them answer, then maybe there will be some accountability.
Anyone who simply parrots rhetoric and believes the party line is doing themselves and their country a disservice.