people say lets support the troops! but do they really?

The American Public, in general, are, as you say apathetic. They are also self-centered, spoiled, lazy, and irresponsible. While I'm sure some people who fly the flag from little plastic standards stuck in their car windows, who sport those little plastic magnetic stickers, really do support the military and it's mission, I hold those demonstrations of support in low esteem because, as has been posted, so many think that's all that's required.

I've heard some say things like, "My grandfather fought in WWII so I don't have to fight." These people go to the local MacDonald's and plop down a dollar for a bag containing 10 cents worth of potatoes and a nickel worth of grease. They do it day after day. So have hundreds of others before and after them. Yet they seem to see no reason for telling the cashier that they've spent about $100 in the last year for a bag of potatoes and a gallon of grease, and that you should get some for free. They seem to value the fries more than their freedom.

Why is that? Because MacDonald's makes them pay the price BEFORE they get the fries.

It's been said that freedom isn't free. It's been neglected that the price will never be paid in full and that every generation is responsible for paying its installment. When there was a draft, everybody knew the bill was there and had to be paid. The draft isn't a sword of Damocles hanging over the head of every person to strike terror into his or her heart. It's merely a note in the mail saying that there's a bill to be paid and each of us has to pay something. Don't want to take a life? Become a medic so you can save them rather than end them. Scared to fight? Minimum 10 years in the Peace Corps with practically no pay or benefits, or chance of advancement. Those are reserved for those who are willing to risk their lives for their country. But at least, with the Peace Corps, they wouldn't have to fight. But for crying out loud, DO SOMETHING.

So what do I do? Well I spent 25 years in the Navy. I realize it's not "politically correct," but when I see morons, like the city of Berkeley, pretend to support but, in fact, trash the military, I make my displeasure known to them. I wrote a letter to the mayor. I also sent a copy to my Congressman and to a couple of friends in the Navy League. I suggested that the government withdraw any monetary support from the city, and not to make contracts with anybody doing business in the city. I heard recently that a developer did exactly that. With a stroke of his pen, the guy pulled probably half a billion of revenue from the city.

I also try to counsel people joining the military. I tell them the facts of life about the military -- that it's not like the movies, that it's not a regular 9-5 job, that a "bad day at the office" may be one where you see a buddy get killed. I try to dissuade kids from joining for the benefits.

When OIF began I wasn't much over 60 yet -- at least I was too young for Social Security, so I volunteered to come out of retirement. I was told there was a problem with my records. My birth certificate has a 1940 date on it. I told them that maybe I wasn't as spry as was about 50 years earlier, but I was still in pretty good shape and maybe I could take a bullet for a younger kid so he could keep fighting. No good. Since then I've heard they reactivated some old goats about my age to help logistics. So the only reason I'm at home and not in Iraq is that I've never stuffed stuff into planes and warehouses.

So I sit at home and talk to the guys and gals in the sandbox. I've lost a couple. I've held a kid's hand most of one night because he heard his brother's outfit had come under fire and that there was a casualty. We found out it was a buddy, but at least not his brother.

I was online with a guy who was in the same line of work I was in. He asked me how I knew his specialty. I told him that I saw a picture of him and would rather have him standing beside me in a fight rather than across from me. Actually, I recognized some of the background in the picture. One day he said, "Have to go. You know that means." I assured him that he had a tough job to do, and he was doing it well. My last words to him were, "Take care." That's the last I heard from him.

I try to lighten the load. I give a couple of them surf reports. I remind them that due to budget cuts only the bottom of the board is Kevlar, and that they should use the desert camouflage wax -- the only problem with that wax is that when the board washes ashore, it disappears. Usually the surf is waaay out, it's a long walk, and that sand's hot. In turn, I'm able to get a good look at how things are really going over there. I was talking to one kid and I mentioned that the latest kill ration I'd heard was 20 to 1. He said he was save because in his AO they couldn't find 20 dumb enough to try anything.

I visit old guys (yeah, there are some older than I am) in rest homes. I've buried a couple of WWII vets and a Korean Vet last year. A local VA home is going to open a wing to the guys coming back from the sandbox with baggage to help them learn to cope with it.

On Veterans Day and Memorial Day I spend a few minutes in church and then walk about 2 miles to the cemetery and spend some time with the guys who've done the deed before me. I stop at each site marked with a flag and tell the guy thanks. Some of the flags get blown down so I set them up. It only takes a few hours. Then I walk back to the church with the prayer that one day, when my time comes, I'll be able to serve along side them.

I give those who pretend to be able to "support the troops, but not the war" an incredibly hard time. I've found documents and links and posts that refute most of the protesters' arguments.

But, other than that, I guess not a whole lot.

Remember when the war was in full swing and everyone was up in arms about what has happen and the war was fresh in everyone minds. It was all about support the troops and and damn the government and G.W.Bush for doing this and Blah Blah Blah.

People were supporting the troops because it was fresh in everyone minds but now as the war has dragged on and on people are forgetting that the war is even on and when reminded about it. It's like "Oh yeah that's right people are dying and getting maimed, better get back to Oprah and watch some moronic twit jump up and down on a chair". That is because it does not affect them. So when it does not affect people, they could not care less about it, but when it does then you will hear about it. So what you are saying is yes society as a whole apathetic to anything outside their little universe.

I am an army wife and just survived my husband's first deployment. I have no problem with Americans being at the mall, I went to the mall while he was deployed. My probl;em is when people protest against the troops , treat them poorly , insult them , call them baby killers and other horrible things. That is wrong. The people who fought in Vietnam were treated poorly when they came home and sadly the same thing is happening again. I am sick of the whole I support the troops and then the insults start coming. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS !!! Be behind them , that is all they really want!!!

Think of this as a good thing. I am a Marine wife, going through a deployment so I know it can be frustrating at times to think of the civilians as being fake. But in their hearts they probably do support our troops. Isn't the whole reason they are overseas, because of America's freedom and well being? What exactly can they be "willing" to do to show their support? I'm sure our troops overseas would be happy to know that what they are doing is protecting the right for people to go to the mall. Sure people probably take it for granted a bit, but their civilians living in America, they have the freedom to shop as they please and I'm sure they thank all the soldiers for it. :) Put your heart and mind at ease, and be happy that they can go to the mall..

Society has actually gotten soft with the current generation after Vietnam. I make this statement based on the fact that people do not have the stomach for war and do not believe in war like they stood by their soldiers in WWII and did not question every little thing.

People in this country are afraid to fight and really do not have any idea about who is defending their freedom. I think re-enacting the draft would help that. As most of the country needs to stand up and defend this country, it's not just for certain people it's for everyone. I think that would change a lot for a lot of people if they had relatives that were directly involved.

A couple of good books to read are:

Keeping Faith and Faith of Our Sons by Frank and John Schaeffer

AWOL by Frank Schaeffer

That might shed a lot of light on the subject for you.

During major holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas) we have had unaccompanied airmen at our home. That practice began in November of 1985 when we moved into our current home. Long before any attack on America or Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom every got underway.

Most of those in the "Petey Patriot Platoon" would not have given the time of day to a man or woman in uniform on September 10, 2001. Sad, but true. Equally sad is the utter lack of any expression of compassion and concern by the members of the "Bleeding Heart Brigade" who bemoan our current deaths but were oblivious to those deaths when 7,500 died between 1993 and 2001.

To me, both sides are standing on the corpses of our honored dead and using it as some macabre platform to advance their own political agendas.

The simple truth is that neither side cared on September 10, 2001. It would stretch the limits of credulity for them to change their behavior after that date.

People don't care like they used to because it is old news. We are at the age of where men and women both pace in front of the microwave waiting for the popcorn to finish. People today only care about what they have going on, like you said. If it doesn't affect them directly, they could care less. All they know is that gas prices are going up.. that's it. I personally care about the war. I'm in the U.S. Air Force and I'll do anything I can to protect this country. It's my duty, I swore to it and I will hold strong until the end.

For the most part, the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan do not touch the lives of the American population in any significant manner.

Also, how does the average civilian support the troops? What can they do?

If life goes on for the average civilian, I'm okay with that. That means the extremists have not been effective in affecting our way of life.

So go ahead and go to the mall. I don't mind.

Because this war has not taxed the public on a personal level. Don't look at it as a negative. If democrat would have had their way the American people would have been made to suffer. Besides, most Americans are fiercely proud of each and every one of our troop. Unfortunately the traitors among us thrive in the media.

Many people claim to support the troops, but in reality do little more than buy a 2 dollar bumper sticker. It's as if they believe "supporting the troops" is a state of mind rather than positive action.

the only time people seam to care, is when 1 of their own is killed, then you see them all over the news. Just like from ever other war, they are coming home sick and then become "throw aways", and most get no help at all. NO one is taking about the Gulf War vets who are sick and dying and their families are also ill. hmmmmm

yesterdays news... no one really cares