Support our Troops?

Skoob · #1 02-14-2007, 02:05 PM

There are many who say they support the troops but they don't support the war.

Aren't these two sentiments mutually exclusive?

The US millitary is a voluntary millitary. In essence, recruits agree that the war is necessary. Anyone who has signed up during the past 5 years (at least) knows that it's very likely they will be fighting somewhere in the Mid East. They are volunteering to go to war.

How can a person support someone who volunteers to fight a war while decrying the war itself?

reb · #2 02-14-2007, 02:34 PM

Soldiers of a war are not always told the real basis of the war. I respect the soldiers fighting in Iraq for example who truly believes they are doing something for the greater good of humanity simply because they are fighting on this basis, but I despise the war itself for obvious reasons.

MyNameIsSamSnead · #3 02-14-2007, 03:52 PM

I think that when the troops volunteer to serve in the US military, there is an assumption that the government has some air-tight reasoning behind going to war (which should always be a last resort) and would only put the troops in harm's way if absolutely neccesary. Unfortunately, since a decent percentage of troops are made up of poor, uneducated young men....I would assume that some of them still believe that we had/have air-tight reasoning behind this war.

Also, I doubt that the majority of the troops thought that they would be returning to Iraq again and again on multiple tours.

jesusarenque · #4 02-14-2007, 04:40 PM

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The US millitary is a voluntary millitary.

[/ QUOTE ]

False.

runner4life7 · #5 02-14-2007, 04:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The US millitary is a voluntary millitary.

[/ QUOTE ]

False.

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good argument, care to elaborate or just make wild claims?

jesusarenque · #6 02-14-2007, 04:51 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The US millitary is a voluntary millitary.

[/ QUOTE ]

False.

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good argument, care to elaborate or just make wild claims?

[/ QUOTE ]

1. They get paid.
2. They cannot leave anytime they want.

Yes, they weren't forced to sign up, but doctors and lawyers and ditchdiggers aren't forced to choose those jobs either. Is every employed person in the USA a "volunteer?"

Skoob · #7 02-14-2007, 04:53 PM

I'm somewhat surprised this was moved from SMP to politics. The war is a political issue, but I was more concerned with a philosphy that seemed oxymoronic. But, hey, whatevs...

Farfenugen · #8 02-14-2007, 04:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
1. They get paid.
2. They cannot leave anytime they want.

Yes, they weren't forced to sign up, but doctors and lawyers and ditchdiggers aren't forced to choose those jobs either. Is every employed person in the USA a "volunteer?"

[/ QUOTE ]

I love it when people feel free to redefine words when the traditional definition doesn't fit their view of the world.

Noun 1. military volunteer - (military) a person who freely enlists for service

Skoob · #9 02-14-2007, 04:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, they weren't forced to sign up, but doctors and lawyers and ditchdiggers aren't forced to choose those jobs either. Is every employed person in the USA a "volunteer?"

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but each person who enlists made a free decision for that occupation as opposed to another one. "Voluntary" in this context does not mean work for nothing. It means that enlistments aren't forced. Everyone has a choice whether or not to sign up and go fight.

But back on topic...

I support the warrior but not the war?

I declare war on my neighbor and go to fight him. My wife says, "I can respect and appreciate what you're doing, but what you're doing is all wrong."

How does this make sense?

jesusarenque · #10 02-14-2007, 04:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
1. They get paid.
2. They cannot leave anytime they want.

Yes, they weren't forced to sign up, but doctors and lawyers and ditchdiggers aren't forced to choose those jobs either. Is every employed person in the USA a "volunteer?"

[/ QUOTE ]

I love it when people feel free to redefine words when the traditional definition doesn't fit their view of the world.

Noun 1. military volunteer - (military) a person who freely enlists for service

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm redefining words? Really? I think I am using a pretty well-accepted definition of the word "volunteer." It seems to me that your definition of "military volunteer" is redefining the word "volunteer."