I was reading a post to Black Five's blog the other day about what he calls “Clueless” mail rather than “Hate” mail. It's a http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2990165 letter from a Joan Mackie Ochoa and you can decide for yourself how you would classify it. After she spends a paragraph running down President Bush and letting us, the military know that we are all “brainwashed”, she states that she supports us.
I've been stewing on this for a while and it's taken me a little while to separate all the self-contradicting statements but it made me start thinking about what it means to “Support Our Troops”.
Like one of the many people who left comments this post on Black Five's blog, I wonder just how it is that Ms. Mackie-Ochoa has been supporting the troops. Has she been sending care packages to troops in Iraq or making donations to Soldiers Angels, Books for Troops, Toys for Iraq or any number of other charitable operations that support deployed troops or their mission, sadly, I think not. I may be wrong, but I think Ms. Mackie-Ochoa just came to the blinding epiphany that war is bad, assigned blame at the top (because that doesn't require the effort of research and the forming of an independent opinion), then considering herself intellectually enlightened, attempts to lend credibility to her statements by blithely throwing out that she supports all of us brainwashed lemmings sent to fetch riches for the president.
Enough about her, I don't like to take up space in this blog reacting to someone’s caustic, ignorant ramblings but it was necessary as a contrasting segue to a true shining example of support that I came across.
I ran across this article http://www.glenwoodindependent.com/article/20050821/VALLEYNEWS/108210010 in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent yesterday. Having grown up in
<p>This is what “Supporting Our Troops” looks like instead of just paying lip service to it. Each of these organizations didn't contribute much but what they gave collectively, means the world to a troop and their family who have endured months of separation and hardship.
If you have the time and inclination, please take a few moments to let these people know their support is appreciated.
Roaring Fork Outfitters - http://www.rfoutfitters.com/
Vicki Lee Green Realtors - http://www.vlgrealtors.com/
Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge and Pool - http://www.hotspringspool.com/
Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company - http://www.thehoteldenver.com/brewpub.html
8 comments:
I traded a few e-mails with our Joanie. I guess it would be energy better spent to thank the people who really do support you guys. Thanks for posting this.
Suellen
This article was a good wakeup call. Just because we may "support the troops" by keeping them in mind and empathizing, empathy and thoughts don't give soldiers letters, cards books or other care material.
I've participated in some of these programs but the inconvienences we experience are nothing compared to the soldiers' in the desert. We can always do more!
This article has instilled, for me at least, a renewed need to give more.
"Support the troops" for some means supporting you guys as innocent victims of the carlysle group, hailburton and of course the "jewish cabal" as referenced by Cindy Sheehan.
Been sending packages for almost 2 years via operation ac and soldiers angels.
Does it count if you don't have the money for these things to try to cheer up the troops on the blog and champion their rights, etc.
I am on retirement disability. I often feel bad because I can't do these things. So I go to support forums and try to help out. I go to different blogs and try to give a thank you or sometimes a gentle foot when needed.
And, though I am not as good a writer as some, I try to speak out on the injustices on benefits, morale, etc. I do occasionally write a poem for a soldier. So far they have deleted them,lol, but I often wonder why. In any event, my heart and soul are in the right place, just not my wallet, sigh!
You are right..... I have tried to support the mby setting up a website dedicated to the *REAL* American Soldier.............
http://choosetheright.com/americansoldier/
whoops...
http://choosetheright.org/americansoldier/
You know, after reading this, I guess I don't support our troops. Running down Bush is bad? Killing people is good? I'll pass.
You guys signed up, you kill thousands of innocent people because some nitwit sends you off on a senseless mission and you support the guy. Have fun. You deserve it.
Can't let anonymous have the last word. I typed up a response, then erased, better to ignore. Ugh.
Here is how I hope to really support the troops. My three sons 6,4, and 2, will grow up to understand that the highest calling and most noble profession is that of the American soldier.
My hope is that I am able to travel with them someday, to a stable, prosperous Kabul or Baghdad toshow them what American soldiers fought and died for.
I should probably find some more ways to show my appreciation though.
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