I hear this all the time.
I'm against the war, but I support our troops.
Listen.
I do not support the troops.
The only way for the war machine to stop is if we get rid of the cogs. The troops are the cogs. "I'm following orders" cannot be an excuse for participants in an unjust military campaign. If you enlisted in the military but do not agree with the war than it is your duty to lay down your arms. It is your duty NOT to obey the orders. It is your duty to go to jail for what you believe in. We who did not enlist have the luxury of writing blogs about our convictions and feeling we have done something - you with the rifles do not have that luxury. That is the price you pay for your decision to be all that you can be. Imagine the same excuse being used by Germans during World War Two and you can understand why. If the soldiers who forced the Jews into the camps had refused the orders then we would have had a very different situation in Europe fifty years ago. War cannot be waged without soldiers. As it grows increasingly clear that the Executive branch of our government considers itself above the laws of this nation and as long as our Congress and the Judicary refuse to challenge that assumption, the only way to put an end to our global imperialism is if the tools of our military refuse to operate.
The only troops I support are the troops who refuse to fight.
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2 comments:
The only reason you're free to say whatever, do whatever, and go wherever you want today is because our troops DO fight. If freedom isn't worth fighting for what is?? If someone punches you in the nose, running away crying won't prevent them from doing it again, and again, whenever the mood strikes them. Of course hiding is the simplest and easiest way out, but who wants to hide their whole lives? I know I don't, AND I WON'T!
Freedom is, of course, worth fighting for. However, the ongoing campaign in Iraq has nothing to do with freedom - neither our own or the that of the Iraqi people. Iraq posed no immediate threat to this nation and it is increasingly apparent that this administration knew that prior to waging war. The threat to this country is simply exacerbated by this type of imperialistic behavior which only fuels the fires of U.S. hatred abroad by confirming beliefs about our global intentions.
I believe that the lives of the men and women who have offerred to defend our freedom by joining the military are not lives to be wasted. I believe that our government should not be so cavalier with these people, who, more often than not, represent the working class of America - that class which benefits least from the war profteering escapades of our rulers. It is clear by the actions of this administration (which is comprised of many who opted not to serve when given the chance) that they do not value the lives of our soldiers. They will offer them as cannon fodder if it means securing U.S. corporate interests or a particular ideological agenda, even if the actual risk to our nation is unclear at best. By doing so, not only are innocent and noble lives wasted, but this administration actually increases the risks to our freedom from the forces we have yet to engage.
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