Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink and groups of that sort have received a lot of publicity recently in the media and in the blogosphere, and I must admit that I haven’t commented much because I figured that many other people had done so more eloquently than I could have.

However, when these lefty groups and people claim to "support the troops, but not the war," it really makes me wonder just how it is they do that?

Do they dishonor and sneer at Navy Cross and Silver Star winners? Do they stand outside hospitals and mock wounded heroes? Do they compare our troops with Hitler and Pol Pot?

Apparently so.

They also like to claim that military people are duped into enlisting; or perhaps that men and women enlist for the benefits of travel and education, and that they are completely caught off-guard when called to serve in a war. I’ve read statements that our troops are stupid, that they are vicious, that they are losing, that they are poorly supplied, and all manner of false accusations and assertions.

Gee, that’s really the way to support our troops, guys! Obviously, you haven’t checked out the military blogs - where real military people, with real military experience, do real reporting about real heroes who have been-there-done-that.

Have you blind pessimists read Michael Yon? Have you stopped by to read Chrenkoff’s good news from Afghanistan and Iraq? How about Black Five, Winds of Change, Armor Gedden, Austin Bay, Small Town Veteran, and many others?

These bloggers, and many on their blogrolls, tell the real story of our men and women in uniform. They tell the stories of honor, bravery, and perseverance. They report the news of heroism, compassion, and dedication. They report the tragedies in context, and they present the good the bad and the ugly from people who have lived the war first hand.

You know what I find in those MilBlogs? I find decent men and women doing a hard job. I find people I would be honored to have as neighbors. I see trustworthy warriors dealing with set-backs and delays, determined to win the victory. I also see men and women sacrificing to serve our country and its people.

Do you really want to support the military? Go support Soldiers’ Angels, the Wounded Warrior Project, the USO, volunteer in a VA hospital, buy a military family lunch…

Look into the eyes of a service member and say, "Thank you!"

Give our men and women in uniform the respect and honor they deserve so well.

That would truly be "supporting our troops."

Crossposted to CatHouse Chat

Said Romeocat @ 10:06 am | Permalink   

1. “Support for the troops” is not defined by the intent.

   It is defined by the result.

   Comment by jcrue — 8/30/2005 @ 10:49 am

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2. Interesting you should say that; the Bible verse “By their fruit you shall know them” (paraphrased) kept running through the back of my mind.

   Gee, I wonder why?

   Comment by Romeocat — 8/30/2005 @ 10:52 am

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3. Because there is truth in both.

   Comment by jcrue — 8/30/2005 @ 10:57 am

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4. Glad you posted about this. Very good.

   Comment by THIRDWAVEDAVE — 8/31/2005 @ 9:32 am

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