FYI - About the impending war

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Obviously, all of you know that I'm against this war.

 

However, in respect for those troops who will likely die in this war, I will no longer engage in specific arguments about the conflict at hand. The soldiers who will be in conflict (regardless of the sentiments of myself or any other person) need our thoughts and prayers, not our disdain.

 

Regardless of your feelings, I encourage others to do the same.

 

- TM

[Guest NoCalMike]

I will always support our troops, they are doing what they have been ordered to do. What I support the most though, would be for our government & President to get our troops out of Iraq and back home ASAP. Or another way to put it, stop the stupid war before it happens.

[Guest Powerplay]

Well, I certainly respect this gesture, but I feel as long as you refrain you attacks from the soldiers themselves you can still argue that you don't believe in this war. I mean, I don't think that simply because we go into a war that you should stop believing in something. Though, again, I find this a very nice act by you. Props to you, Tyler.

[Guest Anglesault]

Obviously, all of you know that I'm against this war.

 

However, in respect for those troops who will likely die in this war, I will no longer engage in specific arguments about the conflict at hand. The soldiers who will be in conflict (regardless of the sentiments of myself or any other person) need our thoughts and prayers, not our disdain.

 

Regardless of your feelings, I encourage others to do the same.

 

- TM

Very commendable.

[Guest SP-1]

Tyler, if I were a Klingon, I would say you have gained a great Honor.

 

That's a geek way of saying I'm with you man.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

I was going to say the same thing. Now that we are certainly going to be engaged, I wholeheartedly endorse the United States and its military endeavors in Iraq. I'd taken issue with the start of a war, but once we're in it, as we will be by this time Wednesday, I'll support our forces until the end.

 

EDIT: changed my wording.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Obviously, all of you know that I'm against this war.

 

However, in respect for those troops who will likely die in this war, I will no longer engage in specific arguments about the conflict at hand. The soldiers who will be in conflict (regardless of the sentiments of myself or any other person) need our thoughts and prayers, not our disdain.

 

Regardless of your feelings, I encourage others to do the same.

 

- TM

Well said. You can second guess wars before they happen and after they are over, but while the war is one your country needs your support.

[Guest Vyce]

Young Tyler has done a great thing today.

 

I commend you. I would shake your hand if I could.

[Guest Dangerous A]

Excellent, Tyler.

 

It'll be very interesting to see the kind of posts AFTER the war is over because more data will be out and we'll see if this war was really warranted or were we just wasting our time.

[Guest phoenixrising]

Obviously, all of you know that I'm against this war.

 

However, in respect for those troops who will likely die in this war, I will no longer engage in specific arguments about the conflict at hand. The soldiers who will be in conflict (regardless of the sentiments of myself or any other person) need our thoughts and prayers, not our disdain.

 

Regardless of your feelings, I encourage others to do the same.

 

- TM

I hope everyone will echo these sentiments.

 

This coming war may or may not be needed but now the time for arguing over its merits and drawbacks is over. Our troops need to know that everyone is behind them wishing them well and to be able to return safely from the Gulf.

 

I cannot commend you enough Tyler.

[Guest Downhome]

More people should act like you, instead of the assholes who spit and throw things at our soldiers for risking their lives, so that those people CAN spit and throw things at them.

 

My hat's off to you, thank you.

[Guest DrTom]

As many other have said, definitely a commendable gesture.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Very nice, I think most of us here are in support of our troops. I am hoping this thing is short and sweet, so that they may come home alive.

[Guest Midnight Express83]

I will join you and not going against the War. Seeing as one of my cousins just signed up in the arm forces. I will support because I have family wanting to aid.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I've got buddies in every branch of the military right now. Where I grew up, if you didn't go in the military, you ended up working in a shitty factory. Sure a few went to school, but the above statement probably encompasses about 75% of my school.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

We know the war's starting now, so it only makes the most logical sense that everyone hopes it to be over quickly with the best possible outcome. I just want it to start, though, so they can get it over with. What's with this pointless prevaricating? They don't need any more support.

[Guest Slapnuts00]

Very respectable. I wish more were like you. As a senior is high school, they've already gotten the school's permission for a "walk out" on Friday at 1. Not only were kids saying they should "burn bushes" but even the liberal peacenik teachers sponsoring it were defending how great it is that they can express their opinions.

I sheepeshly say "what about supporting our troops in a time of war?" all I get is "that's not the same thing, we're protesting war not the troops".

Makes me sick, anyway Tyler you've earned my respect. No matter what your feelings, we need to support our troops, because they are risking their lives for OUR safety and I'll be damned if I'm not gonna give them the support to carry on, instead of taking snipes at our leader or participating in cowardly walkouts that serve no purpose. Rant over.

[Guest DrTom]

A fellow I work with just got called to active duty. His last day with us, for about a year, is Thursday.

 

He stood, a soldier, to the last right end,

A perfect patriot and a noble friend,

But most a virtuous son.

All offices were done

By him, so ample, full, and round

In weight in measure, number, sound,

As, though his age imperfect might appear,

His life was of humanity the sphere.

-- (Ben Jonson)

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

On another note, my absolute favorite poem ever.

 

Dulce Et Decorum Est

 

-Wilfred Owen

 

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned out backs,

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

 

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!--An ecstasy of fumbling

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime.--

Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

 

In all my dreams before my helpless sight

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

 

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs

Bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

 

 

(Dulce et Decorum est... Means "It is sweet an honorable to die for one's country."

[Guest The Hamburglar]

Yep, them WW1 poets don't exactly exalt the glory of war. Sassoon is very cynical, too. In Britain we seemingly have to study them all the time for English Literature. The First World War was really, really unpleasant.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

I've always loved Dulce et Decorum est...

[Guest Some Guy]

Obviously, all of you know that I'm against this war.

 

However, in respect for those troops who will likely die in this war, I will no longer engage in specific arguments about the conflict at hand. The soldiers who will be in conflict (regardless of the sentiments of myself or any other person) need our thoughts and prayers, not our disdain.

 

Regardless of your feelings, I encourage others to do the same.

 

- TM

So are you now in support of the war effort?

 

It seems to me that one can't be against the mission and in support of the troops at the same time.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Think about it hard, and I'm sure you'll understand.

 

Either that, or read my post carefully.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

So are you now in support of the war effort?

 

It seems to me that one can't be against the mission and in support of the troops at the same time.

Easy, I can disagree with why they're fighting, but hope that they at least get through it as safely as possible.

[Guest Brian]

Why not? We'd rather not see anyone die, and the troops are just pawns on the chess board.

[Guest Some Guy]

Not wanting to see anyone die is diferent from supporting them. to fully support the troops you must support their victory and to support victory you have to support the war effort.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Not wanting to see anyone die is diferent from supporting them. to fully support the troops you must support their victory and to support victory you have to support the war effort.

So you can't say "I didn't want us to get involved, but now that we are I hope we win"? You can back the troops while disagreeing for the REASON behind their deployment. It's the ones who say things like being a soldier is immoral (copyright pending Maine teachers and MTV Special know it alls) I take issue with.

[Guest Some Guy]

You can say that but it is a little inconsistant with your beliefs. To hope we win is to support the mission at least in some sense.

 

I agree witht the anti-soldier people.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

I agree witht the anti-soldier people

 

Then why are you yelling at me for "not showing support"?

 

Being silent in matters of this war is my little part in attempting to ensure a united home front. As judged by testimony from soldiers themselves, having support (or at least not dissent) at home helps them tremendously in regard to morale. While the protesters insure that there isn't a united front, I nonetheless insist on upholding my own promise of not adding to it.

 

Shut up, SG. Don't doubt me.