What's the appropriate response when the troops come home?

[IkeWarnedUs]

I live about a block from a National Guard Armory. As I was coming home just now I saw a huge gathering at the Armory. The fire department is hanging an enormous flag across the street. New crews all over.

I asked one of the police what was happening and he said the troops are returning.

I am torn. I want to use this opportunity to reach out to the people there. I would like to go try to pass out copies of "The President's Real Goal in Iraq", but I'm not sure if that is appropriate. Maybe another article? Will Pitt's speech to Veterans for Peace? The flyer I made about Senators Durbin, Feinstein, Rockefeller and Wyden speaking out about the second half of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on pre-Iraq war intelligence?

I have enormous respect for the people who volunteered to serve and protect our country. This is a very happy day for them and their families and friends.

Should I just stay away?

[enki23]

1. wear a pin, and welcome them home

don't hand out fliers. just greet them, wearing something obviously pro-kerry.

[Bush was AWOL]

2. Just welcome them home

no need to pass out anything. They will find out soon enough about the lies that brought them to Iraq.

[DrZhivago]

7. Offer them beer and lots of it

I'm thinking strippers and a few kegs would be a proper welcome.

[spanone]

3. Tell them we are sorry. It won't happen again. We will oust...

the fucker come November.

[AngryLizard]

5. That's exactly what I told this guy in the Air Force last week

"I'm sorry we didn't do better by you. Hopefully Bush will lose."

[iconoclastic cat]

16. What was his response?

[Fleshdancer]

4. I personally think the homecoming is too important for the families

for politics.

If it were my loved one who was gone for over a year, I wouldn't spend one second on a flyer regardless what it says.

[geek tragedy]

6. "Welcome home. Please stay." n/t

[Hobarticus]

8. If you can't honor them and thank them, then stay away.

Don't politicize their homecoming. It's tacky. That's what Repugs do.

They'll find the answers on their own. Chances are, they already know.

[democrat_patriot]

9. * at airport with sign: "I'm sorry."

[DemoTex]

10. A simple "Welcome home soldier (or sailor/Marine/airman)".

"Welcome home soldier" has been, for years, my standard greeting when meeting a fellow Vietnam vet. We all know what it means. It is, or rather it should be, sincere and respectful. If you don't mean it, keep your pie-hole shut.

[Hobarticus]

11. Thanks, DemoTex....

You said it better than I could.

[lumpy]

12. Welcoming signs

should simply read: Thank God You're Home.

[IkeWarnedUs]

13. Thank you all

I had a short time to decide what to do, if anything. I was just coming home between appointments and momentarily debated if I should cancel my next appointment to take some sort of action. I didn't know about today's homecoming and it caught me off guard.

As much as I try to speak out when ever possible, there are some situations that just don't seem appropriate to do so. This is one of those times.

I would like to give each of the soldiers coming home a big hug and thank them for their courage and dedication. I would like to appologize for not working harder before the war started. I would like to appologize for not doing more in 2000 to keep this MF out of office. I would like to buy them lots of beer and sit and listen to their stories of their service in Iraq.

None of that is practical - not today anyway.

So I am going to let my dog back in the house and go to my next appointment. I will say a prayer as I pass the festivities.

Thanks for helping me get this straight in my head.

[bandy]

17. during that prayer please give thanks that they came home safely!

And pray for their future. Hopefully it will not include PTS or results of DU. Pray their families have the strength to deal with the transition (it can be devastating). I know cause I was a child of WWII POW.

[HarveyBriggs]

14. Welcome them. Honor them.

Don't let your anger at the President's horrible mistakes be directed at people who have put their life on the line to protect your freedoms. That is a misguided and wrong use of your anger.

Many returning soliers are proud of their service and sacrifice, yet do not like what the President has done to them and their families. I know. We have soldiers in our family.

Bush and his scary friends have insulted the Democratic wing of our family, because it is that portion of our family that has sent National Guard reservists into harms way. As my Democrat nephew said upon his return, "How can they call me a traitor for my views, when I have risked my life for them?"

Don't show the same disrespect for fighting men and women that the President and his hateful gang of far-right lunatic idealogues.

Honor the troops, and offer your sympathies for the President's disregard for people who put themselves in harm's way to keep us free.

Harvey Briggs

[iconoclastic cat]

15. Love.

And thanks.