Are all of the people in this photo traitors?

[BuyingThyme]

Did they just take a dump on everybody who ever served this country with honor?

Did they knowingly stage an attack on our homeland?

Is there some reason that each of their names shouldn't forever be synonymous with the word traitor?

Or are all of them, including the guy with his back to the camera, just following orders?

[expatriot]

1. give them a break, they got off convoy duty for at least three weeks.

the last thin the administration wants to see is "Soldier who took part in Bush teleconference killed by roadside bomb."

[BuyingThyme]

2. The people who I expect to be good always piss me off when I find out

they're evil.

[Hekate]

4. Be pissed off at Bushco, then, not the troops

Those ten soldiers are just trying their best to stay alive until they get back home. Mouthing off in that situation would bring them nothing but grief and a quick tour of duty in Hellhole Province.

Have you, yourself, ever served in the military? Or even been close friends or relatives with someone who has? Bush shows up at various military facilities for photo ops, and the personnel on base are told to be at the stadium in dress uniform and be prepared to yell "ooo-rah" on cue. They don't really have a choice.

Calling active duty military personnel "evil" for following orders to be used for propaganda purposes shows a complete lack of understanding of their circumstances.

Hekate

[BuyingThyme]

6. These monsters were asked to attack me, and they agreed to do it.

If you support their attacks against me, then you are as evil as they.

And don't give the the "have you ever served" crap. We're way beyond that school-yard nonsense.

[expatriot]

9. how did they attack you? nt

[Hekate]

11. Hostility will get you nowhere

So neither you nor I have been in the service. Big deal.

The difference seems to be that I've learned some empathy for the humans in uniform -- went to school with a lot of kids of military dads, lived next door to and had coffee klatches with military wives, and now work for peace with veterans.

And I never, ever, forget that two of the soldiers in Iraq could have been my own kids. Right after 9-11 they both thought long and hard about joining up to defend our country -- it was all about the smoking ruins of New York City and we ordinary people knew nothing of PNAC and Bush's dreams of empire. But my kids decided to wait a bit. There but for fortune...

I have been to Arlington West and I have helped put names on those crosses in the sand. Their ages are given, along with branch of service and home town. Are 19 and 20 year olds "evil" in your eyes? Are they? Are 40 year old Reservists and National Guardsmen "evil"?

Inform yourself. Get a life.

Hekate

[file83]

3. You'd probably do anything to get out of combat for a few days...

...besides, these guys are soldiers following orders. Yeah, they probably volunteered for this, but like I said, what would you rather do? Play pretend with the President or dodge bullets in Fallujah?

I know what I'd do.

But Bush on the other hand...I'm leaning more towards he's evil. He has no excuse.

[BuyingThyme]

5. If I was ordered to participate on a propaganda campaign against

my country to the benefit of a Nazi misfit, I wouldn't do it.

These animals are participating in psy-ops against us, and nobody's calling for them to be thrown into the brig.

Well, at least we know who the enemy is.

[donheld]

7. Easy for you to say, sitting here safe at home

[BuyingThyme]

8. I'm a little less safe with these traitors out there trying to push my

country deeper into a fascist imperialist adventure.

Am I not supposed to say anything? I guess you've already proven my position.

[expatriot]

12. no, you're pushing our country deeper into a fascist imperialist adventure

imho.

by calling troops who do not refuse to take part in a photo op with their commander in chief "animals" who are complicit little nazis you are playing the game they want you to play. freepers reading this thread (and they are there) love this shit, they are probably emailing this thread to all of their friends and family who are on the fence with Bush right now... saying... look at the troop-hating left! Don't abandon Bush, this is what we are up against!

The Weathermen were a godsend to Nixon and increased his support at home by giving middle America a radical, violent idea of the domestic opposition.

[expatriot]

10. and then everyone who participates in a Bush photo op is evil?

Furthermore, these troops probably got some incentive to take part, even if they are bush supporters that does not make them evil. my sister and her husband voted for Bush but neither of them are "evil," just confused. My dad might have voted for Bush, we never tells me and is a mystery politically. He is not evil. My brother voted for bush and he is not... okay, he is evil but just because you are complicit in a Bush photo op does not make you evil. you need to relax.

[bowens43]

13. They're not traitors, that's ridiculous.

[Daphne08]

14. Of course not. They are soldiers in the military who must do

as they are told.

I think you're being a bit harsh concerning these young people.

[southlandshari]

15. Locking (see next message)

:hi:

[southlandshari]

16. No. They are not.

Locking. Here's why:

There are not only DUers with loved ones serving our nation in places like Iraq and Afganistan tonight - there are DUers serving in those countries and around the world. There are thousands of fine Americans doing their best to do their jobs, regardless of political affiliation, and who have no interest in hurting other people or countries.

While the actions of the U.S. government, including those of all branches of our military, are important topics of discussion, I'm locking this thread and referring to the following entry in DU's discussion forum guidelines:

"Do not post broad-brush smears against US service people. Do not blame the troops for the mistakes of their officers or their Commander-in-Chief. Show the appropriate level of respect to those individuals who have put their own lives on the line to defend this country."

More on DU Discussion Forum Rules:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detai...


If you have a question or concern about this lock, please feel free to send me or another moderator a PM (private message), or contact our administrators at this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/contact.html


Thanks!

southlandshari
DU Moderator