Is there a difference between "Support the Troops" and Thanking the Troops?

I think so. "support the troops", for me, is a quick jingoistic easy to chant cliched saying which means not a whole hell of a lot except a way to show pseudo-patriotism and cast asparagus (sic) on others. Thanking men and women in the military for serving, to me that means a whole lot more.

Sending packages and letters to military, that means somethig to me. Working to end the occupation means something to me. Working to get vets benefits increased means something to me. All those are ways of actually thanking, or supporting men and women in the military. Simply saying, or asking "support the troops" shows me that the person involved really doesn't care, and is in no way any way of thanking them.

What with the "support the..." stuff going on here today, I was wondering what you thought.

They are not protecting by killing Iraqis.

I also thank nurses, teachers, firefighters, butchers, housekeepers, car mechanics. I'm just tired of the "support the troops rah rah rah, you don't say support the troops you are bad" crap. If I want to support someone in a meaningful way, I'll help make sure they have what they need to do their job, and make sure the job they are doing is a good one.

Is that like saying we're fighting them over there, so we don't have to fight them over here?

I'm not about to sign up for the military. I'm not about to become a teacher. But I am thanking them for doing what they do so I don't have to do it. I'm doing other work.

Nobody's got to be in Iraq.

I wish we didn't need a military at all, and appreciate those who are decent people in it. No one needs to be in Iraq and that is a really bad use of them.

tend to "support" other groups who are exploited or do I work like hell to get them out their situation so they are no longer being used?

We send packages to make their lives a little easier there, we welcome them home with open arms and we work to get them home. To me supporting the troops while realizing they are being used by an evil man is easy.

Supporting them also means pushing lawmakers to make sure they get the care they need when they get home.

Not sarcasm this time but thank you for doing what you do. Too many mouth the words and THAT is upsetting.

During the threads earlier I was upset and emotional (I have a brother there), but it just dawned on me that the definition of "support the troops" is the real difference. I think people aren't so far apart in reality. It's the sematics that get in the way with an extremely emotional topic.

Hence the question, is there a difference? Perhaps I should post something asking to define what StT means, since for me at least I hear many of those spouting it who want to continue the occupation because Saddam had WMDs and attacked us on 911 and actually DO nothing except buy magnets made in China and chant "StT". (StT is Support the Troops)

in my own mind).

But when can "support" mean enabling the situation to continue. I guess I'm thinking of Congress continuing to support the war financially, while calling for it to end at the same time or feeling like they wouldn't be "supporting the troops" if money isn't sent, yet by not sending money the troops would have to come home. I feel like support in that sense is a catch-22, and that is different than support in the sense you mean, like a care package, which I totally agree with.

God, this sounds convoluted....

People want soldiers to have armor so they don't die, but at the same time want them to come home. The public generally has thoughts of soldiers going without necessities or being in more danger if funding is withheld and therefore not supporting them. All of it gets mixed up in the term "support the troops". In my opinion, funding the war is "supporting the war", things like treating returning soldiers kindly, sending packages, working for more VA funding and fighting to get them home is "supporting the troops".

To me, supporting the troops in no way mean supporting the war.

no one owns the language

Jingoistic masturbation.

language is interesting and here is a good example. When I say thank you, I mean for doing the job. When I hear "support the troops" I think they mean support the war. Odd.

I spent 4 years doing absolutely nothing, nada, zip, that in any way served anyone to any good purpose.

At least not in any way that had to do with with what was expected of me in the military.

... I proposed, and the veterans all agreed, a simple approach to celebrating Veterans' Day:

Just Say "Thanks!"

Less than a second or two out of a busy, busy day. One simple word. No kow-towing or obeisance. We asked that the senior management make this suggestion in a memorandum to employees ... and they did. (Funny how many people were resentful. Not a majority - but enough.)

Personally, a view a thankyou as sort of being a condescending putdown. Yes, you've had your pay cut, being separated from your family for a year, been shot, seen your buddies blown to pieces, been called phony soldiers by Republicans, so this is what you get: a big fat thankyou. And its always said so mindlessly, a toss-away phrase.

Even worse is when you get these clueless turds like Tweety who say to families of dead soldiers "Thank you for your sacrifice". Just ridiculous, meaninless, conscious-assuaging drivel. If you really want to "thank" soldiers, how about doing it by doubling their combat pay, providing better post-traumatic stress disorder treasment, raising taxes a whole lot to pay for the war, providing Dragonskin armor, etc.

"I support the troops" is even stupider. What the hell does that even mean? Since its so vague, I think its just a sop to make the clown that says it feel good about himself, and really has nothing to do with the war or soldiers.

Both are meaningless and condescending, in my view.