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Subject: "I don't support the troops, America, & neither do you...

**Devil's advocate of the Flood. My posts may or may not represent my personal opinion, I just enjoy disagreeing with people. None of my posts are representative of the official view of the Navy or any government agency.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae
Homework questions? Forget the Flood, join The Academy.
I've got a fan!

Warning: Massive wall of text.


I don't support the troops, America, and neither do you. I am tired of the ruse we are playing on these brave citizens in our armed forces. And guess what -- a lot of these soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines see right through the bull-blam!- of those words, "I support the troops!," spoken by Americans with such false sincerity -- false because our actions don't match our words. These young men and women sign up to risk their very lives to protect us -- and this is what they get in return:

1. They get sent off to wars that have NOTHING to do with defending America or saving our lives. They are used as pawns so that the military-industrial complex can make billions of dollars and the rich here can expand their empire. By "supporting the troops," that means I'm supposed to shut up, don't ask questions, do nothing to stop the madness, and sit by and watch thousands of them die? Well, I've done an awful lot to try and end this. But the only way you can honestly say you support the troops is to work night and day to get them out of these hell holes they've been sent to. And what have I done this week to bring the troops home? Nothing. So if I say "I support the troops," don't believe me -- I clearly don't support the troops because I've got more important things to do today, like return an iPhone that doesn't work and take my car in for a tune up.

2. While the troops we claim to "support" are serving their country, bankers who say they too "support the troops," foreclose on the actual homes of these soldiers and evict their families while they are overseas! (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/bank-of-america-ille gal-foreclosures_n_1118471.html) Have I gone and stood in front of the sheriff's deputy as he is throwing a military family out of their home? No. And there's your proof that I don't "support the troops," because if I did, I would organize mass sit-ins to block the doors of these homes. Instead, I'm having Chilean sea bass tonight.

3. How many of you who say you "support the troops" have visited a VA hospital to bring aid and comfort to the sick and wounded? (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/ 17/AR2007021701172_pf.html) I haven't. How many of you have any clue what it's like to deal with the VA? (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/us/veterans-wait-for-us-aid -amid-growing-backlog-of-claims.html) I don't. Therefore, you would be safe to say that I don't "support the troops," and neither do you.

4. Who amongst you big enthusiastic "supporters of the troops" can tell me the approximate number of service women who have been raped while in the military? Answer: 19,000 (mostly) female troops are raped or -blam!-ly assaulted every year by fellow American troops. ( http://public.cq.com/docs/weeklyreport/weeklyreport-000004169 541.html ) What have you or I done to bring these criminals to justice? What's that you say -- out of sight, out of mind? These women have suffered, and I've done nothing. So don't ever let me get away with telling you I "support the troops" because, sadly, I don't. And neither do you.

5. Help a homeless vet today? How 'bout yesterday? Last week? Last year? Ever? But I thought you "support the troops!"? The number of homeless veterans is staggering -- on any given night, at least 60,000 veterans are sleeping on the streets of the country that proudly "supports the troops." ( http://nchv.org/index.php/news/media/background_and_statistic s/ ) This is disgraceful and shameful, isn't it? And it exposes all those "troop supporters" who always vote against social programs that would help these veterans. Tonight there are at least 12,700 Iraq/Afghanistan veterans homeless and sleeping on the street. I've never lent a helping hand to one of the many vets I've seen sleeping on the street. I can't bear to look, and I walk past them very quickly. That's called *not* "supporting the troops," which, I guess, I don't -- and neither do you.

6. And you know, the beautiful thing about all this "support" you and I have been giving the troops -- they feel this love and support so much, a record number of them are killing themselves every single week. In fact, there are now more soldiers killing themselves than soldiers being killed in combat (332 suicides in 2012 through November vs. about 210 combat deaths). Yes, you are more likely to die by your own hand in the United States military than by al Qaeda or the Taliban. And an estimated eighteen veterans kill themselves each day, or one in five of all U.S. suicides -- though no one really knows because we don't bother to keep track. Now, that's what I call support! These troops are really feeling the love, people! Lemme hear you say it again: "I support the troops!" Louder! "I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!" There, that's better. I'm sure they heard us. Don't forget to fly our flag, wear your flag lapel pin, and never, ever let a service member pass you by without saying, "Thank you for your service!" I'm sure that's all they need to keep from putting a bullet in their heads. Do your best to keep your "support" up for the troops because, God knows, I certainly can't any longer.

I don't "support the troops" or any of those other hollow and hypocritical platitudes uttered by Republicans and frightened Democrats. Here's what I do support: I support them coming home. I support them being treated well. I support peace, and I beg any young person reading this who's thinking of joining the armed forces to please reconsider. Our war department has done little to show you they won't recklessly put your young life in harm's way for a cause that has nothing to do with what you signed up for. They will not help you once they've used you and spit you back into society. If you're a woman, they will not protect you from rapists in their ranks. And because you have a conscience and you know right from wrong, you do not want yourself being used to kill civilians in other countries who never did anything to hurt us. We are currently involved in at least a half-dozen military actions around the world. Don't become the next statistic so that General Electric can post another record profit -- while paying no taxes -- taxes that otherwise would be paying for the artificial leg that they've kept you waiting for months to receive.

I support you, and will try to do more to be there for you. And the best way you can support me -- and the ideals our country says it believes in -- is to get out of the military as soon as you can and never look back.

And please, next time some "supporter of the troops" says to you with that concerned look on their face, "I thank you for your service," you have my permission to punch their lights out (figuratively speaking, of course).

(There is something I've done to support the troops -- other than help lead the effort to stop these senseless wars. At the movie theater I run in Michigan, I became the first person in town to institute an affirmative action plan for hiring returning Iraq/Afghanistan vets. I am working to get more businesses in town to join with me in this effort to find jobs for these returning soldiers. I also let all service members in to the movies for free, everyday.)



Saw this reposted on Facebook, and I just wanted to share it with you. I urge you to not bring up politics despite it being mentioned somewhat in the statement. He makes some strong and important points and I'm just wondering what you all think of it.

If you don't read it all, at least skim the points or pick one point to respond to.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 4:45 PM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:40 PM PDT

I stopped reading half way through #1. It made me want to punch a baby.

  • 01.03.2013 3:42 PM PDT

I don't wanna get carpet banned, so I'm going to just delete this and leave a cookie for the mods

(::)

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:51 PM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:43 PM PDT

I agree with Moore.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:43 PM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:43 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Legendary Member

I understand nothing because my life is a conspiracy.

Michael Moore, you say?

OT: What a jerkbag.

  • 01.03.2013 3:44 PM PDT

**Devil's advocate of the Flood. My posts may or may not represent my personal opinion, I just enjoy disagreeing with people. None of my posts are representative of the official view of the Navy or any government agency.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae
Homework questions? Forget the Flood, join The Academy.
I've got a fan!


Posted by: Gaara444
I stopped reading half way through #1. It made me want to punch a baby.


#1 is the worst of the post. As usual he bookends everything he says with his own jaded sense of reality. The "I totally support veterans and I'm really awesome for doing it" ending accents that style.

  • 01.03.2013 3:44 PM PDT

I think he's right.

Saying "I support the troops" and then leaving it at that is the same thing as Tweeting "Stop Kony" or whatever the cause du jour is and then claiming to have "helped".

  • 01.03.2013 3:45 PM PDT
  • gamertag: CoRaMo
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If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.

  • 01.03.2013 3:46 PM PDT
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Is he out there helping homeless vets? Is he out there trying to do stop the foreclosures on their houses?

Or is he content in saying he "supports" the troops because he is trying to hire recent vets?

All his rambling seemed to do was to try and justify to himself that he supports the troops because he has an affirmative action in place at a place he owns instead of going out and working at the VA or helping the homeless vets or anything else he has a problem with the troop supporters.

  • 01.03.2013 3:46 PM PDT
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I'm trying to upvote but there's no upvote button.

  • 01.03.2013 3:46 PM PDT

Posted by: coolmike699
I think he's right.

Saying "I support the troops" and then leaving it at that is the same thing as Tweeting "Stop Kony" or whatever the cause du jour is and then claiming to have "helped".


There we go. This guy gets it.

  • 01.03.2013 3:47 PM PDT


Posted by: Drowsy Demon
I agree with Moore.

  • 01.03.2013 3:47 PM PDT
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Writer's Corner
6/15/2011 11:39 PM: bobcast [2597260] issued a 3 day ban expiring on 6/18/2011 11:39 PM.
Reason: A Bungie.net Forum Moderator has banned you for violating the code of conduct and/or rules of the forum in the thread below
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=61704535
Inappropriate. Went a little to far with the butt hole tearing.

Dude, I have a bumper sticker that says I do.

  • 01.03.2013 3:47 PM PDT

**Devil's advocate of the Flood. My posts may or may not represent my personal opinion, I just enjoy disagreeing with people. None of my posts are representative of the official view of the Navy or any government agency.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae
Homework questions? Forget the Flood, join The Academy.
I've got a fan!


Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.


Banned or warned for what? This isn't a discussion about America's politics are military strategy, it's about hypocrisy of the general public regarding compassion for veterans.

  • 01.03.2013 3:48 PM PDT

What are these first person words you speak of?

Though moore has a tendency to bring BS out of his bum on occasions, he did a somewhat decent job on this one. Number 1 seemed kinda of iffy, but some of the others hit home... hard.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:51 PM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:48 PM PDT

Posted by: theHurtfulTurkey

Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.


Banned or warned for what? This isn't a discussion about America's politics are military strategy, it's about hypocrisy of the general public regarding compassion for veterans.


Wait what? Are you on Moore's side or not? Because your OP made me think you were against him, yet this post makes me think you support him.

  • 01.03.2013 3:48 PM PDT


Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.


I just got off a ban for a thread that was similar to this. It was asking whether people should be able to sue gun makers for crimes committed with their guns.

I can tell you, unless the mods have a vendetta against me (and I don't think they do), there's no favoritism. All of us are moderated equally inconsistently.

  • 01.03.2013 3:49 PM PDT

I am alpha, i am omega.

I am the last of the primes.

I more or less agree with a good portion of what he says.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:50 PM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:49 PM PDT

**Devil's advocate of the Flood. My posts may or may not represent my personal opinion, I just enjoy disagreeing with people. None of my posts are representative of the official view of the Navy or any government agency.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae
Homework questions? Forget the Flood, join The Academy.
I've got a fan!


Posted by: Drowsy Demon
Posted by: theHurtfulTurkey

Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.


Banned or warned for what? This isn't a discussion about America's politics are military strategy, it's about hypocrisy of the general public regarding compassion for veterans.


Wait what? Are you on Moore's side or not? Because your OP made me think you were against him, yet this post makes me think you support him.


I do not support Moore, but I believe he makes strong and important points that we all need to consider. I said the same thing in the OP.

If the moderators see fit, they'll lock this and ban me for a bit. It will definitely not be my first. I think I prompted discussion away from politics and towards a focus on discussing the meat of this important issue, but it's up to you folks to determine if this gets out of hand.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:52 PM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:50 PM PDT

I take it you're here for a reason?
.
A memorial to my H3 guy by:Do The D3w

Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.
tisk, tisk...

  • 01.03.2013 3:50 PM PDT

I want you to PM a Mod asking to see MY whole Ban History. Gaara444's, you can even use this reply if you want. The mods have banned me more times than you've had hot showers.

Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.

  • 01.03.2013 3:50 PM PDT

I am alpha, i am omega.

I am the last of the primes.


Posted by: Courageous Mike
Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.
tisk, tisk...

You mad mythic bro?

  • 01.03.2013 3:51 PM PDT


Posted by: theHurtfulTurkey

Posted by: Drowsy Demon
Posted by: theHurtfulTurkey

Posted by: BlazedStoner420
If a regular member posted this they would get banned, but this mythic member probably won't even get a warning. Mods you disgust me.


Banned or warned for what? This isn't a discussion about America's politics are military strategy, it's about hypocrisy of the general public regarding compassion for veterans.


Wait what? Are you on Moore's side or not? Because your OP made me think you were against him, yet this post makes me think you support him.


I do not support Moore, but I believe he makes strong and important points that we all need to consider. I said the same thing in the OP.


Why bother outing his name though and calling him an -blam!-? By hiding your personal feelings towards this person and posting the text, you're more likely to get responses that aren't blinded by a hatred towards its author.

  • 01.03.2013 3:51 PM PDT

*´¨)---––•(-• Dutchy •-)•–--–-(¨´*
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)••(¨*•.¸ (¨´*•.¸´•.¸
(¸.•´ (¸.•Everything fails•.¸) ´•.¸)


Posted by: thisguyCAMEO

Posted by: Drowsy Demon
I agree with Moore.

  • 01.03.2013 3:51 PM PDT

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