When people say "Support Our Troops", they usually mean "Support Our War".

Even at the height of the "protests" against the current war, they were always much smaller and more artificial than the protests in the Vietnam era. The media, stocked with a larger-than-average proportion of nostalgic ex-hippies at the upper levels, hyped the "movement" and there were a handful of true diehards, but the "antiwar movement" against Iraq was NOTHING like the groundswell against Vietnam back in the day.

Some people would say it means folks today are less "idealistic" or "socially aware" than those in the Vietnam era, but as far as I'm concerned that's total garbage. The ugly truth is that what people in the Vietnam era were prostesting, for the most part, was not the war itself...whether they knew it or not, they were protesting the DRAFT. They were afraid of the draft impacting themselves, their boyfriends, and their male relatives. Once the US went to an all-volunteer military, 90% of people stopped caring because it wasn't their problem anymore.

With a few exceptions and except for on a few occasions, most humans are generally self-interested creatures. This holds true whether they wear tie-dies or pinstripes.

Originally posted by silent thunder
The ugly truth is that what people in the Vietnam era were prostesting, for the most part, was not the war itself...whether they knew it or not, they were protesting the DRAFT. They were afraid of the draft impacting themselves, their boyfriends, and their male relatives. Once the US went to an all-volunteer military, 90% of people stopped caring because it wasn't their problem anymore.

With a few exceptions and except for on a few occasions, most humans are generally self-interested creatures. This holds true whether they wear tie-dies or pinstripes.

This is a very interesting point, thanks for pointing it out. Do you think the people who prostest this time were more in fear of the draft returning? I was wondering why there was so much protest in the government sending those who signed up for war to go to war. It's been a while since I read the contract, but I think I recall it being a possibility written rather clearly when joining the service. I wish there were no war, but also respect that I may not understand the route to get to the 'end of war' scenario.

Dup post, sorry. Mod delete if you like.

[edit on 1-12-2009 by saint4God]

I doubt anyone expected Obama to bring them home instantly, but the protesting will be back in force if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Originally posted by whaaa
How does your future look now?

Very interesting, thank you for posting. It looked like the opening scene of Soylent Green without people rioting/resisting. I'd be interested in more context to the video as far as what happened to start this. I'm also wondering how the university is going to get their coveted tuition when they're beating up their students and fearmongering potential freshmen. Finally, I'm curious as to what an 'unlawful assembly' is.

[edit on 1-12-2009 by saint4God]

Originally posted by Zosynspiracy
I think the whole ant-war mentality is "uncool" these days. I mean look at Hollywood. Even they are "support the troops" more than ever. It's almost unAmerican these days to even think about criticizing the war let alone the troops.

Big steaming piles of dissembling partizan crap.

It was obscene and terrible until Obama got into office.

Now killing for peace is cool again because Obama says so.

Politics and nothing more.