Arrowsic - Congratulations (Jefferson: how much, home, transfer)

[NewSouth]

Double congratulations to Arrowsic: First, for exercising the local democracy that we need to use more often in the U.S. Mr. Jefferson would be proud of you. Second, for the actual vote regarding the need to end our involvement in Iraq. The soldiers there, and many of us here, will benefit from that.

[MaineFisherman]

no soldier benefits when the home towns start voting against the war under the guise "of support for soldiers". when you are away the one thing you want most is the solid support of those at home. and jefferson, as a commander in chief knew this all too well. vote against the politicians personally, but leave the soldiers out of it.

[forest beekeeper]

Korean vets were hated because the public came to dislike the Korean campaign; thus the public's feelings transferred onto the vets returning home.

Vietnam vets were hated because the public came to dislike the Vietnam campaign; thus the public's feelings transferred onto the vets returning home.

Does anyone see any pattern developing here?

I enlisted right at the end of the Vietnam conflict, so I saw how much hatred folks had that was aimed at the servicemembers.

Today I am active in the VFW; and we have many vets who still have issues because when they returned home: they were spit on, denied jobs, and publicly ridiculed.

Our nation does not have a history of treating out vets nicely.

Anyone who says that they have always supported our military is likely lying to you. Ask any combat vet.

And by the way; waving yellow ribbons of cowardice saying that you support our troops is not fooling anyone. [calling our troops cowards? right]

The line about yellow-ribbons comes from a song about a ex-con being released from prison, so do folks instead intend to be saying that our vets are ex-cons? or cowards?

[TrekkingNorth]

I only have my personal experience to draw from. But speaking as a member of the current military, and the war in Iraq (I was stationed in Kuwait, did not see any action), I can say that I have not seen any negative responses to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines (not to mention Coast Guardsmen). Quite to the contrary, I have seen nothing but support for the kids fighting this war. Whether or not that support goes as far as standing up to Congress or the President in opposition is beyond my paygrade. And whether or not making a stand against the war itself constitutes abandonment of the soldiers themselves is a tough baby to split. I guess it goes to the motivation of those making the stand. We got a bit off topic here, I guess. Sorry!

[7th generation]

Again a little off topic but myself being a veteran,I would like to salute the veterans on this forum and the men and boys past and present who live and have died protecting our way of life.