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Topic: Love & thanks ~ to our beloved Soldiers...
Journey2008's photo
Sat 05/03/08 09:03 AM

Stopping in to pray for my son who is in Iraq as well as all others involved in the big sand box. drinker flowerforyou


Thank your son for me! God bless him for his service to our country, and for you too, who has brought up such an amazing young man!! God Bless our troops and keep them safe!!drinker

Journey2008's photo
Sat 05/03/08 09:06 AM




Got this in a email today......

Here is a new way to look at a deck of cards!!

Please do not delete! You will be glad you didn't.

Deck of Cards


It was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some reason hadn't been heard.
The young soldier knew it was Sunday, the holiest day of the week.
As he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of card sand laid them out across his bunk.
Just then an army sergeant came in and said, 'Why aren't you with the rest of the platoon?'
The soldier replied, 'I thought I would stay behind and spend some time with the Lord'

The sergeant said, 'Looks to me like you're going to play cards.'

The soldier said, 'No, sir. You see, since we are not allowed to have Bibles or other spiritu al books in this country, I've decided to t alk to the Lord by studying this deck of cards.'

The sergeant asked in disbelief, 'How will you do that?'

'You see the Ace, Sergeant? It reminds me that there is only one God.

The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New Testaments

The Three represents the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Five is for the five virgins there were ten but only five of them were glorified.

The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.

The Seven is for the day God rested after making His Creation.

The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives -- the eight people God spared from the flood that destroyed the Earth.

The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy.. He cleansed ten, but nine never thanked Him.

The Ten represents the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on tablets made of stone.

The Jack is a reminder of Sat an, one of God's first angels, but he got kicked out of heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the joker of eternal hell.

The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary.

The King stands for Jesus, for he is the King of all kings.

When I count the dots on all the cards, I come up with 365 total, one for every day of the year.

There are a total of 52 cards in a deck; each is a week - 52 weeks in a year.

The four suits represent the four sea sons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Each suit has thirteen cards -- there are exactly thirteen weeks in a quarter .

So when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this old deck of cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for.'

The sergeant just stood there. After a minute, with tears in his eyes and pain in his heart, he s aid, 'Soldier, can I b orrow that deck of cards?'

Please let this be a reminder and take time to pray for all of our soldiers w ho are being sent away, putting their lives on the line fighting

Prayer for the Military.

Please keep the wheel rolling. It will only take a few seconds of your time, but it'll be worth it to read on....

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them.
Bless them and their families.
I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.

When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our servicemen and women all around the world.

There is nothing attached, but this can be very powerful..

Of all the gifts you could give a Soldier, prayer is the very best one.

Do not stop the wheel, please -- just send this on.

In God We Trust!







That is beautiful...:cry:



thanks Sherry :heart:


I can remember listening to this, a long time ago, when my brother was serving in VietNam. It was a song on an album my mother had. It's amazing the things that can trigger memories. Thank you! And by the way, he came home safe and his son is now a Captain in the Army and is due to go back over this month. Thanks, everybody for your support for our troops!!:heart: :heart:




flowerforyou Good Day Dear Brenda, flowerforyou


happy It is always nice to see you , thank you for stopping by happy


drinker What an amazing Family you have....You must be sooo proud...drinker


:heart: God Bless you & your Awesome Brother, Nephew & All Others :heart:






happy :heart: drinker flowerforyou smokin :heart: smokin flowerforyou drinker happy :heart: happy drinker flowerforyou smokin :heart: smokin flowerforyou drinker :heart: happy


Good morning Nessa and thank you! My heart is overflowing with pride for my family and ALL of our sevicemen and women that are serving our great country. And I thank you, Nessa, for starting this thread. God Bless You!!

poohbearface19's photo
Sat 05/03/08 09:13 AM
i have a firned in the service wel had one he passed away a while ago...............so sad

Rapunzel's photo
Sat 05/03/08 09:25 AM





Got this in a email today......

Here is a new way to look at a deck of cards!!

Please do not delete! You will be glad you didn't.

Deck of Cards


It was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some reason hadn't been heard.
The young soldier knew it was Sunday, the holiest day of the week.
As he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of card sand laid them out across his bunk.
Just then an army sergeant came in and said, 'Why aren't you with the rest of the platoon?'
The soldier replied, 'I thought I would stay behind and spend some time with the Lord'

The sergeant said, 'Looks to me like you're going to play cards.'

The soldier said, 'No, sir. You see, since we are not allowed to have Bibles or other spiritu al books in this country, I've decided to t alk to the Lord by studying this deck of cards.'

The sergeant asked in disbelief, 'How will you do that?'

'You see the Ace, Sergeant? It reminds me that there is only one God.

The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New Testaments

The Three represents the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Five is for the five virgins there were ten but only five of them were glorified.

The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.

The Seven is for the day God rested after making His Creation.

The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives -- the eight people God spared from the flood that destroyed the Earth.

The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy.. He cleansed ten, but nine never thanked Him.

The Ten represents the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on tablets made of stone.

The Jack is a reminder of Sat an, one of God's first angels, but he got kicked out of heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the joker of eternal hell.

The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary.

The King stands for Jesus, for he is the King of all kings.

When I count the dots on all the cards, I come up with 365 total, one for every day of the year.

There are a total of 52 cards in a deck; each is a week - 52 weeks in a year.

The four suits represent the four sea sons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Each suit has thirteen cards -- there are exactly thirteen weeks in a quarter .

So when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this old deck of cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for.'

The sergeant just stood there. After a minute, with tears in his eyes and pain in his heart, he s aid, 'Soldier, can I b orrow that deck of cards?'

Please let this be a reminder and take time to pray for all of our soldiers w ho are being sent away, putting their lives on the line fighting

Prayer for the Military.

Please keep the wheel rolling. It will only take a few seconds of your time, but it'll be worth it to read on....

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them.
Bless them and their families.
I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.

When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our servicemen and women all around the world.

There is nothing attached, but this can be very powerful..

Of all the gifts you could give a Soldier, prayer is the very best one.

Do not stop the wheel, please -- just send this on.

In God We Trust!







That is beautiful...:cry:



thanks Sherry :heart:


I can remember listening to this, a long time ago, when my brother was serving in VietNam. It was a song on an album my mother had. It's amazing the things that can trigger memories. Thank you! And by the way, he came home safe and his son is now a Captain in the Army and is due to go back over this month. Thanks, everybody for your support for our troops!!:heart: :heart:




flowerforyou Good Day Dear Brenda, flowerforyou


happy It is always nice to see you , thank you for stopping by happy


drinker What an amazing Family you have....You must be sooo proud...drinker


:heart: God Bless you & your Awesome Brother, Nephew & All Others :heart:






happy :heart: drinker flowerforyou smokin :heart: smokin flowerforyou drinker happy :heart: happy drinker flowerforyou smokin :heart: smokin flowerforyou drinker :heart: happy


Good morning Nessa and thank you! My heart is overflowing with pride for my family and ALL of our sevicemen and women that are serving our great country. And I thank you, Nessa, for starting this thread. God Bless You!!






flowerforyou You are so welcome , dear Lady...flowerforyou

drinker:heart: flowerforyou and if not for you flowerforyou :heart: drinker

flowerforyou :heart: drinker and for people like you , drinker :heart: flowerforyou


sad :cry: :wink: this would be a very lonely thread :wink: :cry: sad

Rapunzel's photo
Sat 05/03/08 09:29 AM
Edited by Rapunzel on Sat 05/03/08 09:35 AM

i have a firned in the service wel had one he passed away a while ago...............so sad





sad Oooooohhh, honey...i am sooooo sorry...sad


:heart: prayers love and hugs for you :heart:


flowerforyou & for all of his family and friends flowerforyou


:cry: that must be sooo hard on you :cry:

sad to lose someone so close to you sad

sad sad sad maybe very young, as well.....sad sad sad




:cry: but whatever age sad


:cry: it is so heartbreaking :cry:



drinker well, please feel welcome here ...drinker

flowerforyou please just stop by and visit flowerforyou

:cry: whenever you get sad or lonely :cry:

drinker or just wanna chat with us, okay??? drinker




:heart: :heart: :heart: we love you :heart: :heart: :heart:

Rapunzel's photo
Sat 05/03/08 03:33 PM
Edited by Rapunzel on Sat 05/03/08 03:35 PM
:heart: drinker smokin flowerforyou :heart: drinker :heart: smokin drinker :heart: drinker smokin :heart: drinker :heart: flowerforyou smokin drinker :heart:





drinker just taking some time out in the day drinker


:heart: To say " Hey, Everyone !!!flowerforyou I love you " :heart:


and



drinker Please take good care, Our Dear Troops drinker


flowerforyou & please come home to us, soon, flowerforyou


drinker :heart: Cause we love You & miss you :heart: drinker



:heart: drinker smokin flowerforyou :heart: drinker :heart: smokin drinker :heart: drinker smokin :heart: drinker :heart: flowerforyou smokin drinker :heart:


Rapunzel's photo
Sun 05/04/08 10:41 AM
Edited by Rapunzel on Sun 05/04/08 11:13 AM
:heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:





" :heart: :heart: :heart: MUCH LOVE ~ PRAYERS & THANKS :heart: :heart: :heart:


& drinker smokin drinker TO & FOR OUR AWESOME TROOPS drinker smokin drinker


:heart: drinker :heart: OH, DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS :heart: drinker :heart:



:heart: drinker :heart: IF ONLY I COULD PERSONALLY THANK :heart: drinker :heart:



happy flowerforyou :heart: & HUG EACH & EVERY ONE OF YOU :heart: flowerforyou happy



drinker drinker drinker FOR YOUR AMAZING LOVE & LOYAL DEDICATION drinker drinker drinker



smokin smokin smokin FOR YOUR EXTREMELY INTENSE DETERMINATION smokin smokin smokin



drinker drinker drinker FIERCE BRAVERY & UNCEASING ONWARD PROJECTION drinker drinker drinker


:cry: sad :cry: FOR THOSE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT MISSIONS TOO


sad brokenheart sad THAT RIP YOUR TOUGH...but TENDER HEART , IN TWO , sad brokenheart sad



drinker flowerforyou :heart: I LOVE YOU, I THANK YOU & I AM HERE FOR YOU :heart: flowerforyou drinker




:heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:








cutelildevilsmom's photo
Sun 05/04/08 12:47 PM
prayers and kudos to the soldiers.keep up the good work.


here is a link to some poems written by a soldier in Iraq.
check it out.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5126583

checkinout42's photo
Sun 05/04/08 09:34 PM
Just stopping buy to send prayers and support for the troops and their families.... God Bless.....flowerforyou

Journey2008's photo
Mon 05/05/08 06:04 AM
Dear Lord, please watch over our troops today. Keep them safe from harm. Bring them home safely to their families. Amen

Rapunzel's photo
Mon 05/05/08 08:08 AM
Edited by Rapunzel on Mon 05/05/08 08:23 AM

prayers and kudos to the soldiers.keep up the good work.


here is a link to some poems written by a soldier in Iraq.
check it out.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5126583




Hi Jackie...flowerforyou :heart: flowerforyou


thank you, Honey, for stopping by drinker smokin drinker

I've been reading some of the poetry :cry: :cry: :cry:

from this site you showed us just now...flowerforyou flowerforyou

very very sad :cry: sad :cry:






"Eulogy

It happens on a Monday, at 11:20 A.M.,
as tower guards eat sandwiches
and seagulls drift by on the Tigris River.
Prisoners tilt their heads to the west
though burlap sacks and duct tape blind them.
The sound reverberates down concertina coils
the way piano wire thrums when given slack.
And it happens like this, on a blue day of sun,
when Private Miller pulls the trigger
to take brass and fire into his mouth:
the sound lifts the birds up off the water,
a mongoose pauses under the orange trees,
and nothing can stop it now, no matter what
blur of motion surrounds him, no matter what voices
crackle over the radio in static confusion,
because if only for this moment the earth is stilled,
and Private Miller has found what low hush there is
down in the eucalyptus shade, there by the river." sad






:cry: :heart: drinker PFC B. Miller drinker :heart: :cry:


<<<<< {1980-March 22, 2004) >>>>>


:heart: flowerforyou :heart: Rest in peace :heart: flowerforyou :heart:


Our Dear Man.... :heart: sad :heart:

You are Our dearly beloved Brother & Son :heart:

Our Cousin, our Nephew, our Grandson, :heart:

our Neighbor & our dear dear Friend :cry:




:heart: May you be surrounded with warm hugs & sweet kisses :heart:


flowerforyou wrapped in so much love & light forever & ever :heart: Dear Soldier drinker


drinker drinker drinker Your Memory will live for eternity drinker drinker drinker


:heart: :heart: :heart: in our tender hearts & ever loving souls :heart: :heart: :heart:













HasidicEnforcer's photo
Mon 05/05/08 09:01 AM
Stopping by to show some love and support!

May the troops come home safely and swiftly!

smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyouflowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou

Rapunzel's photo
Mon 05/05/08 01:54 PM
Edited by Rapunzel on Mon 05/05/08 01:57 PM

Stopping by to show some love and support!

May the troops come home safely and swiftly!






Amen to that !!!! drinker drinker drinker drinker



flowerforyou smokin drinker smokin :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: drinker smokin :heart: flowerforyou




Hi there Myriah !!!...flowerforyou drinker flowerforyou





smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyouflowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou

checkinout42's photo
Mon 05/05/08 05:22 PM
Hey Vanessa and Myriah,

Stoping by to show support for the troops!!! May you all come home safe to your families... :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: flowerforyou

Rapunzel's photo
Tue 05/06/08 09:36 AM

Hey Vanessa and Myriah,

Stoping by to show support for the troops!!! May you all come home safe to your families... :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: flowerforyou









:heart: drinker smokin flowerforyou drinker smokin drinker flowerforyou smokin drinker :heart:

Rapunzel's photo
Tue 05/06/08 11:04 AM
http://wilderside.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/what-does-it-mean-to-support-our-troops/#comments

THIS POST I FOUND IS OVER A YEAR OLD ,
BUT THE MESSAGE IS STILL VERY POWERFUL
March 3, 2007...

[Comment: Oh! My! Posted this story on February 16th. It is March, and the army had to fire several officials in charge of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and make a committment to reorganizing the Veteran's Administration. Hope I was part of the dialogue and pressure. See NY Times blurbs below.]

by Kimberly Wilder

For the Democratic Congresspersons, inserting the phrase, “we support our troops” into one of their alleged anti-war bills, may well be a way to retroactively endorse the War in Iraq. What does it mean to “support our troops”?


Our local Greens are holding a poster contest on the theme of “Bring Home Our Troops.” A reporter called to interview me for a story about it. I was somewhat taken aback when she asked me, “What would you say to people who would think that by doing this, you are not supporting our troops?” It cut me like a knife. Maybe because up until then she had seemed reasonable and open to the peace message. How could she so calmly articulate the accusation that I–who believed in non-violence, and who had worn black for mourning as I read the names of dead soldiers at vigils–was being unsupportive? In response, I went on somewhat of an intense diatribe about how truly supporting our troops would mean to want them to be out of harm’s way, and to want veterans to receive fair benefits, and to disapprove of forcing people to serve past their agreed upon time. All of these arguments which I have heard before, as my peace movement colleagues tried to adopt the phrase “Support our troops”, in part as a way to prove we were patriotic, in part as an ironic turn of phrase: “Support our troops–bring them home.” Yet, as I tried this reverse spin on the reporter, the phrase “Support our troops” started to sear into my consciousness. Not just because I knew I was the one truly supporting these soldiers, these people, sent overseas to an unjust, illegal, and failing war, but also, because the phrase “troops” started to gnaw at me. I realized that after seeing a display of the faces of soldiers’ lost, and reading the names of the soldiers lost at several candlelight vigils, and after hearing the story of Ehren Watada, the word “troop” was not an adequate representation for each life that a soldier represented.The word “troops” itself is abstract and dehumanizing. The word “troop” is intended as a cover, a way to report that another one of our people has died in an unjust war, without having to say, “Another soldier died in Iraq today.” Or, “Another man died in Iraq today. Or, “Another woman died in Iraq today.” How much more powerful would any of those sentences be, then the sentence, “One troop was lost in Iraq today.”

When a citizen hears, “3 troops were killed in Iraq today,” she can keep on driving without skipping a beat. If she had to hear the same news about the same people as: “A father, a student, and a mother died in a Iraq today,” perhaps the listener would have a greater sense of reflection. Maybe she would be more likely to pause for a moment, and connect to her complicity in the war by paying taxes for war, supporting the drumbeat for war, and voting for representatives who keep the cycle of war going.

I have worked with reporters before on various kinds of projects, and, I have watched how reporters write stories. The first question a reporter asks someone who is at a demonstration, or someone who is a witness, or someone who is a candidate is: “How old are you?” Next is, “What is your profession?” Then, your age and your profession is how you are described, like it or not. Why doesn’t the same press have the patience and policy, instead of reporting “3 troops died in Iraq today,” to write: “A mechanic, age 28; a musician, age 31, who belonged to the National Guard; and a nurse, age 35 were killed in Iraq today.”

The peace movement should find new language for the word “troops.” We should always refer to our soldiers in as human terms as possible, and not adopt the slang, propaganda, or phraseology of the government and corporate media. We should never mimic them by saying, “We support our troops.” We should show how more sincere our support is, we should give testimony to the humanity of our troops. We should say, “We support our servicepeople.” Or, “We support our men and women overseas.”

In addition, in what way should the peace movement support these servicepeople? If we support them in their capacity as troops, then aren’t we supporting the war? Because “troop” is a label attached to a person as they serve in the military. Can’t we support the person, but not wish that they continue in their function as soldier? Can’t we support the person and not condone that they have gone overseas as part of a preemptive war which includes bombing and other attacks against the Iraqi people?

There is a phrase that adults sometimes say to children, “I love you, but I don’t love your behavior.” Isn’t it that we care for the soldiers, but we really wish–for their sake and for our sake and for the sake of the Iraqis–that they would stop being “troops”?

To say, “We support our troops,” is to push the mission of war forward. “Support our troops” also sounds like you want more people to become troops. As if it is a good thing. Do we support turning more young people who are graduating from high school into troops? Do we support creating more troops by calling up reservists and National Guardspeople who meant to serve their country in ways other than foreign war? Do we support the government using stop-loss orders, forcing soldiers to stay in active duty passed the terms they signed up for?

Do we support continuing forcing the people who we have taken from productive, civilian life, into continuing in their role as “troops”? Wouldn’t it be better to support that we could have more people here in the United States, home to raise their families and contribute to the economy, maybe contribute to our culture. Wouldn’t it be better, even, to support that we have more soldiers on bases at home, living out as peaceful and existence as possible and being trained for times when it might actually be that our military personnel could serve in a way that decreases instead of increases violence?

Let the Democratic Congresspersons coalition with the Republican Congresspersons to pass a bill that says, “We support our troops.” That bill will expose the Democratic Party for what it is, the same kind of corporate tool, war machine as the Republicans are. Let the Democratic Party and the Republican Party join forces to create a bill condoning and celebrating the fact that we have sent young people (and now older people) overseas in harm’s way, and that condones and celebrates changing more people from citizens into “troops.” The American people should have no part of it.

I know there are citizens who are Democrats and Republicans (plain citizens) who actually want no part of that scenario. And, there are even some Democratic elected officials and Republican elected officials who want no part of that scenario.

“We support our troops,” is a twisted and inadequate phrase. And, to stick it into a bill that purports to end war is wrong and counterproductive.

American citizens, who can see each other heart to heart, real person to real person, should not condone the word “troops”, this dehumanizing turn of phrase. Nor should they let themselves be influenced or intimidated by the government’s ironic accusation of cruelty. “What, you don’t support our troops?” our elected officials sneer at peace demonstrators, at the same time those same elected officials exploit and kill more and more soldiers under the cover of patriotic propaganda.

What if the issue at hand were feminism? Could you see the Democratic Party and Republican Party creating a compromise bill to give women more rights by stating, “We support our little ladies.”

Words matter. Especially when a word turns a person from a living, breathing, human being–or a person who in death deserves to be properly mourned–into a mere number. A number which can be escalated and ratcheted up without the public even noticing or having a proper sense of loss and fear. A number which can be escalated without any consequence to greedy politicians and the greedy corporations that prop them up.

We don’t need Democratic Congresspersons who pander to the warmongering Republicans and pro-war Democrats. The American people voted “No to war” in this 2006 election. We need a bill that says, “Save our youth. Honor our service people who have completed their tours. Stop exposing American men and women to the stress and violence of a preemptive, illegal, war based on lies. End the war. Bring our PEOPLE home now.”

The peace movement should put an “x” through the word “troops” on all their banners that tried to shuffle past the war propaganda and say, “Support our troops–bring them home.” And, instead, people of peace should write above the word troops better phrases, the honor the humanity of those we genuinely support: “Support our men and women overseas”; “Support our servicepeople.”

And, when a pro-war Republican, or a warmongering Democrat, or a member of the press indoctrinated by the war-culture questions whether you support our troops, tell them: Yes, I support our service people. And, I demand that you support them to, by ending the war NOW; fixing and adequately funding the Veteran’s Administration; and ending the practice of “stop-loss” orders, which force people to serve beyond their agreed upon time, as indentured servants to the U.S. military and the Democrats and Republicans who vote for war without end.

From the New York Times:

WASHINGTON, March 2 — Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey was forced to resign Friday over the handling of revelations that wounded soldiers were receiving shabby and slow treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center…

In his weekly radio address, taped on Friday for broadcast on Saturday morning, Mr. Bush said, “This is unacceptable to me, it is unacceptable to our country, and it’s not going to continue.” The White House released a transcript without the usual embargo on its publication.

White House officials said the review ordered by Mr. Bush would examine soldiers’ medical treatment starting when they were wounded, as they were moved to Defense Department hospitals and as they received care in V.A. facilities after leaving the armed services.

zanne46's photo
Tue 05/06/08 02:07 PM
flowerforyou :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: flowerforyou

:heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

:heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart:

HasidicEnforcer's photo
Tue 05/06/08 03:09 PM
smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched


Stopping by to drop off some kisses for the wonderful troops before heading off to work!

Another round for another day of love and support!

drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker

checkinout42's photo
Tue 05/06/08 08:30 PM
Hey Myriah,

I'll help with this round for the troops.... God Bless the Soldier for all he/she does for us....

drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker

Rapunzel's photo
Wed 05/07/08 11:45 AM
Edited by Rapunzel on Wed 05/07/08 11:50 AM

smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched smooched


Stopping by to drop off some kisses for the wonderful troops before heading off to work!

Another round for another day of love and support!

drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker





:heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: kisses & hugs :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart: smooched :heart:



drinkerflowerforyou :heart: flowerforyou drinker lots of warm affection being sent drinker:heart: flowerforyou :heart: drinker



:heart: drinker smokin drinker :heart: Great Love & Pure Light for Our Troops :heart: drinker smokin drinker :heart:




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