[Marxism] Supporting the Troops [Was: The low point...]

["Mark Lause" <MLause@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The "support the troops" mantra is in reaction to the U.S. military-treated
myth that Vietnam veterans were abused by antiwar people in the 1960s and
1970s.  You wouldn't believe how many students tell me that the difference
between Iraq and Vietnam is that people can oppose the Iraq War while being
supporting the troops.

I think that, beneath the propaganda, there is a sense that supporting the
troops implies that you're not going to say anything to damage their
self-esteem, the Real American Idol of our times.  The troops are supposed
to feel good about what they're doing and any discussion of it is not
supportive of them.

This is a complicated question, though, for all the reasons discussed.  I'd
suggest that the formulation of the Vietnam Veterans: "Honor the Warrior,
Not the War" is a good one.

ML







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