To the American troops and their families

[The Prophet]

I was curious to how many people have family or friends that are deployed around the world? They voluntarily took upon themselves a great responsibility. We so many times take for granted the things our military go through for our safety and freedom. The best Superbowl commercial was the one with the troops going through the airport.

To anyone that has family or friends in the military, just a heartfelt thanks to you and them. Here is a short flash video dedicated to them.

Our American Troops (http://www.interviewwithgod.com/july4/)

[Walrus]

no offence but you yanks are far too patriotic...

[theburning]

no offence but you yanks are far too patriotic...

How can you include no offense and that statement together?

[S_K_O_F]

no offence but you yanks are far too patriotic...

I suppose loving your country is a crime in England?

we are proud of those who have assured our superiority

[Walrus]

im not even gonna start getting into an argument about this. i retain my original comment, that is all.

[drakonfire]

no offence but you yanks are far too patriotic...

what exactly is wrong with thanking those that put their lives on the line for us?

i think it should be done more often, far too often those who agree with what is happening say nothing, and the only thing you here is the voices of those condemning it, so every once in a while, its nice to see some one step up and say "thank you, even if it is your job, thank you for taking it"

[Realist]

Its not wrong, but it can be done outside the context of patriotism. Thanking soldiers and loving (obsessing over) one's country are two very different concepts.

The other important point this movie fails to get is that the enemy soldiers are often just as brave, dedicated, and faithful to their cause as ours are; so obviously we shouldn't put these qualities as higher values than the actual reasons we are fighting (which are often bad reasons).

[The Cheat]

I say we need to support the troops. But I do believe it was and still is a pointless "war." But since the troops are there, they need support.

[Warcow]

no offence but you yanks are far too patriotic...

I wouldn't say patriotism is the problem at all, I am a die hard patriot of Canada, I think the problem is arrogance more than anything.

[Walrus]

i do not object to thanking those who put their lives on the line, i fully support it.

[MokoToko]

no offence but you brits are far too british

[The Prophet]

I wouldn't say patriotism is the problem at all, I am a die hard patriot of Canada, I think the problem is arrogance more than anything.
Arrogance of what?

[max2k106]

Ya know what bugs me? Those yellow ribbons people have on their cars that say "Support Our Troops." It's like having a bumper sticker that says "don't forget to breathe." It's so obvious, what sane person would want all the troops to die . . . I just think its obnoxious and obvious and those ribbons just bug me . . . If you want to support the troops, don't buy a yellow ribbon, send stuff to them . . . ya know those donation centers and whatnot. That's what they're there for.

[MokoToko]

I'm pretty sure the money for the ribbons goes to the troops supllys and stuff....if not than thats pretty shitty

[Warcow]

Arrogance of what?

I meant the problem isn't when a populus becomes over patriotic, infact that is a great thing, it promotes unity. The problem is when a people becomes overly arrogant, which the states (Not individuals in general, but certain people, aka GW) have become. That creates alot of problems, and alot of hatred around the world.

[Aro23r]

That post is so Realist, it's amazing.

(Realist's, obviously).

[Megabyte]

your all too black and white (brits and americans, and anyone else I can lump into there), just because your in the military or support the soldiers does NOT mean your patriotic, vice versa. Realist has it right. Patriotism is just a word that people like to use.

I am NOT patriotic, I detest the attitude in which this country is directed and I detest the way most americans like to have opinions; but not have information, experience, or wisdom to go along with that opinion. This isn't a specific dig at ANYONE, so don't flatter urself to think that I'm picking on you in particular, its just a general attitude I have. I fully plan on taking my graduate studies in Europe someday and making my life there because of my dislike for the way this country is run.

I also detest the pretense we have for committing our forces.

However, I lend my support for our troops, and am signed up for the Marines officer program myself, and will be joining the service after I get my degree. Why? Because it doesn't matter if I support the cause or if I'm patriotic, I understand that despite what ppl like to say about democracy, my feeling don't direct the country. There are people dieing, horribly, painfully, and for reasons I think are stupid. My cousin is in the process of shipping off, and I will be doing the same when I'm ready because we feel that by going there, we will have a more direct impact on the world than by being patriotic.

We go with the idea that if we can save someone's life while we're there, then thats more than being patriotic ever did for us. I know 3 soldiers right now who are doing their tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. They all have wives, husbands, and children. I think its MUCH more fitting that someone like myself who doesn't have these obligations or people who need me goes to war than somone like them.

It isn't about patriotism, its about caring about people in the world. We do what we can, when we can, how we can.

This isn't patriotism, its simple humanity. Patriotism is an ideal our forefathers used to help create a nation. Don't dillude urselves to believing that what our current political leaders do now is anything close to being on the same level. Thats an insult to our ancestors and the concept under which the US was created.

*rant mode off*

sry, touchy subject for me

[Terps rock]

stop making those im crying

[Walrus]

i agree byte. patriotism and supporting troops are different. people who have signed up to fight for their countries deserve respect regardless of where they are ordered to go and who they are ordered to kill.
i was referring more to what warcow said about arrogance than "pure" patriotism. i say "pure" because a lot of people misunderstand exactly what is meant by that.

[Northwind]

Megabyte,

As I said in my rep, I think that was one of the single greatest posts I've seen in my time on these forums.

It's clarity and emotion cut through the layers of BS like a knife through butter.

[Megabyte]

i re-read that and realize i used the word detest a lot :) so its all good.

*looks up detest real fast to make sure it means what he thinks it means*

edit: and I'm going to end up quoting ur rep on that north. Its bothered me that ur wittier than I am and now I hav some saving grace (not the bad type of bothered...the "shaking fist and yelling at random clouds" bothered)

[xerent]

I'm pretty sure the money for the ribbons goes to the troops supllys and stuff....if not than thats pretty shitty

Those yellow ribbons are made in Taiwan. You do nothing except increate America's need for imported goods by purchasing one.

<story>

There was this one minivan. Flags plastered everywhere, with no less than 4 of those ribbon things on it... you know the type. Somehow, I get the feeling that they aren't saying quite so much as 'I love this country, and it's heritage' as they are saying 'I obviously have more patriotism than you, you communist pig'.

Anyways. One of these minivans was parked at a mall with a theatre inside. It was somewhat late and dark, but the parking lot was still packed, because of the weekend movie goers.

Looking at all these ribbons and flags, I felt that there were some people who may not have gotten the point. So I took a few liberities. I went through about a quarter of the parking lot of the mall, which is no small feat in itself, and removed every magnetic ribbon I found. Final count was at about 120-ish.

I then proceeded to stick said ribbons on said minivan. I didn't stick around to see what happened, because it was kind of cold, and I could be waiting for a while, nor did I have the luxury of a camera. But I do believe that will be a memorable night for someone.

</story>

[nads]

There are more current and former members of the American Military in TAO than many of you may realize.

[S_K_O_F]

Ya know what bugs me? Those yellow ribbons people have on their cars that say "Support Our Troops." It's like having a bumper sticker that says "don't forget to breathe." It's so obvious, what sane person would want all the troops to die . . . I just think its obnoxious and obvious and those ribbons just bug me . . . If you want to support the troops, don't buy a yellow ribbon, send stuff to them . . . ya know those donation centers and whatnot. That's what they're there for.

the proceeds from those ribbons go to troop causes...at least they are supposed to

those yellow ribbons go back all the way to the revolutionary war. If a person had one of those ribbons outside their frontdoor, it meant that their household was willing to aid American Troops.

during world war 1 and 2 yellow ribbons were everywhere in support of the troops who were fighting

the new magnetized ribbons are he same thing except you dont actually tie them on

basically, the ribbon is just a show that the person wearing it, or showing it is willing to aid the troops

[Northwind]

those yellow ribbons go back all the way to the revolutionary war. If a person had one of those ribbons outside their frontdoor, it meant that their household was willing to aid American Troops.
Is this true? I thought that the whole "yellow ribbon" thing was based on the "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" song and was first used by people to remember the hostages that were taken in Iran in the 1970's. However, from what you say, maybe the song was based on a previous yellow ribbon campaign. I'll have to Google it when I get a chance. Thanks.

Edit: Here is a link (http://www.americanfamilytraditions.com/yellow_ribbon.htm) explaining it. SKOF was mostly right.

[S_K_O_F]

Is this true? I thought that the whole "yellow ribbon" thing was based on the "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" song and was first used by people to remember the hostages that were taken in Iran in the 1970's. However, from what you say, maybe the song was based on a previous yellow ribbon campaign. I'll have to Google it when I get a chance. Thanks.

this is what I was taught in junior high during the gulf war

[nads]

There was an old World War 1 era song about a girl who wore a yellow ribbon and pushed a baby carriage around town, waiting for her man to come back from the war. That's as far as my own personal research can trace it back to.

[Jehutyv.2.0]

Those yellow ribbons are made in Taiwan. You do nothing except increate America's need for imported goods by purchasing one.

<story>

There was this one minivan. Flags plastered everywhere, with no less than 4 of those ribbon things on it... you know the type. Somehow, I get the feeling that they aren't saying quite so much as 'I love this country, and it's heritage' as they are saying 'I obviously have more patriotism than you, you communist pig'.

Anyways. One of these minivans was parked at a mall with a theatre inside. It was somewhat late and dark, but the parking lot was still packed, because of the weekend movie goers.

Looking at all these ribbons and flags, I felt that there were some people who may not have gotten the point. So I took a few liberities. I went through about a quarter of the parking lot of the mall, which is no small feat in itself, and removed every magnetic ribbon I found. Final count was at about 120-ish.

I then proceeded to stick said ribbons on said minivan. I didn't stick around to see what happened, because it was kind of cold, and I could be waiting for a while, nor did I have the luxury of a camera. But I do believe that will be a memorable night for someone.

</story>
Taking a magnetic ribbon from cars...isn't that theft?

[Megabyte]

Taking a magnetic ribbon from cars...isn't that theft?
they were giving 'em away at my campus, so...I don't think u can really be stealing something they got for free.

I dunno if ppl must pay for them or donate or what in other places.
edit: also, technically he didn't take them, just moved them :)

[Jehutyv.2.0]

they were giving 'em away at my campus, so...I don't think u can really be stealing something they got for free.

I dunno if ppl must pay for them or donate or what in other places.
edit: also, technically he didn't take them, just moved them :)
Damn you and your highly flawed logic!