<p>This was announced in the Washington Post today. You can commemorate September 11 by showing support for the troops, by a march from the Pentagon to Arlington Cemetary and then to going to a hoedown on the Mall. </p>
<p>The photo on the website this morning featured Sean Hannidy, Sen. Santorum and Oliver North with some troops. (maybe they change the photo periodically) They say this Pentagon-sponsored event is not a political event. But…don’t forget to “register” for this public event by the deadline. you can’t support the troops unless you have a ticket. </p>
<p>citygirlsmom, that’s what I think when I see those ubiquitous magnetic ribbons on cars. I hope whoever bought it did more than just buy the sticker. Mow the lawn for a woman whose husband is deployed. Send a care package to a soldier. Write your congressman in support of good VA benefits. That’s real, tangible support for our troops.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, “support for the troops” has become the 21st century version of the 1950’s slogan “my country right or wrong.”</p>
<p>Our national leaders captured and refocused Americans’ sense of hurt and revenge after 9/11 not only on the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan (a “just” response, in my opinion) but also on justifying a preemptive war against Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein was depicted as a supporter of the 9/11 attackers and al Qaeda, and as posing an iminent danger to America because of his WMD, including nuclear weapons. Some 70% of Americans were convinced (according to polls in 2003) that Saddam was behind the 9/11 attacks.</p>
<p>And so, while virtually every American wants to “support our troops,” this slogan has been put forward in place of “celebrate our troops” as a thinly disguised way to validate the official deceptions that led to our launching the attack on Iraq in 2003 – not only to validate those deceptions but also to overlook the terrible lack of planning that turned Iraq into the number one recruiting and training ground of international terrorism today.</p>
<p>We indeed ought to celebrate the huge sacrifices by our troops. But I do so without excusing the huge errors committed by our country’s leaders.</p>
<p>hoedown:
I think the same thing about the magnetic ribbons. I suspect they are invariably the same people who are obsessed with “cutting taxes” and would vote down any congressman who tried to increase financial support to the troops or the veterans. (Although these same folks don’t seem to mind paying taxes to cover the cuts for the very wealthy or the oil companies…go figure.)</p>
<p>The hoedown - How is a hoedown respectful of the day that it commemorates or the sacrifice made by our troops???</p>
<p>Not to use his name in vain, but what a gathering of Curmudgeons!</p>
<p>In what sense has anyone determined that those who may march between the pentagon and Arlington Cemetery on Sept 11 are not doing the things you suggest they do, or other things beyond your vision (and which, you are undoubtedly doing on your own)?</p>
<p>I myself am not given to such public gestures, but Im not ready to enthusiastically impugn the motives of those who are; at least not without some cause for it beyond my own sense of political righteousness.</p>
<p>Besides, whats wrong with a little camaraderie in the memorial of such a recent defining national-tragedy?</p>
<p>September 11 is my birthday, try to get your mind around celebrating it under these circumstancesa moment of silence before blowing out the candles?</p>
<p>Not that it should matter, but I opposed the war.</p>
<p>Did anyone see the interview of the mother of a slain soldier that is leading a protest outside of Bush’s vacation residence in Crawford. Her perspective was very insightful. She particularly felt deceived and lied to by President Bush and she along with other parents in the same situation felt that their child’s death was in vain. It is very sad to say the least.
One very poignant question she posed was “why doesn’t President Bush send his D’s to replace some of the soldiers that are being forced to stay and put in extra time?” So far to my knowledge she hasn’t gotten a response.</p>
<p>Have you all looked at the 2 websites? You need to register at least 2 days before the event, and print out your ticket. Do you this is so they can do a background check? This ticket will have a number on it and you have to and bring it with you to march. No one will be allowed to participate who does not have this ticket. these are public sidewalks and streets. I wonder how they are going to prevent others from joining up? by creating some kind of perimeter i would assume. And the Mall is public space i wonder if they are going to fence it all off so no one else can get in. Any lawyers out there? Is this legal? Do these restrictions turn this public event into a private event? And I suppose taxpayers will have to foot the bill in part (there are also sponsors) but DC police will have to provide police protection and this costs huge amounts of money. there were those people in devner thrown out of a public social security event because one of them had a unacceptable bumpersticker on her car. do you think they will try to throw out prople who are registered but have a nonconforming tee shirt on for example? I wonder if the organizers can control this event to the degree they think the can without a huge police presence.
cama i dont think the pres can “send” his daughters like no parent could send a child because they are over 18…but i dont thing the twins have actually been to iraq either to visit the troops …maybe they have i’m not sure.</p>
<p>I am not assuming anything about the marchers, I am wondering about the administration. From all I have read, in many different blogs, newspapers, magazines, from all sides, many soldiers have alot of issues, and do many of our veterans. When we have a country where a huge percentage of our homeless are war veterans I have to wonder about the support we claim to show. The March is a Show. It has no substance.</p>
<p>Have a march, fine, but to say, oh this is to support our troops is hypocritcal by an administration that has done so little for them.</p>
<p>I think the men and women in Iraq are honorable, I do not think they are fighting an honorable war. I think they have died honorably, but not for an honorable war.</p>
<p>Those that support this march, what is it exactly for…to honor the victims of 9-11, to support our troops, to support the war?</p>
<p>Read some about how the returning soldiers are having health issues, trying to get rehabilited with missing limbs, and how our wonderful government wanted to charge them for lunch. Read about the meals they were eating over there, read about the bankruptcies, the emotional problems, the divorces, the jobs that aren’t there.</p>
<p>Talk to the mothers of the dead.</p>
<p>For those that are young enough to enlist, are you going to join the up in this noble and honorable cause?</p>