Originally posted by HurrayForSchool
...where would we (Americans) be if we didn't have an army? And I truly believe most US soldiers wouldn't kill INNOCENT citizens but also believe a soldier would protect himself when an Afgan were attacking him with an AK-47.
If you didn't have an army, you'd probably be invaded by Canada or Mexico by this time...
But on the other hand: when is the last time your army played a defensive role? I can't remember, but maybe you can...
And indeed: there's no need to defend America... thanks to the deterrent effect or your army. Heads of the soldiers standing guard in the cold all day and all night...
So far for the defense role of an army. Good job, guys. Now, the other side of the coin: the offensive role of your army. And that's what bothers me about the page 4MidgetHitmen directed us to: the generalization. I wouldn't mind signing that National Military Appreciation if there would at least be a little note, saying something like 'Thank you for standing guard at our borders all day and all night', or explaining how they defend your (so-called, imo) freedom. By signing it now, all you're doing is giving Bush ANOTHER signal to invade (that's offensive, not defensive ) Iraq.
"Over 1,673,000 thank you's already'? No, over 1,673,000 more signals to invade Iraq. And I'm proud not to be part of that group. And if I were American, I'd appreciate if the army also defended MY freedom, my freedom of NOT signing the Appreciation.

Originally posted by Palemoon
Hey Negative, I'll take a stab at why thank them. First off I grew up in the 60's came of age in the 70's the height of the Viet Nam War. We all hated it I seen older classmates go off get killed, we protested. What we forgot though is all of these people that were killed were drafted into service by law. Sure some including one of our Presedents avoided the draft, or went to Canada but most went at 18...children no choice. We as a country learned from this it is not the people that fight war are to be hated it is to honor them because out of no choice or choice the give back maybe with their life to their country because it is duty and they answered or were called. The people that fight the wars have nothing to do the agendas of men or Nations this is for the people we elect at least here in the US. I have the power of one vote and if you so like I can in the USA history tell you what has changed the course of history on one vote. I may not like the fact the US may make a war I hate the fact but turn my back upon the people called to fight it I will not. I at one time was where you are now..question all take it out on who is the cause not the ones providing the manpower.
Thanks for explaining why you signed the Appreciation, Palemoon. You're of course right when you say that most of those soldiers didn't/don't have a choice. My opinion though is that by signing that Appreciation, all you're doing is giving your government a signal: we are right to invade Iraq (just an example), we are right to send innocent Americans to a war they never asked for.
I never meant to target the loyal soldier just doing his duty; you probably know just as well as I do that they don't have a choice. And THAT is what bothers me. THAT is what bothers me about this Appreciation: imo, it's misleading propaganda.
And I'm NOT going to give them a signal saying 'Carry on, carry on, US Government, you're doing an excellent job'...

Originally posted by Ebo
Hey Negative, I will have you know. Before you start posting that kind of stuff you think about who may be on AO. I am a 15 year old boy that is today left with no father, because he was willing to fight and defend this country during Vietnam. He fought in it and developed so many diseases that he faught off long enough to bring his family to the United States of America. So when people send out this kind of Thank yous, one of them may be for my father, so when say that we do not know who we are sending it to, well now you have an idea. My father was a veteran and he would had stood up anyday to fight for this country in good or bad health. If my father, who is now resting in peace was proud enough of this country to fight for them anytime no matter the conditions of his health, well i am also proud of this country and i cherish it for, because my father taught me how to love and cherish the United States of America. You can go ahead and neg me if you are dumb enough not see the kind of pain many people that lost their loved ones in battlefields or after affects from battles. You can neg me if you want, but i believe this is what my father would had done and said if he was a live today to see this post by you.

I am proud to be in America and i love the people that are proud to be American.
That is exactly my concern about this Appreciation, ebo: you DO NOT know who you're sending this to. You come up with a touching story about your father... and I could come up with a horrible story about misbehaving American soldiers. If the Appreciation would have said 'Let's thank Ebo's father', I probably would have signed it. By signing the Appreciation, you're partly responsible for another kid going to be left without a father (don't take that literal, it's just a comparison), because you're giving the American government a signal. AND you're giving the misbehaving American soldier (no doubt there is at least one of that kind) the signal to keep on raping and stealing...

Oh, and btw: 'someone's' signing negative antipoints saying '*******' with your name

Originally posted by detoxsmurf
It also amazing how fast the people of Europe forget who helped them win WWI and WWII. The US military now focuses on bringing stability to 3rd world nations. Perhaps if you saw a child drink the same water that people and animals $#&! in you would have a different outlook.
Don't be mistaken, detoxsmurf: we Europeans don't forget that easily... It's amazing how Americans always come up with that arguement, and again you're using it to proove something completely else and not to the point. The connection between clear water and your arguement is beyond me...

Originally posted by Sgt_B
For all those that say "thank them for what"....you're simply ridiculous people. If your country didn't have an army of any sort guess what would happen. The crazy folks in the world (ie Saddam) would most likely attack, take over, whatever. Don't be so starry-eyed as to think it wouldn't happen. Even if you don't have a big military machine countries like the US would come to your aid. Just like we did in WW1, WW2, Korea, Gulf War...the latter being a bit questionable in my mind, but whatever, you get the point.
Yet you complain...yet if we stood by, and let bad **** happen...guess what....you'd complain.

People who say "Thank them for what" make me sick. You've most likely had it too good in your life to even see the need for military, but there is one. Sorry you can't see it.
I don't fail to see the need for military. My points of view on why you need an army are slightly different than yours, though. I asked a question, and only one or two people were able to give me a satisfiying answer. And I still stand by my point of not signing the Appreciation. Ridiculous or not. You're in the army, you claim to be one of the people 'defending Americans' freedom'... but you're only willing to defend your own point of freedom. Isn't freedom also about having an own opinion? People not signing the Appreciation (for whatever reason) make you sick? Fine, then you're on my list of reasons why I don't want to just thank ANY member of the American army.

Lemmy Kilmister - 1916

16 years old when I went to war,
To fight for a land fit for heroes,
God on my side,and a gun in my hand,
Counting my days down to zero,
And I marched and I fought and I bled
And I died & I never did get any older,
But I knew at the time, That a year in the line,
Is a long enough life for a soldier,
We all volunteered,
And we wrote down our names,
And we added two years to our ages,
Eager for life and ahead of the game,
Ready for history's pages,
And we fought and we brawled
And we whored 'til we stood,
Ten thousand shoulder to shoulder,
A thirst for the Hun,
We were food for the gun,and that's
What you are when you're soldiers,
I heard my friend cry,
And he sank to his knees,coughing blood
As he screamed for his mother
And I tell by his, side,
And that's how we died,
Clinging like kids to each other,
And I lay in the mud
And the guts and the blood,
And I wept as his body grew colder,
And I called for my mother
And she never came,
Though it wasn't my fault
And I wasn't to blame,
The day not half over
And ten thousand slain,and now
There's nobody remembers our names
And that's how it is for a soldier.
whats wrong about invading Iraq moron, I dont like war as much as you do, what do you want diplomacy to Iraq
Now I understand why that Appreciation is kept so simple: just typing your name, your city, and picking your state and country, then clicking a button is something even you can do.

you are an anti-american, this just prove's it. No one wants to hear ur anti-american opinions.
I ain't anti-American or I wouldn't be here.

Go **** yourself ... Last time I chcked you wouldn't have a ****ing country if it weren't for a US service member dumbass..
Last time I checked you wouldn't be writing your very bright comment in English if it weren't for Europe - there's that lame arguement again, only this time it ain't even used to back up something not-to-the-point. And someone give this dude a Nobel-prize.

If you have an issue with them being there, take it up with the president and/or congress, not the average joe fighting for his country.
I ain't American, Bush wouldn't listen to me... and by posting against that Appreciation, I AM taking it up with the president and/or congress. Maybe my voice will get through to someone who won't vote for Bush anymore - not that it matters how many votes he gets, but anyways...