Yep. I realized that when I read Masklinn's response. That's why I apologized and tried to explain. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Back to the original topic - of course, the soldiers, from both sides, must be respected, no less nor more than all the other people that makes our society work, the teachers who teach our kids, the policemen who keep our life safe, the grocery people who sell us food, ... ;)

Agreed 100% (PMed you BTW [img]smile.gif[/img] )

[ 03-22-2003, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: Melusine ]

I support the troops on both sides of this conflict so much, that I call for an end to it. What greater support could you give besides standing up and being counted among the many calling to get them ALL out of harms way?

Therefore, by the aforementioned logic, saying that demonstarting on the pro-peace side is unsupportive of the troops and unconcerned about their welfare is a farce.

I'll agree, but only with the fact that everyone deserves respect.

Those who risk their lives do deserve a bit more of our respect. Of course, that isn't just soldiers. Firemen and police officers immediately spring to mind. What everyone contributes to society is certainly important, but not everyone has to put their life on the line to do their job. My job is important, but I won't be killed answering a phone or talking on the radio. ;)

[ 03-22-2003, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

Spot on.

Totally agree.

Well, I've never said people shouldn't protest, and I've never said protestors were unpatriotic or that they hated or blamed the soldiers for the war. I've never said it because, for the overwhelming majority, I don't believe any of it to be true. Protestors are standing up for what they believe in, and that's what Democracy is all about.

The argument for protesting as a way of supporting the soldiers (using Chewbacca's logical argument) may make sense to us here, but I just don't think if I was in the desert facing possible death, I would find the thought of protestors at home uplifting. I don't think I would see them as supporting me; I'd see them as opposing a political decision and recognize it as their right, but the two aren't the same. :(

[ 03-23-2003, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

Ronn, I'll reply to both your posts in here, because they are related.

There are a lot more civilians that you mentioned who put their life on the line every day. I would like to express utmost respect to all the humanitarian people, doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers, who risk their live in going to dangerous countries to make people's lives better all over the world.

And I would also like to express my deepest respect to all the Iraqi civilians, men and women who are right now trying to survive and protect their children from the hell happening on their heads.

I have been told many stories from my parents and grandparents about WWII. I am astonished at the level of heroism many many ordinary people showed every day during five bloody long years, in simply managing to hang on through the restrictions and the uncertainties and the ever-ending fear for their families and their children. And I think about all the simple families who hid and protected Jewish families and children - at the risk for their lives that they assumed simply because they felt they had to do it. These people, they never got glory and rewards and medals - and they didn't ask for them, it was simply something they had to do - and they were true heroes. When I hear spew about the French people having been cowards during WWII, I don't think first of the soldiers, I think first of all these simple heroes and I weep for them. And I weep all the same for all these Iraqi men and women and children who are now put through the same ordeal on top of all the damage brought them by Saddam and by the embargo.

I don't like the idea of protesting the war showing a lack of respect for the soldiers fighting it. On the contrary, I believe many of the people protesting the war do it from respect for the civilian Iraqi people enduring it.

Sure they do, but that isn't protesting for soldiers, which has been suggested. Again, I believe people have the right to protest, but this thread was about supporting the soldiers, and I don't believe the soldiers in the field view protests in the street as support for them.

[ 03-23-2003, 05:34 PM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]