Stickers Aren't Support

The popular cliche these days is "Support Our Troops". The worshippers of the false god of patriotism scream at anti-war protesters that we must support the troops and, to do otherwise is somehow unpatriotic. This hollow phrase and the pretty yellow ribbon stickers on cars beg the question as to what the sticker people do to support the troops.

The word "support" is defined as follows:

1a : to promote the interests or cause of b : to uphold or defend as valid or right c : to argue or vote for

2 : to provide with substantiation or corroboration (support an alibi)

3 : to provide with the means of livelihood (as housing, food, or clothing) esp. in accordance with an agreement or court order

4 : to hold up or in position : maintain the physical integrity of the right to have one's land supported by the underlying land.
Source:
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Do these sticker people pick up guns and spend their weekends in Iraq supporting their friends and family in battle? Do they buy the body armor? Do they send money? Maybe some send money, but I would bet that most don't do anything.

Support implies some type of active conduct. A common example of support is, as illustrated by definition number three set forth above, financial support. A father who is ordered to pay child support cannot shirk this responsibility by putting a sticker on his car that reads "I support my kids". Even if that father, with the best of intentions, keeps pictures of his kids with him at all times, no one rational would argue that he supports them by doing so. No judge would ever accept that.

The military has been having a tough time meeting its recruiting goals and, more and more, is refusing to allow soldiers to go home when they are due to be discharged. To all those who claim to "support our troops", I suggest that you put your money where your mouth is and run to your nearest military recruitment office so that you can enlist and really support our troops. Until then, shut up hypocrite.