Is it Possible to Support the Troops and Not the War in Iraq?

Is it possible to support our troops, but not support the war in Iraq? I ask you this- Is there any way we can do any less for the men and women who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom? Can we honestly look at a single one of them, and not respect them for the willingness to make that sacrifice?

If it weren't for the hundreds and thousands of brave men and women over the last few hundred years who were willing to die for our country- we wouldn't be America, we wouldn't have the freedoms that we do have. Is that a thought that any of us are willing to entertain? I know that I for one, am unwilling to consider what our country- our world- would be like if we didn't have brave Americans, past and present, willing to die for us.

As a military wife, I have been spit on, cursed, called names, accused of being a "war-monger", told that my husband is a "baby-killer", a murderer, etc. Now, isn't that pretty ironic? Considering the fact that my husband wears the uniform and is willing to die for me if that's what it takes- the freedom that you take for granted to call him names and curse me or spit on me. You have that freedom because of him and countless others who have come and gone before him.

As Americans, we have become entirely too "cocky" and take for granted that our freedoms are "free", that we will always have the rights and privileges that we do, and very seldom do we bother to consider why we have those freedoms and rights, and it's rare for any of our brave service-members to hear a "thank-you."

Instead of blaming our troops for the war in Iraq, or taking our anger over the war out on them, why not place the blame where it really belongs? With our President, Congress and all the rest of the "Higher Ups." Our service men and women have jobs to do, that's why the United States Department Of Defense gives them their paychecks. Don't blame our troops for the war in Iraq, remember that a lot of them don't agree with the war either.

I am not suggesting that every one of our service members are "saints" or should be put on pedestals. But let's face the fact that they are the ones wearing that uniform and willing to do whatever it takes to keep us, our families, our children and our life as we know it- safe. Is it fair to blame them for something that they had no choice about? Not in my book it's not.

"Supporting The Troops" doesn't mean you have to agree with the war in Iraq, or any other war. It means being there and being appreciative of our service members and their families. Be thankful that someone is willing to make the sacrifice for you, so you don't have to!

Be respectful of them and their uniform. They wear that uniform because they believe in the freedom that we have as a country, the values this country was founded on, and they are willing to die to keep those freedoms for their families, friends, complete strangers. What more can we ask of these brave men and women willing to risk their lives for all of us, and countless others? The least we can do is say "Thank-you."

As for the rest, if we want the war over, and don't want another one, that lies within congress, the president and countless others. Use your voting rights and your voice to change things, don't harass, disrespect and blame our troops. They can't change the war. That's up to the people they are willing to die to protect.