by Pat Bulova

Created on: May 20, 2007   Last Updated: May 21, 2007

Americans should support their troops because Americans are blessed. And we
continue to be blessed because we have men and women ready to stand up for freedom.

Why does a policeman uphold the law? He does so because he feels he has an
obligation. He is obligated by his conscience or because he enjoys the freedom of walking on the streets and pursuing his life without fear. If he didn't leave his home everyday and take his own life in his hands there would be chaos everywhere and there would not be freedom for any of us.

When Americans and our allies stand up for our freedoms, there really is no choice at that point. We are "all for one and one for all".

When a hometown guy or girl goes away in the service of their country they do not
excuse themselves of their everyday responsibilities. I think we forget that sometimes. We think the government is giving them enough money to continue to pay their debts, but we all know, (if we thought about it) that just isn't the way it is.

Once a person gets sent to wherever the service wants him or her the person actually has more responsibility than what he/she had as a civilian. When their spouse is alone, they have double duty without their mate being there to help. The children have problems they never exhibited while the parent was home and it creates a host of problems we as civilians going about our day can't even imagine.

If I had a single child in service, as I once had, I would be worried about their safety day and night.

The son or daughter may have had obligations to their mother,dad or siblings before they left for duty. We could go on and on why our troops deserve our support. Everyone suffers and sacrifices in times like these and we all need each other's support.

To say "we support the troops but not the war" is kind of a misnomer; like you can't have one without the other. It's like saying, when you were a kid, "I'm going to squeal on you for breaking that lamp, but I know you're NOT going to have to pay the consequence". When we give with one hand and take away with the other we are
probably better to not do anything, and you know what has happened throughout history when we do nothing. The history books are full of the evil that ensues.

Every time I see service personnel, I ask to shake their hand and I say "thank you".
I know it is never enough, but I may be there when they come home and may be able to do something for them at that time. Of course the better choice is to be of help right now and that is why we support in any way we can, whatever it takes.

"America right or wrong" sounds like we have the right to judge. The way for me to say what I agree with or disagree with is by raising my voice, either through a peaceful march or my vote, but saying "I support the troops but not the war just doesn't work for me.

"The troops", essentially, are you and me and our families and friends. We have to support each other because we are all in it together. We support the troops because we are Americans and America is worth supporting.

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