"Support the troops" is one of those slogans that increased during the war in Iraq and the aftermath that followed. It conveys a sense of patriotism and appreciation for our soldiers. It claims a high level of admiration for the men and women who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Yet (as is the case in times of political tensions) it morphed into a political slogan some groups used to send the message, "Better Americans than you are."
Other groups opposed the war in Iraq but didn't mix their political convections with their sense of patriotism. For both groups, supporting the troops was a common value configured differently within their set of ideas. There is no better time and opportunity to show commitment to those values than recognizing it when the troops come home.
Sitting with a group of friends a few days ago, I heard what made me determined to bring the issue to the attention of the public. As I joked about joining the Army (funny because of my absolute lack of physical abilities whatsoever) the topic of conversation switched when one of my friends shocked us with a secret policy of the well-known retail chain where he works.
He said they ceased to hire members of the armed services, since many of them come back from overseas "kind of weird." He went to explain how rumors about the behavior of those soldiers motivated the hiring freeze, and he only knew about it because he worked there.
I recalled from previous conversations how some individuals perceive soldiers as nothing more than killing machines who joined the service to fulfill ambitions of committing criminal acts. They note the rigid structure within the military and accuse it of being conducive to such attitudes.
Some go even further by pointing out the current mess in Iraq as an example of "their efforts and work." Obviously, the pictures from Abu Ghraib prison formed as an easy reference point for them.
Foremost, the existence of the military is a visible necessity in our time. Countries have armies to protect and defend themselves against threats to their national security. In Western democracies, armies are under the command of the president/prime minister, thus the military option is part of the decision-making process.
Sometimes that option is utilized, sometimes not. Armies are the instruments of policy-makers: They do not act on behalf of themselves. Therefore, it is ludicrous to blame them for the war in Iraq. The moral responsibility does not lie on their shoulders; it lies on the commander in chief.
Being trained to fight in the heat of battle with a high risk of not making it back home comes with a price. Men and women who volunteered to join this establishment are under a different institutional framework from civilian society.
Even though they come (just like the country they are defending) from diverse backgrounds, they all share a taxing life experience. It's a natural byproduct of maintaining the ability to fight and win, and that's why there is a big difference between civilian and military life. Having an understanding of that kind of lifestyle is the essence of showing how much we "support the troops."
With the recent Abu Ghraib scandal fresh in military courts, it's easy to dismiss the whole establishment as corrupt, inhuman and unethical. Yet, as is the case with race, gender and religion, the existence of a few horrible elements within does not justify painting everyone with the same brush.
As an Arab Muslim in a post-Sept. 11, 2001 America, I never thought I would make the comparison between a religious group and a national establishment, but the two situations resemble each other closely.
It is appalling for a country that prides itself on equality and tolerance to discriminate against any group. It's even more reprehensible to do that against the men and women who are charged with protecting us.
Full moral responsibility for the current quagmire in Iraq should be confined to the Bush administration, not the foot soldiers who paid the dearest price. We owe them respect and confidence just like any other group. If we failed to do so, we would fail in our efforts to move on from the difficult time we are having in Iraq.
Yaser Alamoodi is a political science and religious science senior. For any bones to pick, reach him at yaser.alamoodi@asu.edu
