"Support Our Troops" stickers in Canada: Do they belong on public vehicles?
I've been seeing a lot of something while driving that I have not seen before in my life. Little gold ribbons stuck to bumbers that read, "Support our Troops."
http://spmedia.canada.com/gallery/00...19decal475.jpg
Though spotting these stickers was rare a month or two ago, it's at the point now where I can count on seeing at least one of these stickers even on a short drive. After a google search on the matter, I came across a National post article on the controversy. Some feel that the sticker is a stealth way for those who support our unpopular participation to show it, while others feel it is used to honour the troops.
Ultimately, you should be allowed to place whatever you want (within reason) to your car.
The real debate surrounds the affixing of these stickers to public vehicles (which I'm absolutely against) - as you can't please everybody.
As Bill Hicks said, "What if I support the war, but not the troops?" I think that Hicks really tries to point out the absurdity of these stickers as pro war propaganda and redundant. As a possible way of making people feel guilty for being critical of the war.
It's a really deep and potentially offensive issue for most though. The article at the post has some interesting discussion on it though.
NP Link
Some arguments by readers (which proved more interesting that the article):
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The problem is that, while the stickers ostensibly state the unarguable command to "Support Our Troops", the underlying message that many who sport these stickers are trying to get across is that of support for the war in Afghanistan. To most people, especially those with the mentality required to affix a tacky ribbon sticker to their car, one cannot "support our troops" without foregoing criticism of the mission those troops are tasked with carrying out.
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Take your bad feelings about the war in Afghanistan out on our politicians who made the decision, not on our soldiers!
God bless (me - *SIGH* - )our soldiers and their families. May they make a positive difference and return safely.
Graham
Winnipeg
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Given how our troops seem to be constantly neglected, ignored, and abused when it comes their support, one would think that the display of a "tacky ribbon sticker" to their vehicle would be the least they could do. As for those moderately media-savvy persons... your ability to enjoy those personal freedoms were won on the backs of those that have served, and are currently serving, our country.
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really don't understand why anyone feels that we should place stickers on public vehichles to announce that we support our troops, personally I think it's ridiculous.
These people are just doing there jobs, just as the police officers and firefighters of this country do every single day. I support anyone that puts there life on the line for the better of his community or country.
You Americans are probably used to this by now - what do you think?