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29 Oct 08 - 05:18 PM (#2479308) Subject: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert Do not turn this into an Irish issue please. In general when troops return from Iraq etc are their homecoming parades welcome by all. Do Americans blame the troops for Iraq or politicians?
-Joe Offer, Forum Moderator- |
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29 Oct 08 - 05:53 PM (#2479336) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: PoppaGator I don't know that there are many such parades ~ maybe in small towns. Certainly, in the immediate area of military bases, there is always some kind of celebration when an active-duty unit arrives home as a group. Here in the greater New Orleans metropolitan area, I don't know of a single such event having taken place over the entire time of the Iraq War, and we will generally use any excuse to put on a parade. Many of the young people being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are Reservists and National Guard members, people with civilian lives and jobs, who live anywhere and everywhere (not on military bases). When a guard or reserve unit completes its assignment, it flies to the US as a group and lands at some Air Force base, but then the individuals disperse and so have their "homecomings" as individuals. Generally speaking, to address your real question, returning service members are welcomed back happily, and never blamed for war. Some folks are true believers and support the entire effort unreservedly, but even among those who believe the war was wrong from the get-go have nothing but goodwill for the individual veterans. There's nothing today like the Vietnam-era vituperation directed at returning "babykillers." It's pretty ironic ~ back then, most of the soldiers were draftees who may or may not have supported the war, while today, they're all volunteers who could have stayed home and never joined the military. Seems like there would be more reason to be judgemental towards today's returning vets than there was towards the returning draftees of yesteryear, but that's not how reality has played out. |
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29 Oct 08 - 06:17 PM (#2479359) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Ireland has considerably more national pride, than the good ol' U.S.A. Here we have national inflated ego |
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29 Oct 08 - 06:24 PM (#2479369) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: pdq "...(in) the good ol' U.S.A. Here we have national inflated ego..." And damn proud of it! |
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29 Oct 08 - 06:29 PM (#2479375) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert I see it took until the second reply for the Irish issue. Thanks for your reply PGator. |
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29 Oct 08 - 06:35 PM (#2479380) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Barry Finn I haven't heard of any such parades or reports of such. I'd have to agree pretty much with PoppaGator. While I was hard & fast against this war from he start, I can understand how some ended up fighting. Some because of their beliefs, some of the poorer for a career & some for a skill or training. Some just cause they couldn't make it school & some cause they couldn't find a job. There are those who in the beginning were already in the National Guard & got a shock & then there are some who wanted the military life but for what ever reason THEY did not start this war & I wouldn't hold them accountable. I would like to see a military parade for those that did start this was & see them marched to the gallows. As far as inflated egos GFS you may speak for yourself but as a not so proud American please speak only for yourself & not the rest of US, we have to many assholes already Barry |
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29 Oct 08 - 06:42 PM (#2479387) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Bobert Not many parades but absolutely no blame put on our returning service people... We all know who got US into Iraq... |
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29 Oct 08 - 06:44 PM (#2479390) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Rapparee Oh fer... When the 148th Field Artillery (our NG unit) arrived back here from Iraq there were celebrations and a parade. When the 1016th QM (our Army Reserve unit) came back, same thing. An estimated 1 out of 8 people in this county are veterans of some war or another. The VN vets are pretty adamant about saying "Thank You" to those who are serving. INDIVIDUALS are even met at the airport by an Honor Guard, even if they're just coming back on leave. Even the Library has a banner out there that reads "Welcome Back -- And Thanks." Folks here blame the politicians, not their friends, sons, husbands, neighbors. |
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29 Oct 08 - 06:45 PM (#2479391) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Rapparee By the way -- the community sent over 8,000 paperback books over with the two units when they left. Reading AND trading material.... |
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29 Oct 08 - 07:05 PM (#2479409) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: gnu Good stuff, Rap! Even though this seems to be a "troll" thread, asking such a stunned question, I feel a NEED to post. On November 11, at the eleventh hour, I shall watch my uncle, 87, march in. I will remember also my father and four of his five sisters. One brother was too young, one sister was married. None of them questioned the politicians. They volunteered to serve their country. They knew that what they were doing was right. They trusted the powers that were. Today, the same men and women serve. Some questions have been cast on the politicians. More and more, these questions are being cast. More and more.... But, questions or no, those who serve will always be celebrated and thanked... for those who are willing to fight for freedom for their fellow man are the only hope for our fellow man... and ourselves. Call that hokey shit if you want, but freedom for the masses never came without a fight. In Flander's Field... lest we forget. |
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29 Oct 08 - 10:47 PM (#2479547) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Rapparee "The tree of liberty must, from time to time, be watered with the blood of patriots." -- Thomas Paine You may disagree with the reasons for a war or even with war itself. But never think that those who serve serve serve as blind automatons or as blood-crazed killers. They're "most remarkable like you." |
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30 Oct 08 - 11:27 AM (#2479949) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: PoppaGator Rap, I'm glad to hear you've witnessed a couple of such parades in your area. Of course, Idaho is hardly representative of the entire US, any more than New Orleans is (for entirely different reasons, of course). |
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30 Oct 08 - 02:17 PM (#2480115) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity As far as inflated egos GFS you may speak for yourself but as a not so proud American please speak only for yourself & not the rest of US, we have to many assholes already Barry, who is speaking for...??????? Actually, I am grateful to be an American, but more, I'm humbled to be one of God's children. |
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30 Oct 08 - 03:25 PM (#2480180) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Joe Offer During this election campaign, there are some who have tried to label opposition to the Iraq war as "not supporting our troops," but I think that generally people haven't bought that argument. Still, I get campaign literature every day that tries that, usually from non-veteran Republicans trying to accuse Democratic military veteran candidates of failing to support the troops. Yes, Americans have been very supportive of returning soldiers, and I'm glad of that. It's the politicians that make the decision to fight, not the soldiers. Many of us anti-war veterans learned that the hard way. -Joe- |
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30 Oct 08 - 03:36 PM (#2480186) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Rapparee Joe, I only met one person when I was in the Infantry who WANTED to fight. He was mentally unstable and the Army finally took him away for psychiatric treatment. Never met an Infantryman who wasn't, after the first bullet, a deep-down anti-war pacifist. |
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30 Oct 08 - 06:19 PM (#2480316) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert Sorry GNU if you think this is a troll thread, in no way is it my intention. I made a comment earlier on another thread and deemed it to be of no use to the thread and asked for it to be removed, which it was, no troll here. |
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30 Oct 08 - 06:23 PM (#2480320) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert Sorry Joe I did not realise that this would be seen as political, I wanted to know how people treat their returning soldiers, did not realise it was political. If it offends in any please remove it. |
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31 Oct 08 - 02:49 PM (#2481050) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,Andy Kim The British army has cancelled a flypast for a soldiers homecoming parade in Belfast this weekend, as political leaders appealed for calm amid increasing fears of violence breaking out there. Anti war protesters had planned protests on Sunday at the homecoming for troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with the cancellation of the flypast, all the soldiers in the parade will be unarmed. The Northern Ireland General Officer Commanding Major General Chris Brown said the army had taken a number of measures to ensure that their Parade does not cause friction. Self-rule was restored in Belfast last year, nearly a decade after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The last thing it needs is a parade honouring British soldiers through it's streets. |
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01 Nov 08 - 12:07 AM (#2481405) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert Sorry Joe could you please remove my thread I now understand what GNU meant by troll, I did not intend to open this up for any one to jump on the Irish bandwagon. lesson learned.
-Joe Offer- |
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01 Nov 08 - 06:28 AM (#2481478) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Amergin I am just trying to figure out why a discussion about american troops returning from iraq would be a a discussion about Ireland.... |
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01 Nov 08 - 09:15 AM (#2481574) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert Anything to do with troops gets onto N.Ireland the fact is I am genuinely interested in the US troops is because I have some friends in the US Army, I like to take the pee out of them and they me, nothing bad just Army humour. I have me when child men who went to Vietnam, sadly some did not come home alive and now as an adult boys who have gone to Iraq, some great people others complete nut jobs. Again I honestly did not think this was political,I was looking at it from my personal view of finding out more about how the troops are treated when they come home, sometimes people do not see the bad in what is good intentions. I am sorry I started the thread as it has turned or is turning into something so far from what I wanted it to be. |
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01 Nov 08 - 09:40 AM (#2481584) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,Tony Burrows fredbert, Why would you think a thread about Iraq or soldiers would start a debate about Ireland ? yes soldiers killed people in Ireland, but soldiers kill people in any country they take by force. Are you Irish ? |
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01 Nov 08 - 09:48 AM (#2481588) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert Ask all you want and every time you do refer to this, I am sorry I started the thread. |
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01 Nov 08 - 12:31 PM (#2481690) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: artbrooks I'm afraid that fredbert opened that door wide himself when he started the thread with "Do not turn this into an Irish issue please." |
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01 Nov 08 - 01:57 PM (#2481756) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,Tony Burrows I agree artbrooks, why Irish ? Why not American, German, French or Russian. Frankly when I first read it I took it as a tease to get the Irish or True Brit catters to respond. |
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01 Nov 08 - 05:51 PM (#2481908) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert Are you goading me? The two main countries in Iraq are from which countries? America and Britain yes! One side is pilloried at every chance and it does not take a brain surgeon to make a link between the crap in N.Ireland and the British Army,yes! Now two main countries America and the UK and some idiot asks why I said "Do not turn this into an Irish issue please." I simply did not want the old rhetoric that goes on here when some one asks about the Military and the war in Iraq. Some sensible people have taken my question for what it is worth kept it to American soldiers without dragging the other side into it, which would in turn drag the Irish issue into the topic, too hard to figure out,no! |
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01 Nov 08 - 06:43 PM (#2481964) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Cluin And Iraq is spelled like and borders Iran, yes. And Flock of Seagulls had a hit in the 80s with a song "I Ran (So Far Away)" And seagulls shit on our cars. And cars cause smog. And smog is pollution. And pollution makes Indian chiefs cry in 1970s TV commercials. Please don't make this about television. |
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01 Nov 08 - 11:20 PM (#2482138) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: GUEST,fredbert So a simple apology is not enough then cluin, rather than get all sarcastic smart ass about this I put some facts past you and start the poop running. No on second thoughts I will keep to what I wanted and resist. But then considering I did apologise and asked respectfully to have the post removed I will give you what you want. Who are the guys right in behind America and sometimes besides and before US troops, the good old British Army, can any American deny that the UK has turned its back on the US. Now what people are obviously referring to is the pathetic action that SF has taken with regards to a parade in N.Ireland, which like it or not is still recognised by the US Gov.as British. Remember Col Tim Collins, the guy who's speech is adorning the wall of the Whitehouse,ex. Boss of the Royal Irish Rangers, a British army Regiment made up of troops from all over Ireland and from every walk of life, infact they just lost a trooper who was American. This Regiment has never in its history walked the streets of N.Ireland in any capacity. A Regiment that has fought and died along side American troops in Iraq although now they are in Afghanistan do not enjoy the same homecoming that US troops do. We have people who whinge about how the British done this that and the other in N.Ireland, mainly at the behest of SF these 30 or more yr old wounds are kept festering. Given the IRA has murdered more Catholics than the British Army ever did,( which I believe was total evil, Bloody Sunday was a disgrace no two ways about it, those guys should have be handed over to the people of Derry imho), look up the name of Jean McConville and try to justify her slaughter. Jean McConville was a protestant who married a Catholic,this poor woman showed a bit of mercy towards a dying soldier, she was dragged out of her home,leaving her sons and daughter orphans. To this day SF maintain she was never murdered but executed. There is hardly any one in the world who professes to know anything about Ireland does not know about the Enniskillen war memorial bombing when the IRA murdered 11 people civilians in 1987. "Over the whole 38 years 763 soldiers would die in Ulster's Troubles" Think about that number, it does not include the countless maimed crippled for life. At what stage do people start to reconcile and try to come to terms with the past and reach a normal society. In N.Ireland there are terrorists in Gov, Martin McGuiness is deputy leader, a man who in the past was part of the organisation that was responsible for the abducting of Jaen McConville and other "missing". He was part of the organisation that murdered more Catholics than any terrorist organisation in Ireland,and as mentioned in numbers of British Army deaths his organisation took their fair share of the 763 Army lives. I could go on and on but I will make my point. People have swallowed the crap set aside the killings for the greater good of peace,many who have lost loved one's have been on TV radio and print stating how we must forgive to move on. Move on and forgiveness is the operative words, what makes some people who have lost loved ones in N.Ireland more important than others who has lost loved ones. NOTHING. Both side have took chunks out off each other, the British Army paid their price too but SF seem to want blood and have their terrorist organisation's sins forgiven and not reciprocate, this is not how to achieve a lasting peace. What is happening now is that SF is in America hosting discounted from $1000 to $500 plates to raise funds from their American friends. Lets look at that friendship. I will start at WW2 and look at the Irish Gov record and support for the Americans that SF run to for money. Ireland remained neutral under that guise they surreptitiously aided and abetted the enemy of America, the Nazi's remember them, the good ole IRA spied and gave assistance to the very people who were killing their favorite friends troops. After the war they refused Jews asylum turning away children in need yet assisted Nazi officers allowing them to escape justice and answer for their crimes. When the first Gulf war began who do you think led the cry of protest when US troops passed through Ireland coming home and to the Gulf. The very people who go to America with the begging bowl. I stood at two airports the Dublin and Shannon, you should have seen the faces of the kids walking down the glass tunnel with people jeering at them,your troops, American GI's being treated like scum but the same people jeering at them can put on another coat and put out the begging plate. I stood along side other Americans some with tears in their eyes and others cheering their lads on. It is on a news reel somewhere. SF has sided with all the enemies that America has and still hold out the hand, ask what their policy towards the PLO is and more importantly why. The reason SF and the Irish Gov of the 40's sided with those who see/saw America as an enemy was simple, it hurt the British,their actions are totally egocentric, they did not care if Nazi's took over the free world. SF do not care if terrorists take over the free world as long as they get their objective. Paid for with money from their favourite fools Americans. Given that we see SF is selfish and an unforgiven bunch who stir up hatred for their own ends. The home coming parade of the RIR,comrades in arms of American troops were denied a full honours parade, SF organised a counter parade using the implied threat of civil unrest to try to get their way. They succeeded a planed fly over was called off and other planed ceremonies were changed, the soldiers on the parade come from all over Ireland from all sections, many from the trouble spots of Belfast, Catholic and Protestant, their flag/colours bear the battle cry Faugh-A-Ballagh ,Clear The Way. We have knocked seven colours of hen shit out of each other and the time has come to stop,for that forgiveness is the key and keeping a hierarchy of victim hood like SF does is not how to do it. If the Unionist side can stomach ex terrorists who murdered 736 in gov then SF and nat/rep can stomach a parade of soldiers who fight alongside the US soldiers, the people they run to with the begging bowl. Hope your satisfied! |
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02 Nov 08 - 01:14 AM (#2482202) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Cluin Well, I'm glad you didn't make it an Irish issue. |
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02 Nov 08 - 01:23 AM (#2482207) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Peace Seems to be about Ireland now . . . . Future off-topic trolling/flaming/arguing posts in this thread will be deleted. If that's all people contribute, the thread can be closed. ~Mod |
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02 Nov 08 - 09:49 AM (#2482415) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Keith A of Hertford Report about today's homecoming parade for Irish troops. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7704650.stm |
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02 Nov 08 - 10:09 AM (#2482429) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Jeri I like the Irish Wolfhounds, Keith. We generally have German Shepherds here, and they aren't all that American. Perhaps Pit Bulls would be more appropriate. I can't remember the last time I even heard of a homecoming parade for US military returnees. We have 50 states with multiple parts of multiple units in each state. Some go, some come back and if we had a parade every time a unit came home (and didn't ship out again the next day) it would just be parades, all the time. There may be something in a larger city or several when it's all over, but my guess is these guys will be recognized on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day and the end of the war will be celebrated the same way Vietnam was. If we learned anything from that slog down the Big Muddy, we will at least welcome home the individual soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. |
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02 Nov 08 - 10:21 AM (#2482437) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Ireland I found my name and password, just to let you all know and to stop Keith getting blame for my post,fredbert was the name I used, hope all you who accused Keith in the wrong are satisfied. |
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02 Nov 08 - 10:44 AM (#2482450) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Jeri I wrote "I can't remember the last time I even heard of a homecoming parade for US military returnees. We have 50 states with multiple parts of multiple units in each state. Some go, some come back and if we had a parade every time a unit came home (and didn't ship out again the next day) it would just be parades, all the time. There may be something in a larger city or several when it's all over, but my guess is these guys will be recognized on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day and the end of the war will be celebrated the same way Vietnam was. If we learned anything from that slog down the Big Muddy, we will at least welcome home the individual soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. " above. I just wondered: were there parades during Vietnam? I would think it would be hard in the US, although if you live near a military installation, there would be something going on, as Rap said. It doesn't seem like there are a lot of parades in the US anymore that aren't centered on a holiday. |
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02 Nov 08 - 12:26 PM (#2482524) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: artbrooks Jeri, except very early on, troops did not go to Vietnam as units, but rather as individual replacements, and they came home the same way, as individuals. There were some exceptions - some Marine units redeployed to the States or Okinawa as intact units. One of the longstanding complaints of the more whiny variety of Vietnam vet is "we never got no parade". |
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02 Nov 08 - 01:25 PM (#2482560) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Cluin Well, it's true, isn't it, art? But a lot of them did get a lot of abuse. I think people are sensitive to that fact nowadays (mostly thanks to Hollywood the great educator) and don't want to repeat the mistake. If a hard pullout date is announced and everybody comes home, I could see a parade happening. |
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02 Nov 08 - 01:38 PM (#2482564) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: artbrooks Yes, Cluin - a lot of us did get a lot of abuse. Some of us don't whine about it. |
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02 Nov 08 - 03:33 PM (#2482660) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Keith A of Hertford Jeri, the last time you heard of a parade for homecoming US troops should have been Rapaires 0644 post. |
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02 Nov 08 - 09:27 PM (#2482916) Subject: RE: BS: Are homecoming parades for US troops sup From: Rapparee And the closest military posts (barring the long-extinct Ft. Hall) are about 2.5 hours away: Hill AFB and Mountain Home AFB. Perhaps you might want to see the pictures at this website. The field is larger now.... (If you want to make a contribution PM me. It's not tax deductible, it's purely a community effort.) |