Adopt a sniper?

[Pekka]

Now there's a target for donations. It's true that most troops might be missing something. But they are not that bad off comparing to the rest. Then again, it's not competiton of who's the most pragmatic. But as far as Iraq goes, there are lots of people who are in bigger needs and future investments, like kids and education... kids and healthcare, **** like that... that matters.

[Japher]

Not if all the pinko commies kill all the kids!

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Pekka
Now there's a target for donations. It's true that most troops might be missing something. But they are not that bad off comparing to the rest. Then again, it's not competiton of who's the most pragmatic. But as far as Iraq goes, there are lots of people who are in bigger needs and future investments, like kids and education... kids and healthcare, **** like that... that matters.

not that bad off? getting shot at every day? IEDs? Try that on for size, supercitizen.

"Group Sends Care Packages, Support to Deployed Troops
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2004 -- It all started when Army Spc. Robert Collins called his mother from Afghanistan to thank her for his care package and ask that she send more for some of his buddies who weren't getting goodies from home.

Gladys Walker prepares to make a run to the post office to ship care packages to the troops through the Have a Heart/Adopt a Soldier organization.

Horrified that a deployed U.S. service member might feel forgotten and unappreciated by the American public, Gladys Walker started what has snowballed into the Have a Heart/Adopt a Soldier organization.

First, Walker started assembling a few extra care packages. Then she and her husband began dipping into their retirement savings to fund their increasingly frequent shopping ventures for the troops. Soon letters from military chaplains started pouring in, with lists of service members in their units who were getting nothing from home: no letters, no goodie boxes, no reminder of America's gratitude for their service.

Walker catapulted into fifth gear, devoting 20 hours a day to fundraising, recruiting sponsors and volunteers, purchasing goodies ranging from baby wipes to chewing gum, and wrapping and shipping packages for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in Southwest Asia. Her latest venture, custom- designed bumper stickers, is expected to raise more money to help fund the enterprise, along with current sales of car magnets, T-shirts and other items and fundraisers ranging from bake sales to walkathons.

"The response has been overwhelming," she said. From around the country, checks, items for care packages and letters for the troops continue to roll in to Walker's Malone, N.Y., home.

On a given week, Have a Heart/Adopt a Soldier ships about 200 care packages to deployed troops. Along with comfort items like bug spray and treats like beef jerky, she tucks inside as many boxes as possible what she considers the most important item of all: letters of encouragement. "What our troops need the most is to know that the American people haven't forgotten about them and support them," she said.

Yet the need continues. Walker said she has a list of 100 deployed troops in need of sponsors.

"I wish you could see the faces of the soldiers who receive these packages," a chaplain wrote Walker. "It truly makes their day."

Just as the donations and requests for care packages roll in, so, too, do the thank-you notes, she said. Most service members who write tell Walker they're proud of what they're doing. Some lean on her shoulder, admitting that they're sometimes scared, particularly when they hear mortar fire.

But all tell Walker how much it means to them to know that the American public is behind them.

"It has to be terribly hard, being in a foreign land, in the heat, with bullets flying past you," she said. "It's not the individual items we're sending that mean the most. It's what they communicate: that the American people believe in you and thank you for your service," she said.

For more information about Have a Heart/Adopt a Soldier, visit the organization's Web site, e-mail soldier2@localnet.com or call (518) 481-5126. "

[Pekka]

lotm, can you read? We were talking about equipment. They are not that bad off. Yeah, there are folks missing stuff, but they are relatively well off. IEDs? Ambushes? Getting shot at? ****, it's war, hey at least I'm not the one blowing this over the board here.

[GePap]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


Theyre risking their lives to stop the jihadis who are attacking Iraqis and Iraqi democracy - i see nothing wrong with adopting them. That it pisses off certain folks such as we see here, is an added bonus.

First, "oh, goody, people don;t like it" is about as childish and stupid a reason to support anything as any that exists. Anyone so immature as to support something for this reason deserves a good drilling from some Jesuits.

Second, these guys work for the Fed government- if I want them to get more support, I lobby the congress to increase pay to the troops instead of more pork programs for weapon developers. These guys are LOW on the list of people needing any charity.

That Iraqi literacy campaign is on the other hand a worthy cause.

Again, a childish move by virtual warriors and its sad some people here view it as anything more. Good job, jesuits! People going to Jesuit school should have more intellectual maturity than some horny violent 12 year old.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by GePap

First, "oh, goody, people don;t like it" is about as childish and stupid a reason to support anything as any that exists. Anyone so immature as to support something for this reason deserves a good drilling from some Jesuits.

can you read the word "bonus"?

Second, these guys work for the Fed government- if I want them to get more support, I lobby the congress to increase pay to the troops instead of more pork programs for weapon developers. These guys are LOW on the list of people needing any charity.

Some of us think they deserve their money, and more, for the risks they take and the work, they do. And its great to lobby the govt, but in this country we do things voluntarily and dont wait for govt actions. (geez, can you remember when "it will be a great day when the air force needs to hold a bake sale for bombers" was a LIBERAL slogan?) Third, it less about the actual material stuff that gets sent, then about letting the troops know we care, we are with you.

Too bad some folks dont get it, or have let their politics get in the way of the solidarity most Americans feel for our brothers and sisters in harms way.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by GePap

Again, a childish move by virtual warriors and its sad some people here view it as anything more. Good job, jesuits! People going to Jesuit school should have more intellectual maturity than some horny violent 12 year old.

So, supposing they had been selling support the troops bracelets, that help fund the USO? Would the Jesuits have objected? Would you?

[Sandman]

There's a difference between 'support our gallant troops' and '1 Shot 1 Kill No Remorse I Decide'.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Sandman
There's a difference between 'support our gallant troops' and '1 Shot 1 Kill No Remorse I Decide'.

the rationale behind the slogan is explained above. Did the Jesuits even examine it, discuss it, try to understand it? Is multiple shots per kill morally preferable? Should a soldier who acts follows the rules of war show remorse? Are Catholic snipers required to do penitence? Id think the heir of Ignatius Loyala might want to think about these. What exactly is it that requires limited student freedom in this instance?

[Pekka]

Exactly. I was saying what Sandman is saying. THat's just one stupid slogan.. 1 shot 1 kill.. that's military slogan. That's not civilian support slogan.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Pekka
Exactly. I was saying what Sandman is saying. THat's just one stupid slogan.. 1 shot 1 kill.. that's military slogan. That's not civilian support slogan.

The US Marine Corps slogan is Semper Fidelis, ever loyal. A group supporting the USMC might naturally include that. Other groups and specialties have their own slogans. This group of snipers has adopted this one, on seriously argued grounds. It brings home what youre really supporting - you cant hide behind vaguenesss - which, when you think about it, is very connected to being a sniper. Remember when everyone was angry at how the US in Kosovo killed impersonally from 50,000 feet - how terrible that was, how profoundly immoral, etc. A sniper more than anyone else in the military kills PERSONALLY - they see EXACTLY who theyre trying to kill. No avoiding reality there. Intense personal responsiblity. What could be of greater interest to the Jesuits?

[lord of the mark]

compare that slogan to "Peace is our profession" the slogan of the Strategic Air Command - ie the nuclear bomber and missile boys. Now THATS, arguably, Orwellian. The sniper slogan is the reverse of Orwellian.

[Pekka]

Hey, I'm not arguing the slogan for them snipers. It's a good slogan for them.

But make bracelets like that in jesuit school, or ANY school for that matter outside of military school. It's bragging that's what it is. You might feel some patriotism in it, but if the makers don't realize it's controversial to put that slogan in it, then they should really get a clue. If they want to piss off a lot of people, then sure. But it's not really smart because they could do this a LOT smarter, not pissing off people.

Better would be just simply 'support the troops' or 'support the lonely snipers', anything except that one. You must see what I mean. You might not agree with it, but you know what I mean. So why go piss off people, if you want to be a patriot and raise money? No reason to be an ******* when they could just avoid it.

It's got nothing to do that the snipers say that and are proud of that, it's all good. But do you think semper fi and kill puke **** destroy has difference or are they so same?

Anyway, this is trivial and not a subject of debate from me anymore. You either see it or you don't. You don't have to agree with me.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
compare that slogan to "Peace is our profession" the slogan of the Strategic Air Command - ie the nuclear bomber and missile boys. Now THATS, arguably, Orwellian. The sniper slogan is the reverse of Orwellian.

Um, wouldn't one interpret that more as "we've got weapons so nasty no one would dare attack, so we're maintaining peace"? As opposed to the snipers' "I'm an efficient killing machine that answers to no one"?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Kontiki


Um, wouldn't one interpret that more as "we've got weapons so nasty no one would dare attack, so we're maintaining peace"? As opposed to the snipers' "I'm an efficient killing machine that answers to no one"?

I decide doesnt mean answers to know one, it means I need to make the decision on my own (thus I am in a more profoundly more serious moral position than 90% of the military who are cogs in a larger operation) and I MUST make the decision on my own - hell the snipers post as the ultimate existential situation - he takes RESPONSIBILITY.