Because I Said So: Supporting our troops in all the wrongs ways

Kids seem to be stuck between two viewing worlds

By Kathryn Manning, staff writer
Posted on October 29, 2007

If there’s any cliché that’s been drilled into our head over the past several years, it’s “Support the Troops.” We see it everywhere: on bumper stickers, instant message profiles and protest signs. Unfortunately, the phrase has become too cliché, and it seems America has developed a very twisted idea of what it really means to stand behind our men and women in uniform.

At the most recent Redskins game at FedEx Field, the franchise continued its “military appreciation month” with a halftime show dedicated to the troops. I was excited to see what was in store; after all, being so close to the power center of the country, it seemed appropriate that the team would honor the military in some way.

I could not have been more disappointed. The halftime show consisted of a medley of “patriotic” songs (if you consider “In the Navy” by the Village People to be patriotic), and a bunch of buxom cheerleaders dancing around in skimpy outfits that were supposedly designed to look like the uniforms of the different military branches. There were no servicemen on the field or on the sidelines. There wasn’t even an American flag. Fans simply watched a bunch of scantily-clad women make kissy faces at them while wearing “patriotic attire.”

I’ll wager a million bucks that not one man in that stadium was thinking about the troops at any point during that performance.  And who could blame them? The focus of the halftime show wasn’t really the troops; it was the sexy vixens hypnotizing people from the field. As a woman I certainly wasn’t as entertained by the cheerleaders as the men were, but I felt no patriotic fervor after the show either. When the announcer came on and thanked the ladies for their performances and reminded everyone to support our troops, I wanted to laugh. But I suppose laughing would have been just as disrespectful as the pathetic spectacle I had just witnessed.

Supporting our troops has been watered down in other ways, too. Protesters love to say they are supporting our military by carrying around angry signs in front of government buildings, as we saw this past weekend in cities all around the country. This is certainly a noble effort for those who truly care about the physical safety of our troops, but it has overshadowed other practical ways of supporting our servicemen. It has also served as an excuse for not participating in other, more concrete forms of support: many protesters (not all) operate under the idea that if they lobby for the troops’ return, they’ve put in their time and effort. They’ve done their part to support the military.

But whether you agree with the war or not, troops have practical needs beyond the abstract concept of ending this war. True, it would be in the military’s best interest to be safe in their beds, but that’s not the reality right now. Troops need letters, entertainment, decent food and tangible appreciation for their efforts. They need people to shake their hands and say “thanks.” They need cards to read before they go to bed. They need care packages with candy bars to remind them of the little pleasures of home. They need more than protests and halftime shows. And more importantly, they deserve more than protests and halftime shows.

In many ways, it’s become too easy for us to claim we’re supporting the troops. We carry colorful signs or wear short-shorts with the American flag on the butt and call ourselves great patriots. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these measures, but when we allow this to be all we do for our troops, we fail them. It’s ridiculous that shimmying in a patriotic bikini now constitutes an accepted and glorified method of supporting our military.

By all means, let’s continue voicing our opinions on the war and attempting to salute our troops in public arenas. Doing so is incredibly important. But let us not forget that our servicemen are more than just slogans and songs. If we allow ourselves to dilute what it truly means to support our military men and women, we have done a disservice to those whose efforts abroad protect our ability to protest and perform.

Kathryn Manning is a senior history and political science major.