As I write this, I’m bracing myself for the catastrophe that could result of someone actually reading these words. The title alone is probably enough fuel for the fire, yet it’s something I feel strongly about and it’s something I’ve always felt strongly about, even as a little boy. I never understood the notion of blindly supporting our troops, whether they’re Canadian troops, American troops, or Iraqi troops. The idea of blindly supporting the military, despite the consequences of our own delicate thoughts or moral convictions, always seemed a bit outlandish to me.

“Support the troops” has long been a hymn in our society. We support the guiltless men and women that go abroad to protect our liberty because without them, we simply wouldn’t be liberated. Of course, this depends on how slackly we grant the classification of “freedom.” If by “freedom,” we are referring to corporate freedom to overrun and impose and shill our wares on other countries and cultures, I can begin to comprehend the smokescreen. If by “freedom,” we are referring to the act of actually being free and able to walk down the street without worry, you lost me.

Something must be understood in this “fight for freedom” that takes place around the world: it is being constructed on a podium of endless lies. Imperialistic demands are stretching military from sea to shining sea, causing and continuing ages-old problems and conflicts that should have long been put to rest through other, diplomatic means. Instead, “news sources” and various other vehicles of misinformation tell us that the “evil ones” are “jealous of our freedom” and “know no diplomacy.” With this frame of mind at the rudder of the military, the men and women of the armed forces march.

So supporting the troops really comes down to supporting an idea, does it not? Individuals that are for imperialistic ideologies, invading other countries primarily for resources, meddling in other government affairs, and fulfilling Pax Americana can and should support the troops, even the Canadian ones. Sure, there are ideological differences between myself and those individuals, yet at the very least I can spot the consistency without straining my vision.

But when the idea isn’t supported, why should those in charge of gratifying the idea be supported? Make no mistake about it, the government officials and politicians in the highest ivory towers of government are incontrovertibly in charge of the policy direction of the imperialistic vessel. But without people to row, set sail, and fire the cannons, that craft doesn’t move.

I am a pacifist, so that should possibly be cleared up at this point. By supporting the troops and deriding the war (all war), I’m taking on just about the most asinine position I can. See, by blindly giving support to the troops and saying “good job” whenever a diminutive triumph is won, not only am I defying my ethical nature, but I’m also lending support to those in the highest ivory towers of government by turning the other way while atrocities persist. By giving malleable assent to the individuals that sent the troops there in the first place, I’m fundamentally affirming that position and allowing those same individuals to send the troops somewhere else.

When I think of what it means to support the troops, therefore, I reach a very dissimilar conclusion to what appears to be popular opinion. In supporting the troops, I find myself supporting killers, occupiers, meddlers, and government officials supporting a mandate built on spongy ground.

As a pacifist, I evidently object to killing. As someone who does not want human beings to eradicate and butcher other human beings, I find myself in a palpable ethical predicament if I support the troops. So I don’t. I don’t support any directive in which guiltless individuals

(or culpable ones) are rounded up, shot, burned, or pummelled to death. Individual choice comes into play here, too, as our military men and women aren’t drafted or conscripted. They decide to serve in the military, whether based on time-honoured family tradition or a sense of obligation. That duty translates into learning to murder other human beings, plain and simple. People pulling triggers are ultimately accountable, whether they’re “following orders” or not. An army of people ignoring their probity is an utterly horrendous prospect, so I cannot support the troops. 

As occupiers, the troops become victims of “idle-hands syndrome.” Having armies standing around waiting for something to happen is often a formula for calamity. As occupiers in any part of the world, a foreign army is like a fish out of water. With negligible understanding of other cultures and other issues, the troops become excuses and raison d'être for an increase of administration endowment. It’s happened all the way through history, especially when the call comes in for support for a war.As meddlers, the troops serve as the gateway to governmental intrusion. Sure, we all hate dictatorships that don’t serve our interests. We even hate democratically elected governments that won’t serve our interests. The idea precludes that the troops become vehicles of the Grand Meddler and, as such, become meddlers themselves… but with guns. Since I don’t support officious governments, I don’t support the meddlers. 

Finally and most obviously, I don’t support the government mandate that leads to war. Looking at the case of Iraq, I can’t imaginably support a military that moves on those orders and remains on those orders. WMDs or not, I still find no validation for a militaristic intrusion. Instead, on the “proof” we were assured existed, I find a case for more diplomatic allowances and investigations. The idea that the preponderance of the world felt that the war was a blunder, even from the beginning with the “proof” unharmed, is very telling indeed. Defying that sense of ethical imperative that seems to exist on an intercontinental scale and shouting “support the troops” at the same time, despite the consequences of which side of the aisle one inhabits, seems to be the definitive in nonsensical conduct.

So no, I don’t support the troops. I don’t support killers, occupiers, thugs, ruffians, hooligans, meddlers, or government officials with blood on their hands and war on their minds. I find no consistent case for supporting the troops when I hold the principles I hold. I won’t spit on returning veterans, but I won’t commemorate individuals for doing something I think to be a dreadful initiative.