NPR Commentator Denounces "Support Our Troops" Stickers on Cars

MRC ^ | 2/18/05 | staff

[pissant]

Most Americans, regardless of their position on the war in Iraq, don't object to the expression "Support Our Troops," but earlier this week one National Public Radio commentator asserted that in at least one context, that phrase is "glib," "self-righteous," "partisan," and "vaguely...Ann Coulterish." He also declared darkly that "analyzing its rhetoric" may constitute "treason."

[Tom Johnson, who monitors NPR for the MRC, filed this item for CyberAlert.]

This past Monday on All Things Considered, Bob Sommer, whose son recently completed a year's service in Iraq, began his segment: "You would think that the sight of a yellow-ribbon magnet on the back of a car, proclaiming 'Support Our Troops,' would give me a lift, but it doesn't. It just seems so easy to express patriotism by slapping a magnet with a slogan on your car, so glib, so...self-righteous. 'Support Our Troops.' That sentence is neither a request nor a statement; it's a command. There's a hint of a dare in it that reminds me of a similar sentence: 'Bring it on.' It's vaguely...Ann Coulterish. Analyzing its rhetoric may be treason."

Sommer further complained: "I've noticed that these magnets often appear on vehicles that display still-lingering Bush-Cheney stickers. It isn't a big leap to conclude that there's something partisan about them, and the sight of all these yellow magnets is starting to bring out the worst in me. Sometimes, I want to roll down my windows and confront the drivers. I want to exclaim, 'Who doesn't support the troops? What have you done to support the troops?' They may be well-meaning and sincere people, but I'm convinced that they're just driving along, thinking support-our-troops thoughts like 'Thank God I live in a red state,' or 'Maybe it's time to price a Hummer.' That's what I assume they're thinking, anyway."

After Sommer detailed how he and his wife "expended a lot of emotional energy, as well as some financial resources, supporting our son and his buddies," including "sen[ding] Christmas gifts to the whole squad," he resumed his exegesis: "Still, that curious phrase, 'Support Our Troops,' on those yellow-ribbon magnets, seems to accuse me of not doing my part. Then I realized that 'Support Our Troops' is a code...Here's what I think it means: Those who presumably need to be admonished to support the troops are those who oppose the decisions of the [Bush] administration. 'Support Our Troops' means, then, that we should be supporting the war. I believe that most yellow-magnet-bearers want support not just for the troops, but for the mission, the presence, the President. Maybe the magnets should say, 'Shut Up and Support Our Troops.'"

It's hard to say whether "Support Our Troops" would bother Sommer much less if he saw it on, say, a red-white-and-blue lapel pin.

(OpinionJournal.com's James Taranto, in his "Best of the Web" column on Wednesday, ran an item on this NPR commentary. The MRC was already aware of it, but Taranto beat us on reporting it.)

Last month, All Things Considered aired another exotic commentary on military matters, in which regular ATC contributor Andrei Codrescu suggested that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld staged a military exercise in New Orleans because many "foreign artists" and anti-Bush "Hollywood actors" were in town. See: www.mediaresearch.org

[pissant]

It's good to know that the communists still run NPR. What a bunch of pathetic whiners.

[Rippin]

ping for discussion with church group that wants to volunteer at local Pub TV fundraiser.

[Mr. Mojo]

It's good to know that the communists still run NPR.

And that the American taxpayer supports them.

[fishtank]

National Proletariat Radio

[deepFR]

"I want to exclaim, 'Who doesn't support the troops? What have you done to support the troops?'"

Well, for one, not put a "Have you hugged your terrorist" or "Kiss me I'm a terrorist" bumper sticker on my vehicle (sure their parking lot is full of them).

[Fury]

This past Monday on All Things Considered, Bob Sommer, whose son recently completed a year's service in Iraq, began his segment: "You would think that the sight of a yellow-ribbon magnet on the back of a car, proclaiming 'Support Our Troops,' would give me a lift, but it doesn't. It just seems so easy to express patriotism by slapping a magnet with a slogan on your car, so glib, so...self-righteous. 'Support Our Troops.' That sentence is neither a request nor a statement; it's a command. There's a hint of a dare in it that reminds me of a similar sentence: 'Bring it on.' It's vaguely...Ann Coulterish. Analyzing its rhetoric may be treason."

Let me guess - Mr. Sommer wears a red AIDS ribbon. Of course, that is the result of a reasoned, compassionate decision, unlike the rubes who have made the decision to display the "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon.

What an moron.

[cyncooper]

Sommer further complained: "I've noticed that these magnets often appear on vehicles that display still-lingering Bush-Cheney stickers. It isn't a big leap to conclude that there's something partisan about them,

Yes, heaven forbid one uses their personal vehicle to express (GASP!) "partisan" sentiments.

Sommer = clymer (and I only mean that in the most partisan way)

[Edgerunner]

Gee it must be nice getting paid to write such pathetic garbage. If I were his son, I would change my name...

[gimmebackmyconstitution]

Hey Sommer- "Shut the F*ck up and just support the troops". Don't try to analyze it or polarize the issue- Jeez. friggin libs never let it go......

[stopem]

Yup we are supporting our troops AND the war AND our President, utoh they found out our secret code. :)

Heck I was so thrilled with the yellow ribbon support concept I even put it on my purse in the form of a keyfinder for when I go out in public and can't take my magnet with ;) Proud to support all the above!!

[ariamne]

and often National Palestinian Radio

[Abathar]

I would give anything to see if Brit Hume will ask Juan how he feels about this tonight and see what he says.

[sarasota]

I received a chain letter email asking for financial support for NPR via a membership. Appears there is a movement afoot to pull funding. Anybody else know about this?

[jes]

This guy has issues...It cracks me up that he makes the statement that these stickers are partisan, and then proceeds to go on a partisan rant. Sure, everyone may say they support the troops, but many in reality don't.

[sionnsar]

I want to exclaim, 'Who doesn't support the troops? What have you done to support the troops?

[Trust but Verify]

I think asking/wondering why a person puts one of those on their cars is an interesting question. There are better and more substantive ways of showing your support than plastering your car with magnets.

As an aside, I know an army wife who lives in Boulder, Colorado who took hers off her car because she would have people giving her the finger and shouting obscenities at her. Her husband is a cavalry scout on his second tour in Iraq. He is supposed to be home next month. I pray for him every day.

[Always Right]

I always found most prople with just the yellow "Support our Troops" tend to be Democrats, while cars that had both "Support our Troops", plus "God Bless America" tend to be Republican. Democrats want to "Support our Troops" without supporting the mission, if that is really possible.

[syriacus]

Before the election, I saw a "Support our troops" magnet on a car that had an anti-Bush sticker.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tune in NPR for a mega-dose of narcissism.

[GOP_Proud]

I bet he doesn't lie the "command" to "Have a nice day" either. Some people need to get a life. There are as many reasons for having that ribbon on your car as there are people who have them.