There are many ways to support our troops, actions more effective than a bumper sticker on your car. Such as supporting the Blue Star Mothers of America. Founed in 1942, they support our troops in many ways. Sending packages, sending letters to those with no families, and a dozen other ways — and supporting each other through the trials of having a child in one of our Armed Forces.
From the Blue Star Mothers of America website, describing who they are and what they do:
We are mothers who now have, or have had, children honorably serving in the military. We are a non-profit (501[c]3) service organization supporting each other and our children while promoting patriotism.
The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. is a non-partisan, non-political organization. We do not support any political candidate, nor do we endorse any religious organization. The military represents all aspects of America as does our organization.
We provide support for active duty service personnel, promote patriotism, assist Veterans organizations, and are available to assist in homeland volunteer efforts to help our country remain strong. Blue Star Mothers volunteer in VA hospitals and outreach centers, helping with physical and emotional rehabilitation. We collect medical supplies, food, and clothing. We provide transportation and friendship.
Blue Star Mothers have been active in civil defense since 1942, finding food and shelter for people devastated by hurricane and floods.
Read the History of the Blue Star Mothers.
- Contact Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
- Learn how to become a member.
- Find a chapter in your area (scroll to the bottom to see your State).
- Learn about The Service Flag, the Blue Star, the Gold Star.
- Make a donation.
This is America in action, displaying the qualities that will allow us to survive no matter what the future holds for us.
Afterword
If you are new to this site, please glance at the archives below. You may find answers to your questions in these.
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For more information from the FM site
To read other articles about these things, see the FM reference page on the right side menu bar. Of esp relevance to this topic:
Posts on the FM site with good news about America:
Good news: The Singularity is coming (again) (8 December 2007) — History tends to look better over longer time horizons. For example, consider one bit of good news: the Singularity is coming.
Some good news (one of the more important posts on this blog) (21 December 2007) – I do not believe we need fear the future, despite the tough times coming soon. This remains a great nation, not because of our past but because of us and our polity. We differ from almost every other nation. The difference consists of our commitment to our political order, of which our Constitution is the foundation. In this we are like Athens more than our neighbors …
Washington’s Gift (24 December 2007) — A summary of and link to an article by the author Thomas Fleming, published on the Opinion Page of the Wall Street Journal.
A crisis at the beginning of the American experiment (27 December 2008) — Looking at the problems looming before us, it is easy to forget those of equal or greater danger that we have surmounted in the past.
An important thing to remember as we start a New Year (29 December 2007) — As we start a New Year I find it useful to review my core beliefs. It is easy to lose sight of those amidst the clatter of daily events. Here is my list…
Is America’s decline inevitable? No. (21 January 2008) – Why be an American if one has no faith in the American people? How can you believe in democracy without that faith?
Let us light a candle while we walk, lest we fear what lies ahead (10 February 2008) — Many people look to the future with fear. We see this fear throughout the web. Right-wing sites describe the imminent end of America: overrun by foreigners, victim of cultural and financial collapse. Left-wing sites describe “die-off” scenarios due to Peak Oil, climate change, and ecological collapse – as the American dream dies from takeover by theocrats and fascists. Most of this is nonsense, but not the prospect of massive changes in our world. But need we fear the future?
A happy ending to the current economic recession (12 February 2008) — Sometimes we can see medium-term outcomes with greater clarity than short-term events or long-term trends. In January 1942 none could forecast the events of the next 44 months, but it did not take an expert to see that the US would defeat Japan. So it is with the current economic down cycle in America.
Fears of flying into the future (25 February 2008) — Reasons we need not fear the future.
Experts, with wrinkled brows, warn about the future (2 May 2008) — Experts often see the future with alarm, seeing the dangers but not benefits. That gets attention, from both the media and an increasingly fearful public. Both sides feed this process. It need not be so, as most trends contain the seeds of good and bad futures. This post considers two examples.
Good news about the 21st century, a counterbalance to the doomsters (9 May 2008)
“America’s Greatest Weapon” (25 May 2008)
This is an excellent human response, but as a political action it’s inadequate. If you don’t believe our troops have any business being there, if you believe continuing to leave them there is endangering their lives and brutalizing them morally, then you have to work to get all of our troops out of Iraq. Devote your intellectual energy to thinking about how to accomplish that. (and dont wait for Obama to do it.)
(I think I should change my name to “Old Skeptic”!)
Fabius Maximus replies: Life goes on, no matter what we do in Iraq. We eat, go to work, raise our children. Are these “inadequate political actions”?
Supporting the men and women in our Armed Forces is one of those responsibilities, imo. They are carrying out policies that we have set for them — “we” collectively, through our elected representatives. That some of us do not like those policies does not lessen our responsibility to those who must execute them.
Comment by plato's cave — 6 June 2008 @ 2:08 pm