I wasn't able to open this so I can't comment on whether this sends any message other than the one intended. However, I do regularly receive pro-military photo-essays from a friend who is in the Aussie armed services. A lot of her material is US in origin, some of it re-worded to make it seem Australian.
It's a fine line - we do need to support our troops even if we don't agree with them being sent to some of the places our governments send them. There is a difference between our objecting to our government's choices and to our respect for our troops. I think we forgot that back in Vietnam. A great Aussie movie, "The Odd Angry Shot", dealt with this. I think it was a Kennedy Miller, the team responsible for "Mad Max" (aka "Road Warrior"). The film follows a troop of Aussie SAS embedded in Vietnam through to their return home and the lack of respect they got on their return simply because Vietnam was increasingly an unpopular war. I worked with Viet vets and saw the damage done to them by the combination of the horrific conditions plus the lack of support they got on their return from a public whose objectnion to our involvement carried over into disrespect for the men who went. That disrespect ran deep into the returned servicemen's league themselves and it literally took decades for the healing to begin.
Like you Witz, I objected strenuously to our involvement in Iraq at the time we went. Not Afghanistan, that was different. But now we're there, there is a job to do and we can't just walk away. We now have an obligation. But even if you don't think so (and being a free country, it is good to be able to say what we feel without fear of reprisal) we still should, I feel, respect the efforts of those soldiers who are risking their lives there. They have no say in where they are sent, they simply have to do their job to the best of their abilities. If we want to get angry (and we are free to do so) then it is our politicians who deserve the focus of our frustrations.
I have no guilt for holding the views that I do, but I will still cheer and wave as our troops march through the streets on their return. I'll beespecially glad when we have more of our troops available for peacekeeping duties in other parts of the world, such as East Timor (very close to home and very much in need of our troops). I wish we lived in a world where armed services were not needed, not to fight wars anyway.
husband served, so did both our fathers. But I'm glad neither of our boys will serve. I really don't think it would be good for them, nor would it be good for our armed services. difficult child 1 had a close school friend (also difficult child) who joined up and was, I beleive, a liability. The army was good to him but they did eventually get rid of him when it became obvious there was nothing they could use him for. They did their best for him, but it was a mistake.
Some of us are able to do this. A lot of us can't. For those who join up - it changes them. It can be very difficult for them and for their families.
Remember, I'm saying this not having seen the slideshow (or whatever it is). I would like to see it and I will try again tomorrow. I respect the feelings that would have prompted creating it.
Marg