What do you want from me?

I'm not sure what to do when people tell me to "Support Our Troops". It's a cliche that has no specific meaning - at least no meaning that I can put my finger on. This is an American phrase that is getting a lot of use up here.

Recently, we've been told to wear red at work on Fridays to show our support for our soldiers. The problem is, there are no soldiers at my workplace. How will they know? ... and what is it they really want from me? While my support for the war in Afghanistan is something less than 100%, and I'm certainly not alone on this, I don't know anyone who blames the soldiers for the war.

What would a lack of support for our soldiers look like? I've never seen or heard of anyone actively not supporting our troops, outside of some stories I've heard about that were set in the early 1970's at an airport in California.

I'm already financially supporting our soldiers, but if they want me specifically to buy them bullets and helmets, as a donation, I'm gonna have to pass.

Is "Support Our Troops" a euphemism for "Support Our War"? I hope not. Perhaps "Support the Friends & Families of our Soldiers" would make more sense?

Why the free pass?

I just saw, again, a program re-aired on CBC's The Fifth Estate on Benny Hinn and his "ministry". I'm wondering why he's allowed to continue to dupe vulnerable people.

If I convinced an elderly couple that I was their great-grandson, and then convinced them to give me money based upon the premise that we were related, I'd be wanted by the police right now. If I did that to, say, 20,000 people every week, I'd be Public Enemy #1, and rightly so.

Why the free pass for faith healers?

Should the government ensure that citizens, especially vulnerable ones, be protected? Does the government have a responsibility to look out for people, or should they just let natural selection take it's course?

Our government knows that psychics and mediums are con men/women. They must display warning signs - "for entertainment purposes" - whenever they're operating. Yet guys like Hinn are a far bigger threat. They're not just taking your money because you were too stupid or naive to realize that they can't do what they say they can, as in the case of a psychic. They can convince people to not only give up their money, but to give up sound medical advice, or even medical treatments.

Why the imbalance? At first I thought it was simply an example of religion getting a free pass, but I think it's bigger than that. It must be; it's Christians who are the victims. So I'd love to know: who the heck is protecting such people with special "above the law" privileges, and why?

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