@fyre: Most standing armies these days engage in peacekeeping operations, rather than "war".

And, sadly, if there were no state armies around, you'd have a much longer list of "failed states" than there already is. Until everyone is on an equal footing in this world, balance is struck in part by this.

pylon_trooper

@fyre:

I lol'd so hard.

Dood ur so rite man. We should totally abolish the military. Cuz if we do that then all of us will get along great and we'll have peace on earth forever and ever.

Go back to fairytale land you retard.

I laughed so fucking hard when I read that you're an "anarchist". You're one of those douche bags that deserves a nice punch in the face.

NutManIV

People dont turn this into some fucking stupid political discussion.

Those who do dont cry later is all I can say.

Ill see what I can do to help support this. The one that was held at CAG was cool and made some new friends through that.

Witzbold

Heh. New enlistees shouldn't need to ask for handhelds. The sign up bonus was recently upped from $10,000 to $20,000. Of course if they're smart they'll put it all in a special bank account that soldiers get while theyre over in iraq/afghanistan. Its 10% interest.

NutManIV

@YUYU:

Basically, I disapprove of "the war" and I would prefer that the military was for the most part abolished. I think that all we should have is a minimal force for defense only.

So, I really have no interest in making soldiers lives more comfortable.

@Cruithne:

I agree that freedom is a wonderful thing, however I happen to believe that force is the antithesis of freedom.

@WildKnightblazer:

I really didn't want to start a discussion. I just wanted to register my disapproval.

And for the record, I'm sort of a pacifistic, anarchistic, libertarian. FWIW.

fyre

@Xax:

diacf.

i think its nice, they have something to do while they arnt out fighting. they barely have contact with their families as it it. just because you dont support the war doesnt mean you should act like that towards the troops. stop trying to be an internet tough guy.

Gekyo

@Cchrist: A DS more likely.

I can see it now soldier saved by DS."I was walking around patrollin the streets when an insurgent shot me in the chest, near my heart. However, my DS, folded in my toop pocket took the brunt of the impact" The DS was scratched, but is still functional."It's entertaining and a lifesaver," says the soldier.

KM91

Good idea. Soldiers tend to have a lot of really boring downtime in between patrols and missions and things. Anybody got some old Gameboy Advances to give away after you bought your DS?

strideo

@Xax:
Excuse me? Just because you don't agree with the war, doesn't mean you should take it out on the troops who have to carry it out. They don't necessarily support the war either. If you'd like to explore the implications of this sort of attitude, you should examine how the soldiers of the Vietnam War were treated.. who really did have no choice.

Essonse

I'll jump in and say why I'm torn over this. I totally agree that supporting soldiers is different than supporting the war they are fighting in, and this adminstration has been treating US soldiers terribly. That said, I feel that if you REALLY want to support our soldiers, you should be working on making policy makers get out of the clusterfuck (it's not a war) that we're currently stuck in. Hell, raise awareness about denied health benefits to soldiers and the fact that they have to buy their own body armor. Support troops by bring them home and making sure we don't allow further empire building on the bodies of US troops.

Interstella5555

@Mr.SithNinja:

Depends on the war. There hasn't been one like that since WW2... if anything current troops are dying to fill the pockets of the military-industrial complex. As for this... yeah Child's Play would be a more worthy cause.

Alphros

@StupidityTries: Isn't there that half-exploded original GB at the Nintendo World store in NYC that still works? Nintendo stuff tends to be bulletproof (in the other sense); I wouldn't count out the DS so quickly.

Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc

Lame.

Xax

It was through Cheap Ass gamers that I was able to finally give my GBA and several GBA cartridges a nice new home even if it was in Afghanistan.

Tull

@Mr.SithNinja:

very true...and very sad

Darthearl

@Darthearl: If this was funded by GameStop it would lose all meaning. They would only be doing it for publicity. These kids are doing it because they care.

Mr.SithNinja

@fyre: If you wanna start a discussion, you need to say more than a sentence, otherwise it's too inconsequential for anyone to care. >.>

WildKnightblazer

@Cruithne: Ironicaly enough it is because of the people that fight and die, that they have that right to choose not to support them or a program to help them cope with the horrors of war.

Mr.SithNinja

I guess the folks who disagree probably don't know too many folks in the service. Give them a bit of downtime between patrols...it's the least you can do for them.

Well, bringing them home is another option. But that's another issue.

pylon_trooper

I think it's fine if people disaprove, freedom is a wonderful thing. I respect your view, but I hold a different one.

Cruithne

I think Gamestop should donate some of their used GBA's and whatnot, but than i remember Gamestop has no soul...but than i remember it takes your soul when you reserve a game, so than i come to the conclusion that these kids have never reserved anything at gamestop. nice to see these kids helpin out.

Darthearl

@fyre: And why is that?

YUYU

@Cchrist: Not sure about a PSP but I am positive that a DS could take a bullet (if closed). XD

All kidding aside this is a great thing to do for great people.

Mr.SithNinja

That stuff should be going to child's play, what a waste.

manocheese

I gave away all of my ps2 games away to a marine station in Iraq. A much better approach than selling or trading them in to Gamestop, imo.

balls187++

@Cchrist:
Totally.
I imagine a PSP would take a bullet better an a DS Lite.

StupidityTries

So...not to start a 100 comment discussion or anything, but I strongly disapprove of this.

fyre

I'm waiting for the first "Soldier saved by PSP" post :P

Cchrist

Great idea, those guys need to know that people are thinking of them.
Now I gotta see if there's a similar scheme for our British troops.

Cruithne

Good on these kids. It makes me happy to see stories like this. If you support the war or not you should always support the troops. What these kids are doing is amazing.

Balance_In_Life (PSN)

Seems like a...umm...good idea I guess? So the soldiers are gunna be busy playing Portable Ops whilst in a war...lol

xarchsagex

@Cruithne: well, Sweden for example, do you see the Swiss army going anywhere? and they have the highest life quality in the world at the moment.

Armies are supposed to be there to deter other retards with delusions of grandeur to attack them, is how it would be in an optimal world heh

dumanue

^ The big ones will eat all the little ones. That's anarchy in a nutshell.

rainofwalrus

regardless of your political stance(s), soldiers are people. some of them happen to be gamers.

gamers are our people. help our people!

great post. pacifistic anarchist... that's good shit. T

his big ones will eat all the little ones. That's anarchy in a nutshell.

rainofwalrus

@fyre: These aren't Clone Troopers here, bred for war in vats. These are the youth of America, caught up in something much bigger than them. I'm grateful, in an almost selfish way, that we have as many troops as we do, because despite us having engaged in two wars simultaneously, we haven't had to reinstate the draft. If we did, my life, and many of your lives as you know them, would be over. And I know for a fact that if I were stuck in a festering hellhole in the middle of the desert, I'd be exremely grateful for any distraction/entertainment I could get.

FistyDollars

Poor Witzbold... So much work in the pass few days.

tnx3

The thing I get a kick out of is that fyre doesn't want to "make the soldiers lives more comfortable". He's probably one of those idiots that thinks everyone over there joined up to fight, they should quit etc...You do realize that many of them didnt want to go and they cant just up and quit because they have families to feed, bills to pay etc...

NutManIV

@Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc: The OG GB was basicaly a brick with an lcd screen and buttons. My friends little sister bounced his Gamecube down 2 flights of stairs and it still works perfectly.

They should be sending old Gameboys and cubes over to the troops so that they can harden their vests and armored vehicles with them. XD

@Alphros: True enough. The wars that are fought today are more about economy, resources, and the shifting of political power on the Global stage.

That being said, the slodiers themselves don't get to pick and choose what battles they want to fight. I am sure if you asked them directly the vast majority would rather just come home from this one, just as many folks here (including myself) would like to bring them back home. I personaly don't see anything wrong with supporting the troops, yet disagreeing with the reason that they are there. No matter how you look at it, they are putting their lives in danger for their country and deserve whatever support we can give.

I am not trying to convice you to support this and not Child's Play. Child's Play is an outstanding cause and deserves all the support it can get as well. The last thing we need here is a "my charity is better than your charity pissing match". :) My point is, I just don't think that the validity of the cause to help out the troops with a little recreational distraction should be dismissed because of the political motives of why they are there.

Mr.SithNinja

*that's nor...

enewtabie

@Dude27:
Voted for most ignorant comment of the day..really.You should try being put in the middle of the desert without your family,friends,warm food,and comforts and see how you would enjoy it.Also it's painfully obvious you neither have the wish not the capability to understand the military.

Well my DS is being put to good use in Afghanistan at least.

enewtabie

I agree that freedom is a wonderful thing, however I happen to believe that force is the antithesis of freedom.

I've yet to see an example of a free society that wasn't built upon the use of force.

Cruithne

@fyre: You're kind of an idiot. Have fun up there on your high horse!

7ucky

@NutManIV:

You know, you could've responded to him in a calm manner. Just like how he posted. Instead you go and make an ass of yourself by calling him a retard and a douchebag. Get a grip.

dead_red_eyes

if it distracts them enough from killing puppies for fun, raping women, torturing prisoners on their free time.... it's good

But like Fyre said, I really don't care about the comfort of these soldiers, I would prefer that they had the bollocks to refuse to fight an illegal and useless war based on biased intel and lies.

War should be the ultimate thing to do and should be used ONLY to defend ourselves and not to attack for greedy reasons...

Dude27

@fyre: Please don't refer to yourself as a "anarchistic libertarian". I am a libertarian and I want people to understand that we are not "anarchistic" at all. Libertarians believe in the rule of law, anarchists do not.

I also believe that what this Games For Heroes program is about is a GOOD thing. :D

strideo

Bin Laden should be really bored too on that cave.. hidden..

How can I send him a DS?

CockroachMan

@KeroseneClimax: Exactly.

Witzbold

It's never a terrible thing to show these guys some love considering what they have to deal with on a daily basis. I see no reason how this could be considered negative.

Even if the common man in America can do little to bring these guys home, it doesn't hurt to at least make their stay in a place they don't want to be in a little less unbearable. No matter how great or small the contribution is.

If people have time to be against something, be against the ones who tossed our troops into this situation, and not the ones who only want to give them some sort of relief within a place that could eventually cost them their lives.

Folks, this has nothing to do with whether you support the war or not, it's about doing whatever you can for the men in women of your country . They didn't get to choose their battles, but they do it all the same. They're your people. You don't have to donate, but don't shit on your own people who'll willingly die in belief of you and your country.

KeroseneClimax

@Mr.SithNinja: So, if he disagrees with you he's not intelligent?

fusilero

@Alphros: "hired guns of corporate America"??

Ok man, I can see that you are only here to spew your hatred for the U.S. Military. I thought we could have a civil inteligent discussion here but I can see that is asking way too much of you. If could borrow a line from Witzbold's last post....

"Go piss off to a political forum where others like yourself troll."

Mr.SithNinja

@Witzbold: Glad to see the commenter section is staying clean of political bullshit ^^.

Cchrist

You folks shooting off with the stupid are real LUCKY that you are hiding behind a monitor when folks who are actually in the service show up in this section.

For fucks sake people nobody gives a rats ass if you dont like the war or not since THIS IS NOT a story to express your narrowminded unrealistic views in.

Go piss off to a political forum where others like yourself troll.

Witzbold

@Mr.SithNinja:
@KM91:

This just in: Cchrist said PSP so it's a PSP! After all he did call it.

Cchrist

@dumanue: err to NOT attack them, that is...fixing a typo...

dumanue

@Mr.SithNinja:

About the whole pick-and-choose thing: yes, they do have a choice. If I was a soldier in the U.S. I would rather go to jail than lend my support to the massacre that's going on over there. I also take issue with the "hero" title--they got suckered into this war, but they aren't fighting for anything that would earn them that title. And let's face it, all charities compete with each other--would you rather help sick children or the hired guns of corporate America? If people truly cared about those troops, Bush and co. would've been impeached by now and we'd see more concern about the constitution.

Alphros

@Mr.SithNinja: No thats the Cactaur from the FF series.

Witzbold

At what point does a human being fail as a human being? When he can no longer differentiate other men from their politics. I'm sorry that you can't be happy for the little these extraordinary heroes get it return for their efforts. It must be hard to live in a world where everyone doesn't agree with you or think the way you do.

As a fellow human (not a democrat, republican, or libertarian), I'm disgusted. I make no claim of support or condemnation on this war, but only my support of these courageous men and women. If you can't support them, then you're truly a disturbed individual. That's all. I'd rather speak my mind and be banned (if i get teh hammah)than purport any idea that dictates your opinion as valid or intelligent.

Voteforme2020

@fusilero: Well that goes without saying because I am the smartest person alive!!! You will all kneel to my cerebral prowess! XD

There is a huge differnce between intelligent discussion and and what he was doing. His original post made a valid statement about the difference between past wars and current wars. His last post deteriorated into name calling bile. I am not here to get into that kimd of crap. As it has been said several times in this thread, it has no place here.

(BTW is you avatar for Animal Crossing? Still waiting for that to hit the Wii)

@KeroseneClimax: I couldn't have said it better myself. I know because I have been trying to. XD

Mr.SithNinja

@aveneyer: No worries.

You have the support of myself and many others here at Kotaku.

Thanks for comming in and commenting though its much appreciated.

If you are still currently deployed overseas, stay safe.

Witzbold

First of all, thank you Wiz.

I am military, and it's already been said. Your political views on the war, should not be your political views on the troops. We enlisted for whatever reasons, and past that, we do what we are told. I've spent 1/2 of the past four years in Iraq, and after seeing one of my sqd members being put on a C130 in a wooden transfer case? You bet your ass I pulled out my PSP and tried to lighten up. We mourn, we do our job, and avoid the politics, and we count the days until homecoming. The internet is full of ignorance, but the best examples I see to this day, are members posting who have lived in comfort their entire lives, and bash those of us who can't even sleep through a car back-firing, a dish being dropped, or a door being slammed. We don't title ourselves heros, and most of us hate being called one.

As far as the rape comments, unless you've been there, you have no idea how it really goes down. Yes, it happens, and its sad. However, ask a morally set troop how it really happens. I've known ONE female in my military career that stayed faithful while deployed. ONE out of at least 400. Brigs go over with about 40 females, and come home with less than five. Easiest way to get home for a female? Seduce a member, cry and scream when the deed is done, call it rape: less than six days later you will be back in the states... undeployable for a set amount of time up to (but not typical) the rest of your career.

aveneyer

@Spoony Bard:
Don't know how to nominate..but that's some good words there..

enewtabie

@enewtabie: Dont bother. "People" like him just cant be "educated" by anything short of sending his ass up there to experience everything first hand himself.

---

@Dude27: Mate talk the shit when you can walk it.

@doubtful: My friends say pretty much they appreciate anything that will get their minds off of the shit that goes on daily. Regardless of the medium as long as they can get lost in it for a while its all good.

Witzbold

cybereality

it's a nice gesture i still don't see the point.. my friends over in Iraq etc. but games no problem.. they get plenty of money etc..

JimmyHACK

@Dude27:

Omg..I'm going to get you a copy of UCMJ so you can read up on laws and rules pertaining to orders..Really.
You obviously have no knowledge about Afghanistan/Iraq.....
Apparently,you under the misinformed opinion that soldiers kill innocents,rape for fun.Switch places for a day and you'll be kissing your momma wishing you had it nice and comfy again...God,it pains me to see how blind to the real world some people are..

enewtabie

@tnx3: No KIDDING. JEEZ - what's in the water these days? This is why there is a limit to the people who can comment. Only problem is, someone can get approved through another Gawker site and then come here. But Witz, keep fighting the good fight. :)

BACK TO TOPIC:

I am strongly opposed to the war, been so ever since it started. But tell me WHY in the hell would I take this out on our soldiers?

THEY are the ones fighting for our freedom. They are the ones DYING OUT THERE. Yes, there are some bad apples but there are far more noble souls who just want to do their duty for their countries and return home to their families. Many of them may not agree with the war - but many did not agree with Vietnam either. They still had to do their duty.

If you'd rather go to jail, great for you. Put your money where your mouth is.

Furthermore, we have the ability to pick up a game and play it when you want to, for whatever reason - pass the time, let off steam, play with friends.

Why shouldn't a soldier have the same right? Are they not deserving in their free time? For God's sake, show some respect. It's the least that you can do.

Spoony Bard

This is very cool. I wonder if the troops prefer to play games unrelated to war and violence, though? Like after a hard day of guarding a convey, do you really want to fire up Call of Duty or would you rather play Picross?

doubtful

"If you can't support them, then you're truly a disturbed individual."

So I am... we have very different point of view about heroism, for me, the real heroes are the one that refused to go to these deceptions called "war in Iraq" or "war in Afghanistan" and have chosen to loose everything to not have to kill innocent people. It's a very different thing to fight against Nazis knowing that you act for good and fight in Iraq knowing as a fact that this war was launched on the sole purpose of greed with false intelligent reports. Continuing to fight knowing this is your choice, but in my mind, there should be a point of resistence to an order if you truly know that this order is not humanely acceptable.

And for the fact about female GIs back home lying about rape, I would want their OWN point of view of YOUR story... it's a common excuse from Sexual predators to always says that the women "gave their consent" to this act.

Dude27

@dv8godd: So... Mac Firefox doesn't do carriage returns anymore? Great...

My post... now with in a readable format (sorry for the double):

Anyone that slams on this and other charities for their personal feelings about the war(s) should keep in mind that:

A) The soldiers themselves didn't choose to go to war. That was the politicians. And judging by how many people keep voting for senators, representatives, and presidents who support the war, one should hardly blame the soldiers for the war itself.

They can share some of the blame with you for doing so fucking little other than bitching on Kotaku about it.

B) Soldiers are not permitted, by law, to object to their mission while uniformed. They are required to do their duty whether they personally agree with it or not, which makes them just "a bit" less a twat than you while you're sitting comfortably at home debating whether or not they've done anything for you lately.

That said, I don't personally support the war either, and can't stand the politics that led us here...

... but pushing blame off on the US military for this fiasco just announces your ignorance to the world. You don't have to be under some delusion that their actions are keeping us safe from harm in THIS specific instance... but you should certainly have the fucking tact to realize you'd be fucked if they weren't WILLING to.

Asshats.

dv8godd

@Ulquiorra: Brother you have no fucking clue what you are talking about if you are calling them "stupid". A lot of the folks know damned well what they are fighting for. The problem is basically you have 2 choices.

Go to war

or

Go to jail

That and the reason they continue to fight there is for their fellow soldiers on the ground with them living out the same shithole of a time day in and day out.

Once on the ground and in the shit politics dont matter, its all about keeping your squad mates and yourself alive. Since truthfully thats all you got out there mate.

Calling them stupid just becuase you THINK they dont know what the war is about makes me wonder who the real "stupid" one is here.

Witzbold

@Basscadet:
How much are Sunni vs Shite ethnic crap that is been going on for years?Its so bad now,because Saddam used to kill anyone
stirring up trouble.

I mean it was all roses and flowers in old Iraq and nobody ever died right? Till you come across a mass grave in the Northern Kurd area,or Saddams old torture centers..Yeah good times in old Iraq.

enewtabie

dv8godd

It's not like they aren't good people, they are just stupid. They're doing their duty like the armed forces always have. I don't blame them for the behavior of the politicians who actually know what they're fighting for (oil).

Ulquiorra

@Basscadet: It's simple. They're willing to sacrifice everything to protect us. I get to sleep a sounds nights sleep because they (US Soldiers) are out there putting their lives on the line.

(sorry witz...poli rant)
It's not their fault that the military is being used in this manner. They didn't decide to go to war in Iraq. They're given their orders, and they execute them. That's it.

Should we worship the ground they walk on, of course not. But we should fucking honor the sacrifices they have made for us.

balls187++

@Basscadet: Can someone enlighten me as to why these guys are 'heroes'? And before some of you start chanting U.S.A U.S.A I'm NOT flaming But so far there have been over 1 million Iraqi deaths since the US led invasion.

Go die in a fire.

Karabiner98Kurz

@Basscadet: Dont ask us, go email the website that. We didnt make the "Heroes" label they did.

Nobody here is calling them heroes.

When you phrase your question like that its an obvious ignorant flame.

In war people die plain and simple.

Btw did you know a good number of the Iraqi deaths are also caused by Iraqis or insurgents killing other Iraqis? But you obviously seem to ignore that fact due to speaking on a subject you know little about. Instead trying to use those numbers to push your own agenda of trying to start a flame war.

Witzbold

@balls187++: I do have a hardon for COD4

balls187++

@Basscadet:

Go die in a fire.

Karabiner98Kurz

Basscadet

@enewtabie: Send in the following to tips(atmark)kotaku.com

Subject: Comments Nomination

1: Original link to the story

2: Link to the nominated commentors profile

3: Copy and Paste the comment you want to nominate

4: Link to your own profile.

Witzbold

It's weird that so many "gamers" are upset by this (and how about the irony that most of them are probably rabid COD4 fans?).

Back in 2003, I read a forum post about a soldier stuck in Iraq asking for games (this was a support the troops forum mind you). Apparently while they bust their asses off, they do have down time, and it gets boring, real freaking fast. A lot of these kids are 18-19 years old out there. Imagine 9 months not really being able to play video games, how much that would fucking suck? So yeah I sent every ps2 game I owned, plus a few new ones. Not cuz I have a hardon for war, but because if I were in their situation, fuck yeah I'd want some games.

balls187++

@JimmyHACK: Not all soldiers are near a base large enough to have a PX. That and the main PX in Iraq isnt exactly a gamestop mate. You obviously have no idea how much a soldier makes do you? Its not an amount that I would call "plenty".

Witzbold

[www.amazon.com]

This, send this with DS's A buddy of mine had his DS sent to him in Kuwait and a Humvee ran over it, it survived. Does the PSP have something similar to protect it? Those things are awesome.

Xer0Ph0kus

@Spoony Bard: Excuse me, but they are fighting for who's freedom?
I didn't know that USA is occupied by Avganistans od Iraqs.

Juhu

@Dude27: You're right.. we had no reason in Afghanistan. I was so wrong. There was no conflict with terrorist there, that's all made up. Yeah.. what about the video evidence? Huh, no way! Oh, and Iraq may not have had their hands bloody on this one, but their military was as evil as they come. If they had as much power as Hitler, than they would've been just like him. And before you say "the difference is that we created him," I can blame Hitler on the UK and France, too. It doesn't matter what happened in the past, it matters what's happening now.

@Basscadet: People die in war. It's the most horrific execution possible. But, Saddam is as responsible as anyone else (I.E. his inflammatory speeches about the death of the United States at the wrong time). But Heroes aren't right or wrong.. They're men and women who believe in themselves and fight for it. They risk like and limb for it. They don't whine or complain, they do it and do it better than anyone else can. I don't like Spiderman's tights (they make him look fat), neither do I agree with Iron Man's drinking habits. But, they're heroes. The soldiers may be doing things that I don't agree with (killing), but they're doing it because they believe it's the right thing to do. They believe that there's honor in standing and fighting a next to their brother in arms (hence why many stay there), and that this is truly the right thing to do.

Voteforme2020

I infact love this idea of sending our troops New and old video games i myself have a younger brother in afganistan right now that i just sent a heap of movies and games too. Seeing others get this from strangers is something extraordinare.
If you don't support the war effort, support the soldiers they are our brothers, father, uncles, sisters, aunts and mothers. They have families just like we do.

Jopan

So a Rabbi,a preacher and nun walk
into a bar.The bartender says:
What is this? Some sort of joke?

My attempt to lighten the mood sucks I know it..

enewtabie

@Mr.SithNinja: You're absolutely right. Thanks for the refocus. I get caught up sometimes and can't help myself. :)

Spoony Bard

@Juhu: First of all, I'd appreciate if you'd learn how to type. That would be super. Second, as I have ALREADY said, I disagree with the war. STRONGLY. There was no reason for us to get into the clusterf*ck we're in. But again...soldiers who put their lives on the line, they are there to serve their country. Just like Iraqi soldiers. Just like Pakistani soldiers. Just like ANY soldiers who are serving their country. ALL of these souls deserve our respect. If you can't understand that, I feel sorry for you.

And they DO fight for our freedom - not to make us free but to keep us enjoying the lifestyle that we have. Remember, although it's cliche, it's true - "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

@enewtabie: Thanks mate! I appreciate it - I feel very strongly about this and I just felt I should put in my 2 cents.

Look, there are extremists on both ends of the spectrum. The idea that "if you're not with us, you're against us" is abhorrent. The world has never been that black and white, with perhaps the exception of one scary German psychopath.

But the other extreme is just as spiteful - you cannot blame the war on soldiers who are doing their duty. Since Witz and DV8Godd have chimed in with thoughtful rhetoric regarding this, I'll leave it at that.

I am a proud American, born & raised. I have lived in Middle eastern countries and I KNOW the difference. What we have here is very unique in our own country. We have the freedom to dissent, to disagree with our government openly. I protest the war every chance I get. BUT - I also make sure to make our thanks known to the troops that are serving. Whether you like it or not, without them you'd be singing a whole different tune. I wish those of you commenting against the soldiers would understand that.

Spoony Bard

@Jest: your weird*

Jest

@Dude27: "so, why we judged them?"

Uh, I'm just pointing out a HUGE fallacy in your argument right there.

You would do well to really shut up now, since it's obvious you are pretty ignorant about the subject you're talking about, despite you weird idealism about it all.

Jest

@Dude27: That's a valid point, but they're fighting so we don't have to. The political machine needs it's drones and if they didn't do it, we'd be drafted. I respect them for that.

Ulquiorra

@Mr.SithNinja: Hear hear.

MisterSleep

"They are required to do their duty whether they personally agree with it or not"

Nazis SS were soldiers too... Do this apply for them too? so, why we judged them? afterall they just have done what their leaders wanted them to do ? don't youee the absurdity of this?

A soldier should be a man FIRST and able to be more than a "STORMTROOPER" programed to kill on order when this order is unacceptable.

I have much more respect for these one who REFUSE to execute an unacceptable order knowing they will loose everything.

Dude27

@Mr.SithNinja: I agree, my post only had a political focus because I was responding to someone who said our troops aren't heroes and do not deserve praise and support.

Ulquiorra

I'm really glad I go to read about this. I have a few old Nintendo Advances and SPs, and I've been wondering what to do with them. Although I do question the whole "heroes" bit, I give big kudos to these kids for their efforts. I'll start reading up on the process to get my handhelds to them.

Jest

@Mr.SithNinja:
Sorry for double post, but I have to quote this comment for truth. Well said.

mattmoto

Here is why I love soldiers. The American volunteer military system DEPENDS on volunteers. If no one volunteers, I get drafted via selective service.

They put their life on the line, thousands of miles away, so I can enjoy my youth without military service. For that, I am infinitely thankful.

mattmoto

@Witzbold: Let me rephrase, now they know what they're fighting for. When we first got into this people had no idea. And now it's too late. And I know exactly what I'm talking about. I have dozens of friends and family members over there. My dad sent one of his infantry units over there and two of them got killed when a mess hall was bombed.

Ulquiorra

Mr.SithNinja

@fyre: I suppose a pacifist anarchist is the person who just says "well, fuck..." as the opposing military complex comes rolling unopposed up to your front porch.

zenpoet

t's not like they aren't good people, they are just stupid. They're doing their duty like the armed forces always have. I don't blame them for the behavior of the politicians who actually know what they're fighting for (oil).

Oh, I just pray for the day somebody says something like that to my face.
[/Marine]

mdarnell

"Don't trade that game into Gamestop! Donate it to our troops and their families! And save your receipts as it is a donation and tax-deductable!"

SigmundTheSeaMonster

@Dude27: Ah yes, the inevitable lousy comparison to the Nazi's.

Sorry mate, that argument has no merit.

balls187++

Why does everyone think we'd be invaded the moment we 'stop defending freedom'? Are we just brought up that much on fear? Do we always need to find an enemy to fight?

And yes, I've lived on both sides of the world (middle east and here)

Maximus9

@Maximus9:

No one thinks we'll be invaded the moment we weaken our military, but history has shown that it will happen eventually(other countries were easily invaded because they scaled back their military decades before) and having a strong military is the right thing.

Honestly, anyone who thinks that we should abolish the military or scale back on it is just ignorant. Sincerely ignorant.

NutManIV

I just wanted to say, someone banned me for my last comment... after a quick complaint, I was found to be guiltless and was un-banned.

If people are this eager to shut up opposing viewpoints, I'm extremely afraid of where we're headed.

Alphros

@Alphros: Opposing viewpoints are expresed on this site daily. It is how they are being presented that determines if the commentor is out of line or not. If you are precieved as someone who is just looking to troll or start a flame war then you get booted.

People's viewpoints on the war, troops and the political motivations behind them are obviously extremly combustable. All it takes is one jack-ass spewing hate or intentionaly trying to antognise a group of people and the point of the story is lost and the thread turns to all out bedlam. While some sites let that sort of thing go unabaded, this is not one of them. Kotaku holds it's commentors to a certain community standard and if that standard is not met, they are booted.

Your previous statement likened the U.S. Military to being nothing more than hired guns and thugs. Do you see where that might set more than a few people off? Do you see where that can be constrewed a cheapshot designed to do nothing but piss people off? To paint an entire group of people with one brush stroke like that is highly questionable. In a nutshell you said "screw them, they are nothing but a bunch of hired guns. I would rather help sick kids". You could have easily expressed the same viewpoint with out the cheap shot. Maybe something like " That's all fine and good but I would rather send my games to these people instead".

The other problem with your statement (in my opinion) was that it was more politicaly driven than it needed to be and completly off topic. The story wasn't about the moral implications or political motives behind the war. It was about 2 kids doing something to help out a group of people that they admire by trying to bring some semblance of home to those that are far from it. Instead we get insenitive remarks from people who are largely ignorant of the situation and just want something to rant on. It is sad realy how quickly focus can get lost.

There a was a story yesterday (i believe) about a 2 year old girl that was beaten to death with a game controller. Almost instantly you get people making jokes about it and then the thread became more about an argument over free speach than an innocent life being stolen by an evil lunatic.

I am glad that there are people monitoring the threads to weed out the "undesirables". Whether or not I think that you are one of them is irrelevant. The choice isn't mine. Witzbold does a great job in keeping the threads cohearent and keeps the site from spiraling into a bunch of hate filled jibber jabber being fired back and forth at eachother.

My only sugestion to you would be that if you don't like being held accountable for your posts.....then don't make any.

Mr.SithNinja

Send this FOR DS's. Sorry, idk why I put "with"@Alphros: Actually if you were a soldier you wouldn't wish to do that. If you were a soldier you would have a more soldier mindset.

BTW they don't just go to jail, they go to military jail, are Dishonorably discharged when they get out, and because they have been tried in a court martial, are a felon. You really think you would do that? We all know the answer.

Xer0Ph0kus

Regardless of your views, you must admit these kids are doing a pretty good thing. They're supporting people that they believe need the help and I think thats the most charitable thing you can do. Hell, I cant say I did anything that selfless when was a kid. They deserve a pat on the back and a bit of respect.

TonyMcPwny

@Spoony Bard:
Thanks for the tip about my typing. I'm trying to get better, but English is not my native language. ;)

Tell me who is going to invade USA? And even if that happens, then you can say that they are fighting for your freedom. This time, they are only going for oil.

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Switzerland and many many other countries disagree with this line.

Juhu

On a second thought...if games keep troops away from killing puppies and raping women, go for it.

kanashimaru

I respect the kids' efforts, but I don't think soldiers should be playing games when they're in a fucking war. They should invade Iraq/defend our country.

kanashimaru

@Jest: Did you just call yourself weird?

You should have someone give you a leotard, as it rhymes well with retard.

Soldrak

@Juhu: "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Switzerland and many many other countries disagree with this line.

Then they have, unfortunately, misunderstood what the line means. Jefferson and other men of his times didn't intend such utterances to support preemptive war...

... they spoke against the tyranny of their own king and the need for revolution to free themselves of England's oppression as well as the need to be sure that America did not succumb to similar political structures.

As for who invaded who... maybe you don't remember when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon had planes flown into them. I personally remember the Pentagon's destruction as I was less than a mile from it when the plane went down and the fireball went up. Not being from the US, perhaps you remember some of the other terrorist bombings of the previous 40 years... the majority of which were against targets who weren't any kind of military, but also had little or no knowledge that they had done anything deserving of such viciousness.

And we could bicker and argue all day about how perhaps the US was asking for it by their actions in countries A through Z... and I wouldn't disagree with you either.

But at the end of the day, whether it was a formal declaration of war by a nation defined by its "physical property" or a long history of terrorist tactics against dozens of nations and their civilians committed over a period of decades has little bearing on the fact that, whoever started it aside, the gauntlet had long since been thrown down on both sides.

Perhaps I missed all the "give peace a chance" speeches that Bin Laden and his ilk had been giving in the last 50 years, their efforts at a peaceful redress for grievances. Maybe if they, themselves, presented an image of "willingness to discuss" rather than refusing to give quarter to foreign nation and brother alike, we wouldn't be here.

Don't get me wrong, I don't condone my nation's course of action with regard to Iraq...

... but that has little bearing on the fact that the men and mindset we're "supposed" to be dealing with, whether capable of occupying a foreign nation or not, ARE serious threats to the people of the world, and have been for years. I mean, my friends and I don't like Bush either... but we don't grab random people on the street and film ourselves cutting off their heads as if that were a political statement.

Still, whatever motivations "George" and his Neocon cabinet may have hidden from the public in order to push this agenda forward, the men and women who went to these places in the first place left believing that such service was required of them in order to restrain twisted men from further atrocities.

You can hardly blame THEM for being lied to. And you don't have to argue in favor of the war... in fact, many of them would likely prefer you didn't.

But you should please have a little respect for their willingness to throw themselves in harm's way at the behest of their leaders, who are ultimately made so by the voice of the people.

As I said before, they are certainly able to share some of the responsibility for the war with their leaders and the US citizens and their neighbors who voted them into such positions.

Either way...

Switzerland disagrees? Jesus... what would motivate Switzerland as a nation to give two shits about the plight of others? That's like having a neighbor watch the rest of the block get shot at in drive-bys say "wasn't me, so I don't care". Such indifference only works as long as you're able to use your neighbors for a shield and trying to stay out of sight. An effective stance, though hardly noble.

They've come a long way in the last decade, but why ask the opinion of someone who clearly wants to be left out of the conversation in the first place and act like it's relevant?

dv8godd

@kanashimaru: If only games could keep people like you from posting asinine and offensive commentary, then we'd really be in good shape.

dv8godd

Cool program, but we can afford our own games. Amazon-shipped games can reach even the most remote firebases in afghanistan.

Last rotation I ordered a bunch of PSP games and all arrived without a problem. This year i'm bringing my 360. Some of the guys that are going with me said they will bring a complete rock band set.

So yeah, thanks for the thought, but if you really want to support the troops, do it by voting for the most qualified commander in chief.

danjlove

@zenpoet: hehe, i'm still laughing at the thought of a Pacifistic Anarchist. it's as if he somehow believes Anarchy can be achieved peacefully. "WAIT, please don't loot my house, kind sir. I'm a Pacifist!"

rainofwalrus

Reading the above posts, it interests me how little people know about what a deployed soldier's life is like. Let me enlighten SOME of you.

We do get free time. When we aren't patrolling around and all of our gear is clean and ready, we can chill out and listen to music and play games. Many many many soldiers play games in their down time because it takes you away from Afghanistan or Iraq or wherever you are. I remember once being in a hot-ass tent in August in southern afghanistan and playing syphon filter dark mirror on my psp and forgetting how hot i was.

We aren't hired guns, but they pay and benefits are ok. The army doesn't make anyone rich but we get enough to provide for our wives and children and save a little and have some left for fun.

I wish you could see some of the medical missions we went on in Afghanistan. The heart of the soldier is pure gold when it comes to taking care of innocent people. It's our mission to win hearts and minds, but it becomes personal very quickly when you see the situations that people live in in other parts of the world.

You know what though, its ok with me that a few of you don't know what you're talking about. Its our job to keep it that way.

danjlove

@danjlove: thank you for your service to America!

rainofwalrus

@Soldrak: No, sorry, it doesn't. Tard does not rhyme with tard. That's the same ending, not a rhyming one. That's like trying to rhyme orange with orange.

Ulquiorra

@danjlove: Thank you. I know I'm late to see this but really, thank you.

One of our relief projects is in Afghanistan...I know quite well just how much soldiers like yourself are helping.

In a perfect world, your post should be the one that gets all the attention. But here, unfortunately, it's the useless commenters who end up getting most of the attention.

So...thanks again.

Spoony Bard

@Ulquiorra: You'll have to forgive him. He's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.

Jest

This is fantastic, I am sending my old GBA in now

Uckofay

Soldrak

Soldrak

@danjlove: We need more personal stories like yours, all we get from the media are the raping, torturing and puppy killing. I think that lots of people don't really know that good things do happen over there, and the media doesn't really help to make that better.

JesusBuddhist

SUCK IT, JACK THOMPSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, just had to say that!!!!!!

freespeech