Posted on 07/02/2005 6:08:14 AM PDT by Alia
WASHINGTON — Megan Watson, leader of Mainstream Moms, is so angry at military recruiters for invading schools to sign up unwary youth for combat in Iraq that she and her group launched an online movement, “LeaveMyChildAlone.org.”
“They offer these trinkets to lure our children to enlist,” Watson said in a phone interview from her home in Bolinas, Calif. “This is very aggressive, demographic targeting to have conversations with our kids that should not be happening.”
All branches of the military are falling short of recruiting goals as parents say, in effect, “Hell no! My kids won’t go!” Watson blasted the aggressive recruiting drive as a backdoor draft conducted by the Pentagon because the American people reject a return to military conscription. “I’ve heard it called an economic draft,” she said. “They know where to find kids who don’t think they have a lot of options. They are playing on our children’s lack of hope about college and their future.”
...
Watson shares these views. “I do utterly oppose our occupation of Iraq,” she said. “We are spending $4 billion every month on this war. People are seeing the cost not only in dead and wounded but also in their own communities. Libraries forced to close. No National Guard to fight forest fires. They can’t find $8.5 billion of the funds we sent to Iraq. And they want to squeeze it out of Medicaid funding for senior citizens. It’s just outrageous
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Joining the effort are a dozen peace and justice groups including the Ella Baker Center, ACORN, Code Pink, Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee, Latinos for Peace and Veterans for Peace.
(Excerpt) Read more at pww.org ...
A generation of cowards.........won't happen, but whacko babes like this Mom would be much happier living in Somalia or somewhere else.........
And you, Charles....how many kids do you have in the military right now? You certainly speak with authority....you must have at least one serving, right?
No? No kids laying it on the line? Then shut up.
We're not all like that. Some of us were raised in poor families, and really had to work for what we got. Some of us lived on a very tight budget, where every cent counted. We grew up in the country, my dad in college all day, my mom working all night. They were poor college kids doing the best they knew how. They were both very diligent in what they did, and it exhausted them. As a result, my brother and I grew up as hard working kids- we knew that if it was going to be done, we had to do it ourselves. If something needed to be done, it was done without question, often without being asked. We never thought, "Woe is us" or "Our life is so hard"; we never knew better, and thus had nothing to envy.
Thanks to that foundation which they laid for us, we aren't of the same caliber as many of today's youth. We do every single item of home repair work in our home. Last autumn, I brought my master bathroom, which was falling through the floor (after not being disclosed by the previous owners), down to the studs. It was a vintage 1960's bathroom meant to last for time and all eternity. It took a good 24 hours worth of intense physical labor, but I did it. My brother has done similar projects. I expect no reward; I do it because it needs to be done. I agree full well that many of the city kids whose parents waited until they had accumulated substantial wealth before deciding to have kids are far from mature. I see it every day, and I wonder why? Why would you do that to your kid? Why would you stamp a handicap on him that he may well live with for the rest of his life?
Now, my point in all of this is that some of us DO have the maturity, the work ethic, the 'wisdom' to make such decisions. I am young, I'll be 17 in 7 months, but I am far from the protected innocent children you describe. I have never tasted alcohol and never will, but that is not because the legislative branch decided it for me. That is my choice. The same applies with drugs. I just won't do it. There is too much to live for to waste your life away like that. I don't think that we should be exposed to immorality on prime time television either. The Superbowl is a father/son event in many homes across the nation, and it should be appropriate for kids. Now, I realize that things do happen that can't be censored, but we can try. Even better, we can just turn off the television, and go play a game of catch outside. Everybody could use a bit more exercise these days.
My point being, we're not all coddled idealists who aren't mature enough as 17 year olds to decide which direction we'll take our lives in. Believe it or not, there is still a breed, albeit a dying one, of kids with the maturity to make intelligent decisions. There are some of us strong enough to take a stand for what we believe in, and fight it out without the aid of our parents. I have had that privilege several times, ranging on issues from politics to homosexuality. I'll have you know that there are military universities that allow you to obtain a college degree AND serve your country. Mommy's not always going to be there to hold your hand, and the sooner you realize it the better. I would hope that you don't raise the type of children you describe. Keep the breed of the few good kids alive- you have that power.
True, but you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. These parents should know that if they send their kids to a public school supported by gobs of federal dollars, then they should be prepared for the more unpleasant tasks involved with keeping the Republic free and strong.
What Republic? Federalism is dead. Congress involves itself in state affairs, SCOTUS involves itself in state affairs, the state legislatures are not represented at the federal level as intended. The Republic is gone.
But I agree with you, I'm not sure I would send a kid into public school after 6th grade.
nope not married,but IF YOU JOIN THE MILTARY, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOUR GETTING INTO
this woman is more concerned with sprouting left-wing rubbish then the governments recruiting policy
two more things if I had kids I would teach them that there is no shame in serving your country
And if the military would take me I would go,but was diagnosed with diabetes at 25 but still would go if asked
oh by the way if you don't like my posts don't read them
Not true. My husband spent 9 years in the Navy, did no college, but received electronics training. He left the Navy making 30k (1998) and doubled his income within 2 years. Still without any college.
We had two children when he left the Navy, one was an infant. We managed just fine.
lol! Loved your post. :) And thank you for serving and serving and serving. Blessings upon you and yours, now and forever. You obviously understand that some people only can serve "causes"; and then there are those who serve the country. There's a world of difference between these two types.
"Emasculators". Most feminist mothers are. They are clueless about "maleness"; they exhibit no respect for the differences between male and female. What I've always found curious? Feminist anti-war mothers, also tend to support females in "egalitarian roles" in the military. Can we say.. cognitive dissonance?
RedBeacon, I'm mighty proud of your post, well said, and no one your age could say it better. In the first place, your calibre is NOT a dying breed, our Armed Forces are FULL of your calibre of person, that includes both enlisted and OFFICERS.
Reading carefully what you've written, there is no doubt in my mind that your choices in life will be made with discernment and uncompromised logic. Best to you, you make us proud--and thankful.
I think you replied to the wrong person. None of what you said makes any sense to me or has anything to do with what I think and I don't care a whit what you or your sons do.
No. Not true. I think it is 16, they may enlist WITH PARENTAL CONSENT. My eldest, with two years of college already, went in soon after 17th birthday, after a 6 month "negot" process after enlisting. And was in the second immediate quick tranch into Afghanistan. Oh yeah. it was a tough decision. Psychologically and emotionally, my eldest was ready. The problem was me. lol. I wanted to make sure my eldest understood the terms of contract with military, fully. Why? I just don't like whinings and complaints: Education up front for better decision making. My eldest did some great works in Afghanistan. :)
Of course when Clinton was bombing Yugoslavia, this woman wouldn't have had a problem with it.
when Clinton was bombing Yugoslavia, this woman wouldn't have had a problem with it.
It just seems to me that US is exhausting itself fighting senseless little wars while China is preparing with tremendous determination and focus for the inevitable.....the sooner US gets out of this mess and confronts the real enemy the better...let the Iraqis shoot themselves.
I have had horrable experiences with Army recruters for my 19 yo son. They are offering him so much. He is next to a pro soccer player. Works out with pro teams but can't play because his scholarship offers would go away. Actually had to throw a recruter off my property. Free college, special forces, special assignments are just a few of the bribes.
Had this crackpot and her pals been born 50 years earlier, they would have spent her golden years speaking German.
You have no idea how many people you just insulted. Your post reeks of elitist Clintonian crap. I hope that your son does whatever he wants, in spite of you. And IF you were a good parent - you would support him and his decision 100%.
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