I could not believe it when my son came home a couple of weeks ago and announced that if he doesn't pass his exams he's going to join the Navy along with his friend. They had had a visit from the Military recruiters at his college and were told that they wouldn't have to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan!
As an army brat I did too get to travel the world but at what cost? Attending a military school meant that the education we received was quite different to what other schools teach. Our history lessons, for example, did not teach us about Imperialism and colonialism. We were pushed into attending military training. I was in the Air Training Corp and learnt all about the 'good' work that the military does around the world.
My Dad left in the end because he was disillusioned with the army and went onto to become a nurse. I have met up with other ex-military friends of my dad's and they are still suffering from depression and disillusionmeent. All of them say that they could not resist because at the end of the day they were just 'doing their job' and the only way to protest was by leaving which they could not do until they had served a minimum time or pay thousands to buy themselves out. I understand how many people join the military because they want to help people but what help exactly are they giving?
Given that even MY son can fall for this--he has been on Stop the War demo's and has Free Gaza posters on his wall--I am outraged by the military's blatant lies and propaganda.
As an army brat I did too get to travel the world but at what cost? Attending a military school meant that the education we received was quite different to what other schools teach. Our history lessons, for example, did not teach us about Imperialism and colonialism. We were pushed into attending military training. I was in the Air Training Corp and learnt all about the 'good' work that the military does around the world.
My Dad left in the end because he was disillusioned with the army and went onto to become a nurse. I have met up with other ex-military friends of my dad's and they are still suffering from depression and disillusionmeent. All of them say that they could not resist because at the end of the day they were just 'doing their job' and the only way to protest was by leaving which they could not do until they had served a minimum time or pay thousands to buy themselves out. I understand how many people join the military because they want to help people but what help exactly are they giving?
I fully support this campaign and urge us all to do similar actions.
See Clara's blog post about another fabulous action by Hackney Stop the War
See the article in the Hackney Gazette group
and a link to website offering advice to people thinking of joining the military: http://www.beforeyousignup.info/
Top military lies about recruitment: http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/62945/
4 comments:
I'm glad to see someone is already on the case with this. I suspect it might start happening around Camberwell too...
Excellent news huh? So funny we were just talking about it...
How about you allow your son to make his own decision? He may find his career rewarding, as do thousands of military personnel, or he may not, in which case he can leave.
I know that you have a big problem with the Armed Forces, but you should remember that they are subordinate to the will of politicians and do not decide to go to war by themselves.
That is why I was particularly disgusted by your 'occupation' of the Brunei Gallery exhibition about the ethnic minority contribution to the British Armed Forces. I have told one Asian and two black friends of mine serving in the Army and they were outraged. They do not appreciate people deciding for them what they should find offensive. They said that the only situation they have not experienced racial abuse in this country is in the Army, because the strong bond that ties soldiers together ignores colour.
Tony Blair is the killer, not the Army.
"Given that even MY son can fall for this--he has been on Stop the War demo's and has Free Gaza posters on his wall--I am outraged by the military's blatant lies and propaganda."
See a problem with that statement anywhere? It's great the soldier's got to speak to him, now he has two lots of propaganda to choose from rather than just the lot you've spoon-fed him.
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