When Marine recruiters go way beyond the call (kidnapping!)

[Barrett808]

For mom Marcia Cobb and her teenage son Axel, the white letters USMC on their caller ID soon spelled, "Don't answer the phone!"

Marine recruiters began a relentless barrage of calls to Axel as soon as the mellow, compliant Sedro-Woolley High School grad had cut his 17th birthday cake. And soon it was nearly impossible to get the seekers of a few good men off the line.

With early and late calls ringing in their ears, Marcia tried using call blocking. And that's when she learned her first hard lesson. You can't block calls from the government, her server said. So, after pleas to "Please stop calling" went unanswered, the family's "do not answer" order ensued.

...

Next thing Axel knew, the same sergeant and another recruiter showed up at the LaConner Brewing Co., the restaurant where Axel works. And before Axel, an older cousin and other co-workers knew or understood what was happening, Axel was whisked away in a car.

"They said we were going somewhere but I didn't know we were going all the way to Seattle," Axel said.

(more)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/paynter/227497_paynter08.html

[InternalDialogue]

1. Got a thread in GD on this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3812943

[UCLA Dem]

2. Thats just awful. What a mess the damn bushies have put this country in.

[merwin]

3. Sounds a bit far fetched

However, with this administration, I'll believe almost anything

[whistle]

4. Sounds like French foreign legion

[WillyT]

5. It's Stories Like These That Cause Me To Think...

Something BIG is about to blow...

Jesus... the insurgents in Iraq are kidnapping Iraqi soldiers, and over here we're kidnapping high school kids to become soldiers.

Thanks George, YOU FUCKING MORON!!!

:nuke:

[Roland99]

6. Does the Hitler Youth Party ring any bells?

http://www.conjur.com/blog/2005/06/08/does-the-hitler-youth-party-ring-any-bells/

[maveric]

7. The Fuhrer's "Pressmen"?

Next they'll be cruising malls with a baseball bat and a large berlap sack to "press" teenagers into the service of the Homeland.

[davidinalameda]

8. I was just in LaConner

it's a good hour and half to two hours from Seattle

I'd be pressing charges

[Rex]

9. This is an age old practice

Fucking press gang! Everyday I see another erosion of our once great country.

[KansDem]

10. "Press Gangs" indeed...!

I thought those went out with flogging and keel-hauling, you know, the 18th century.

I think I have to think again...

[Barrett808]

12. I like those mugs with glass bases...

...so you could see if one of the Queen's "recruiters" had slipped a coin into your beer -- once you drink, it's tacit acceptance of the offer to serve Her Majesty.

[Rex]

15. I never thought I'd see the day

on a lot of things! Scary!

[Megahurtz]

11. Good God.

This all just gets worse and worse everyday. It's like a nightmare that will never end.

[Robeson]

13. In the old days, it was called being Shanghaid.....

...looks like its back in vogue.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

14. this is one of the craziest things i have ever read.

FUCKING AWFUL.

[KurtNYC]

16. My nephew is signed up for an American Legion thing

during the summer -- Boys State. He is 17 and it lasts a full week. I'm recommending he get his right hand set in a cast so they can't get him to sign anything. A mother I talked to said her son was awakened every morning and drilled by military instructors at one of these. My nephew's mother is oblivious and insists that attending a week of brainwashing will look good on his college resume.

[Barrett808]

17. I did Boys State, about 23 years ago

It was a tremendous waste of time. Does look good on the college applications, though.

[Javaman]

18. I see they are starting to round up the "volunteers"....

Son, you have been volunteered whether you like it or not!

Stupid fuckers, this bullshit comes from the top down. Rumspuke is shitting his pants, no troops, no war, no job.

Another reason to hate moron* and his room full of dopes

[arwalden]

19. Use Recruiters To Get Revenge On Your Noisy Neighbors...

... casually mention that your noisy neighbors have a 17 year old who is interested in joining the Marines. Sit back and let the fun begin.

[mondo joe]

20. Especially if he's a young muscular homophobe!

Then they can shave his head and make him dopush ups until he falls into a pumped, suffering heap!

Oops, did I type that out loud?

[Barrett808]

21. Too cruel! n/t

[yorkiemommie1]

22. i said something about big butterfly nets

a few weeks ago. i wasn't far off.

[tk2kewl]

23. unreal

[salin]

24. Isn't there something in the Constitution against Conscription???

This sure sounds like forced conscription. This is what happens when we no longer learn real history or learn about the meaning behind the words in the Constitution.

[Enraged_Ape]

31. My God, are we back to Shanghai-ing sailors again?

And the fucking Republicans don't see anything wrong with what's going on?

[salin]

32. nah - like one of the higher ups in the recruitment ranks said

they believe that parents shouldn't block their kids from enlisting - that it is their (parents) duty in order to prevent the Draft from coming back (that is - in order to prevent rich republican kids from having to serve)... is it really a far stretch, once they think that, to thinking that conscription - if it prevents their kids from being called up - is okay? As long as it happens to someone else, of course...

[David Zephyr]

25. Kick

[NewHampshireDem]

26. kick

and nominated

[HeeBGBz]

27. Isn't that scary

These peeps are hungry for fresh meat.

[Zech Marquis]

28. if freedom is on the march so fucking much in Iraq

why the fuck are the Marines resorting to snatching people off the street (literally) to "volunteer"? :grr:

[Sgent]

29. They maybe more insistent

But the tactics are no different than when I was in highschool in the '90's. The incesstant calls, the "trips" about 100 miles away to Memphis to a strip club, then the "stop" by the MEPS station in Memphis the next morning.

[NorthernSpy]

30. just like the Moonies!

From the emotional blackmail ("you don't want to be a burden to your mom, do you?"), to the use of intimidation and coercive tactics that look an awful lot like harassment and false arrest, this story parallels those told by former Moonies and other ex-cult members about how they were induced to join abusive sects.

Adults are free to join the Marines if they wish. This kid, however, was 17 years old: a minor. His parent's very first refusal to allow the recruiters access to him should have been the end of the matter until he reached adulthood. Parents have a right and a duty to protect their children, including from the almighty State.

Our government is out of control, and we must teach it its place.

[Caretha]

33. Amen n/t

[Barrett808]

34. The first time I read this, I thought they had drugged him

"Fed him something," ya know.

[jaxx]

35. I just sent this article to my senators and congressman

It's time to put a stop to the unethical ways they are trying to get kids to go die for dubya.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/paynter/227497_paynter08.html

[AX10]

36. Why the Hell did this kid go with them!

He is 18, he does NOT have to go with them! They have no such authority to do so. I would have stood my ground against these brownshirts!

[lumpy]

37. Teach your children well.

My kids were tots during Vietnam days. I started them young to question making decisions about joining the military. My cautions came in handy when one of my sons was harassed by an army recruiter when he was finishing highschool. The kid used to hide in the bedroom to avoid the punk that kept calling and coming to the door. My son made it clear to the bastard that he wasn't interested, but the guy kept coming around. I got to the point the last time he rang the bell; "My son isn't interested in the military and neither am I. Leave us alone" Slamming the door in his face did the trick.