Do you know anyone who is trying to convince one of their kids into enlisting in the military?

[NNN0LHI]

I know a few. Some are Democrats too. I know of only one case where the kid fell for the parents BS so far.

Usually the kid who the parents are trying to get to enlist is the one son or daughter who appears rebellious and questions everything. And the parents normally dissuade the other siblings from enlisting who are more cooperative with the parents rules and regulations and doesn't cause any headaches for them.

I seen the same occurrence happening when the US was occupying Vietnam too. When I was a kid my next door neighbors convinced their mentally ill and drug addicted son to enlist. He died in a psychiatric facility a few years after he enlisted. I don't remember those neighbors suggesting to any of their other kids that they should enlist. Just the one with the problems.

Has anyone else seen this horror show played out?

Don

[jojo54]

1. I am only too happy to say I haven't seen that show.

Thanks goodness, I'd probably be in jail for trying to beat the shit out of the parents.

[notadmblnd]

2. I have a money hungry cousin who along with her husband was trying to talk her son into it

I'm convinced she wants the bonus and paycheck. This kid has worked since he was 14 and doesn't have a thing to show for it because he hands his money over to his mom. When I found out he was being pushed to enlist, I set about showing him what was happening there. When his grandmother spoke up and told me that if he went there, it might be a good thing , cause then he would learn to wear his pants up on his waist; I lost it. I started yelling at her and asked in front of a rather large group of people if she were willing to sacrifice her only grandson just so he'd learn to wear his pants properly. No one said a word. I haven't confronted my cousin since the matter appears to have been dropped for the moment. His dad needs a kidney and he going to need a live donor, probably his son.

[mzteris]

6. and even worse

the woman who helped convince the kid he "should enlist" for his country - and then got her daughter married to him three days before he shipped out.

:puke:

[Sequoia]

9. Good for you. Tell the kid to stay put.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. My grandson recently enlisted in the Navy. He wasn't pressured

by his parents or any other family member, he made the decision on his own initiative. He talked extensively to his uncles, great uncle and grandfather (who have all served in the military) before making his choice and feels like he made an informed decision. He is 21 years old and none of us tried to dissuade him since we felt that he had considered the risks and the benefits before enlisting. He will be the third generation of our family who has served in the Navy.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Would you have tried to dissuade him if Bush had invaded and occupied Canada instead of Iraq?

And while doing so had killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Canadian men, women and children?

Don

[Arkansas Granny]

5. That's a cheap shot and you know it.

[LeftyMom]

7. Ask an Iraqi grandmother if it's a cheap shot.

Ask about her children and grandchildren dying, and how she feels about the American kids who killed them for college money.

Put yourself in her shoes.

[Sanctified]

8. If my child was interested in going into politics I might recommend

a short stint in the military after they had completed college.