Dilemma with friend's family (Re: Military enlistment)

[bluestateguy]

I have a friend in California who is a 26 year old ex-Marine. He is the oldest of 3 brothers and one girl. The second son is currently in the military, stationed in Korea. The third son is 17 and is being ordered by their father to enlist in the military. The father is an ex-Marine who has effectively made it a house rule that all the boys, but not the daughter, must enlist at the age of 18. If they don't, he will cut them off from the family, and refuse to pay for their college tuition. These days, the father is even more fanatical, arguing that the kid has an "obligation to serve his country now that we are at war". This kid's politics are much different from his father's right-wing fanaticism and the other two sons, who are fairly moderate. This kid is almost a pacifist, but that just makes the father even more determined to ship him off to the military, arguing that he needs to learn some "discipline and patriotism". I think this kid is going to end up running away from home. I fear this situation is deteriorating fast.

[gWbush is Mabus]

1. run run away fast and don't look back.

[BOSSHOG]

2. THE FATHER IS WRONG

He gives being a jarhead a bad name. The son should be encouraged to do whatever he chooses to do. No one is obligated to serve the military, especially if war is the reason, and we are at war because we have a worthless hump as c-in-c. The son should tell dad NO. If dad does not accept, then dad loses a son. I served for 24 years but I would never insist anyone join the military for any reason other than that is what they wanted to do. To piss the marine off, maybe the son would join the Navy, get a College Education through military courses and disown his father.

[HawkerHurricane]

9. Concur, Chief.

No way would I sign up under threat, and I don't want anybody at my side there under threat.

You want to po a Marine even more? Sign up in the Air Force. They hate the Navy like you hate your brother; they hate the Air Force even more.
Navy Religious Program Assistant would be another good spot, they are the enlisted guys who help the chaplains.

[ET Awful]

3. Once the kid hits 18, the choice is his, not his fathers.

The father has no right whatsoever nor does he have the power to force the kid to do anything he doesn't want to do.

The kid can find other ways to attend college than his father.

There's no reason the kid should feel obligated to join the military and risk his life in an illegal war just because father is an idiot.

[never cry wolf]

4. Yeah, I'd say get out of there too

His Dad obviously does not care that deeply about him as a person and individual.

If he is forced into it, have him go Navy, seems to be a safer duty.

[Warren Stuart]

5. For me, joining the military was running away from home

Like it or not, those are the values that the kid was raised with, if he dosn't join he may end up regretting it later. Your post dosn't say which branch of the military. If he joins the Army he can select which military occupational speciality he can major in. However if you flunk, they send you to Infantry School.

Unless I was real close, and the kid considered me to be almost an uncle. I wouldn't touch this with a mile long pole.

[Postman]

6. Doesn't Dad's "orders" run counter to the supposed Ideals he holds?

I order you to go into the service because we are a free country....

Doesn't sound like a free country in that house....

[mainer]

7. The other brothers and the mom should stand up for him!

The poor kid needs a college scholarship. Basis of need? Insane father.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. Meet the Anti-Father.

This is TOO evil. Geez. The boy should just split. Fuck college, your ass is more important. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Edit: No (nt). There is (t).