British: Moms Make Military Recruitment Hard - Smart Mothers Here

[NNN0LHI]

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=nation_world&id=4233289

(06/03/06 -- LONDON) - A British general says his country is finding it harder to recruit soldiers because mothers fear their children could be killed in Iraq.

It's called the "mum factor."

Major General Andrew Ritchie tells the Daily Telegraph that concerned mothers are a major issue for recruiters.

[liberal N proud]

1. Any SMART mother would do what ever they could to stop the recruiters

I know my wife would stand between any recruiter and our kids to keep them away.
I would be standing there with her.

[NNN0LHI]

2. My hat is off to all the concerned mothers n/t

[Eugene]

3. Not just British moms

but American parents too.

From April...

Army recruiting below last year's levels

<snip>

"The Iraq war has damaged the Army's relationship with its most important recruiting target
— not the 18-year-old but their mother. That's been the real issue. And mothers are hard
to convince," said defense analyst Daniel Goure of the Lexington Institute think tank.

[Spangle]

4. The go after the better Educated kids first.

The military is so high tech, they want the best of the best. Those kids are bound for college. Familys have bent over backwards to keep them 'clean' and on a straight path. (nothing to do with sexuality, <wink>)

It use to be the Judges would send 'trouble Maker' kids into the military. Well, give them the option. But such kids are no longer the kids the military wants. Those kids are less likely to listen to their parents, so the 'mum factor' wouldn't be an issue... if you can find the kids.

However, if those kids were given a chance.. they could make something of them self. What they need is time away from their envirment, situations, group of friends, etc..

However, such a situation would cost the military. Alot of these kids are high school drop outs. Kids the system has failed. Which means that after boot camp and before 'skills training', those kids would need to attend a military GED program.

The military doesn't want to do it. They don't want to take the chance.

As it stands today, out of the 4 kids I have raised or am raising, the military will only be talking to one of them. Only because what that child wants to do in life, he might need the military to accomplish it. The choice will be made before the military comes knocking on the door.

[NNN0LHI]

5. I would disown my child before I let them join the military

I feel it would be my obligation as a parent who loved my son or daughter to do that. I wouldn't want to do it or feel good about it. But I would do it.

If I was young and didn't know what I was doing I would want my parents to do the same for me if that is what it took them to show me how serious they were about it.

Don

[Spangle]

12. Totally disagree with you.

I'm sorry you would disown your child. It must be tough living their life for you and your choices for them.

I raise my kids much differently. I see my obligation to teach my children how to make infomed choices. But THEY must be the one to make them, cause they are the ones who have to live with them. THey learn this as a teenager. What they do as teens do not 'hurt me', but hurt themselfs in the long run. Hence, the training and the choices start at an early age. The teaching that they are making life long choices...

If one choses to join the military, it will be an educated choice. Not one were they were 'tricked' into joining. THey will know the pros and cons long before the choice is actualy there.

We DO need a military. It's not the soldiers fault what our government decides to do with it. I will NEVER blame a solider for the actions of our disgraceful government.

As you might have guessed, I'm raising my children to question and think for themselfs. That includes not even accepting 'my word for it." If they disagree with me, I expect them to say so and defend their thinking on their own. Without worry that their parents are going to disown them for thinking differently or.. should i say.. ON THEIR OWN!

[NNN0LHI]

13. It has nothing to do with them thinking "differently" than me

Its has to do with morals and values.

After what we know is going on in Iraq right now if you think I would not do everything in my power to prevent my own children from going there to be part of it you are badly mistaken.

My parents would have let me get drafted in the early 70's to get sent off to Vietnam without a second thought if the draft had not ended the year I turned 18.

I haven't forgot that. And it doesn't make me feel good knowing they wouldn't have done everything they could have done to prevent it either.

I will write off my parents decision on ignorance. But I will always wonder if it was?

My children will never have to wonder about such things.

Don

[Spangle]

14. Yes it does. It's about perment control of their thinking.

Oh, yes it does.

If they LOVE you, they will not want to be disowned. No matter what they personally believe.. you have put an end mark on your 'love.' Anything that they choose that could cause them to be 'disowned' must be hidden from you. Not even discussed as a possiblity.

PArents have been playing that 'game' since the begining of raising children. Homesexual children heard it. In the end, if the child DOES go byond the line.. the parent is caught. They either have to stand by their 'word' and disowen them.. or they have been preaching falsely.. they are a lier! Caught with the foot in the mouth.

Those parents also thought that their children really stepping over the line wouldn't really be an issue. Because they taught their kids 'morals and values.' The were really telling others how strongly the felt about the issue. ENOUGH to even disown their own children if THEY did it.

No matter what JOB the children eventualy grow up to have, they will be hit because of their 'moral and values' they were raised with.

One thing my kids will grow up with, is the understanding of what it took to build America. That if drafted, they should serve. WHICH is why they should pay close attention to WHOM they elect. Not wait until they are 'old'. But NOW when they are young. THey are taught to honor the Military personal. Both past and present. And are taught the horrors of Vietnam. AND that it could be repeated. Just like it is NOW.

IF my child is an 'objector', I will exect him/her to always be an 'objector' in heart. In all they do, for the rest of their life. I will support them no matter what. And in any way that I can.

I will support my children, no matter what choices they make in life. I might be disappointed in some of their choices. However, I've already taught them that this is 'normal' and that I should be allowed to be disappointed, upset, and even angry at times. LOL! Mommy, too.. should be allowed to have her temper tantrums... but that doesn't mean I don't love them or would ever disown them.

[NNN0LHI]

15. You would let your kids go kill people who didn't attack America...

...because you love them?

This conversation is over with.

Don

[Spangle]

16. Run Along...

Of course this conversation is over with. One with your kind of 'child raising mind set' wouldn't be able to handle a difference in opinion. OR the realization that children have their own minds. WHAT a concept!

I hate to inform you, but when your child becomes an offical 'adult', you don't LET them do anything. Nor can you FORCE them to obey you.

Your 'my way or the highway' game comes to a quick end. And if you haven't come up with a better way to deal with it, you will loose your chlidrens respect all together. Your ADULT children.

While we are training them to be an adult, we also have to train ourselfs to LET them be an adult. That means RESPECTING their choices. It doesn't mean we have to agree with them. Or that we can't councel them NOT to chose that way. But RESPECT the choice, cause THEY will have to live with it.

I'm raising my chlidren to a much higher level of understanding. They are taught to take responsibity for their actions. Even those actions that causes others to do the wrong.. if they are the ones who caused the reaction, started it, etc. And to also search for the 'cause' in other situations. Which means, they understand that even those NOT holding the gun are JUST as responsibe as the one who are holding the gun. Even MORE responsible, because they caused the situation to happen.

I hope your able to deal with it well, when your children do not live up to the 'morals and values' you have raised them with. And I'm sorry you feel that threating to 'disown' them will put you on the higher moral ground then others.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. cool post eugene

[mdmc]

6. K/R

thanks for the link

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Well, I'll tell you this...THIS U.S. 'mum' is a MAJOR factor here!

There's no way in HELL my son will EVER be recruited or join the military. Over my dead body! They go through ME to get to my son and they will be stopped in their tracks.:grr:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. Kicked and Recommended

[StellaBlue]

10. It's called the "War is stupid and I realize it" factor

WAR IS HELL. When will people realize this?!?!?!?!

[Pathwalker]

11. Well, I did my part.

When the Repukes stole the White House in 2000, I made my sons promise me that they would not join the military as long as the Repukes were in charge. I'm glad I did.