Class(room) Warfare

Ah, the bogus class warfare battles continue, this time right here in LA (registration required). It seems that nebulous “peace activists” are clueing in those naïve “poor” black and brown high school students and their parents, neither of whom are capable, apparently, of figuring out that the purpose of a military is to fight wars.

My message to these students? Please, don’t join up. Those who actually want to serve don’t want to have to pull your weight. It hinders the mission: protecting your collective butts from enemies foreign and domestic.

"They [military recruiters] tell us, if we're failing classes, we're not going to make it to college," said Banuelos, 17, who wants to go to college. "They say, 'With our help is the only way to get out of the ghetto.' " [SNIP]

Student speakers from Los Angeles Unified School District high schools spoke out against ROTC programs and pressure to join the military. In addition, Fernando Suarez del Solar, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jesus Alberto Suarez del Solar, who was killed in the Iraq war in March, urged the audience to resist military recruitment programs on campuses.

I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Suarez del Solar. I just hope you’re not letting your grief obscure the honor with which your son lived his life and met the fate which we all have to meet.

"This is a conscious plan on the part of the government to drive our students out of the schools and drive them into the military to take part in the death and destruction," Suarez del Solar said.

Oh well, too late. The poor guy doesn’t realize that his anguish is being used. I pity these activists when the gentleman in question finally does wake up.

Onward…

Arlene Inouye, a coordinator of the event, said students are being sold "myths" that make joining the military seem attractive, such as the notion that it's a good way to travel to other parts of the world. "With all of the casualties of war, it becomes a life-or-death issue," she said.

Hey, I guess I didn’t really get to travel to places that I never would have visited had I not been in the military. I suppose that I should believe Ms. Inouye instead of my own experience. I suppose Ms. Inouye spent her entire military career stateside. Oh wait! There’s no mention in that article of Ms. Inouye having actually served in the military.

(Did I do my math right? Have only .03 percent of troops in Iraq, or thereabouts, lost their lives? If so, the last part of Ms. Inouye’s statement would be laughable, if the subject were not so serious. Remember these are Los Angeles high school students we’re talking about.)

Most assuredly, if these students cannot read/write/calculate at a certain level, they will not be allowed to join the military, recruiter enticements notwithstanding. It won’t matter whether one has a high school diploma or not—and GEDs are no longer acceptable.

The recruiters just want to keep the numbers of inquiries high, which is all they really care about. What the military wants are those smart enough to make their own informed decisions and with enough smarts to learn how to properly operate that multi-million dollar equipment paid for by you-know-who. The military wants the ones who could go to college if they so choose.

In short, the military doesn’t want your crack/meth babies....

BTW, there is absolutely no shame in not being willing to put it all on the line for defense of country, BUT don't make it seem as if those who are willing are some kind of dupes for the rich white man government.

Comments

[dgci]

Actually, your math may be a little off. I made it approximately .01 percent by my figures, including the casualty today in a roadside bomb.

Other than that, as usual, your post is spot on.

And you are absolutely right about the military not being interested in the crack/meth babies. The military wants motivated, intelligent young men and women. Someone who doesn't have the motivation to successfully finish high school will never make it into today's military. Your GED might get you into some state-supported colleges, but it won't get you into the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps.

On a side note, during my (admittedly only four year) military career, I got to enjoy the sights in West Texas and Central New Mexico. I was offered the opportunity to go to Spain and turned it down out of what I'll attribute to still-being-in-my-early-20's stupidity. I wish now I'd gone.

[wes jackson]

This is the way they begin to separate and indoctrinate those with the least among us. I vascilate between sadness and indignation. Like sheep to the chute, these kids that would benefit most by a leg up toward the kind of pride generated by military service are led to the us v. them mentality. They are told that they can never reach the brass ring; those in power won't allow it. :(
Thank You, Juliette, from myself and all my family for your sevice. :) Todays service people made winning in Iraq look easy........It was not. They were very well trained,and smart as hell, with awesome equipement.

[sandy]

My husband has been home from Iraq a couple months now and he's getting ready to go back to Korea as soon as we get settled at Ramstein AB, Germany...it's been hard at times but we've had a good life w/this circus. There's a guy he works with who is slotted for Iraq next month, he's crying that he doesn't want to go, he only joined for the G.I. Bill, he doesn't believe in war,etc...this turkey shouldn't have joined. Not doing well in high school doesn't mean your life is destined for failure. My cousin back home, dropped out of high school, had a baby at age 16, got his GED, went to college and now is the youngest Fire Chief in the state of Georgia. These kids may have to work harder than they want to put their lives back on track but please don't join the military and bellyache how much you hate it, how you're against war, how you're above any TDY..I'm not active duty anymore but my husband is and I want to know when he's in danger he has some good people surrounding him, brave people..not someone just looking for college funds.

[Sgt Hook]

Well said Baldilocks. You hit the proverbial nail on the head with the "no shame" comment. Nor is there any shame in putting it all on the line for the defense of your country, wonder why so many think there is?

[sharona]

Baldilocks:

I agree with everything you said, and wish to add just one more point:

This is yet another chapter in the continuing crisis whereby achievement is discounted in the African-American and Hispanic communities. GroupThink and gangland leadership structures cannot replace an education, and neither can continued government handouts.

[angrypatriot]

Sgt Hook,
The only people that think there is any shame in defending our nation are the people that have never worn a uniform... well okay with the exception of John Kerry, apparently.

Baldilocks... you know your service to your Country has not ended... perhaps you should see about swinging through the LA area and having a discussion with the school administrators... why should those folks have the only say?

[og]

Frankly, I wish to God that I had entered the Marines when I turned 18. I'd be a whole lot different person now, in a lot of ways. I might have come to maturity a little sooner, and gone a little further in my personal and professional lives. I suggest service to everyone I know.

[MP]

A few months ago, I heard a man get on one of the networks and say that President Bush killed his son. Excuse me, we no longer have a draft. We have an all volunteer military.

My son was in the army 4 years and was stationed in S. Korea. He wanted to quit many times, even called crying during basic training. I told him he didn't JOIN to have fun, he joined to serve his country and that's what he was getting paid for. I showed no mercy for that child.

I was never as proud as when he came home. He was disciplined and oh so CLEAN & NEAT. He went on to university, got married to a school teacher & has two beautiful children.

[Indigo]

Juliette: I can't speak of personal pride in the military, because I have not served. But I can speak of pride in being an American and a military supporter - and feel even more passionate about this since meeting you in Blog World. You are an inspiration and I totally agree with Angry Patriot.

[Ted]

I can't wait for the LA Times next expose: "Students Told Combat is Fun," and "Students Lured to Military Service by Free Drugs."

[Lester Spence]

The military would be better off with crack babies, rather than babies born to alcohol addicted mothers. where exactly did that term come from by the way...i didn't see any reference to crack in the article. did i miss something?

but i digress.

i don't "support the military." i support members of my family who participate in the military...and i don't believe any of them were "duped" into joining. but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. it's possible that individual members of the military (such as Juliette) are making choices on their own even as the military engages in recruiting tactics designed to get poor and working class men and women enlisted. i can understand juliette taking umbrage (though i'd toss the "crack baby" line because it's wrong and offensive). but there are levels of aggregation to consider.

[just wonderin']

What's a "level of aggregation" anyway?

[Marty]

Oh, those evil mind-controlling "recruiting tactics!" Are you saying the "...poor and working class men and women..." are fooled by these recruiters into joining the military?

I came from the "...working class..." and enlisted in the Air Force. Was I fooled by "recruiting tactics?" Uh...no.

I wanted to travel. Would the Air Force provide a means to do so? Damned skippy.

I wanted to work. Ditto.

I wanted to defend my country. Ditto.

I wanted to better myself. Ditto.

I wanted to make friends that I will have for life. Ditto.

Did I go in with my eyes open? Sure. Did I know everything that would occur in a 20-year career? Of course not...who does?

This is one "working man" who is damned proud of his choice.

[wes jackson]

are those levels of aggregation related to the retoric of false unity?
Most people try to gain advantage in life for the simple purpose of making their own existence better.(from gardeners to congressmen)
I takes evil to gain advantage for the purpose of making another's life contain more misery.
I believe the vast majority act for reason #1
I have been a general contractor for over 25 years. I have first hand knowledge that there are people out there in catagory #2. I also know the #2 types come in every color. Thank God for the #1 group. Life is short.....if you look for good you will find it......

[baldilocks]

Lester: What about the crack/meth baby line was wrong? The military *doesn't* want them. As for "offensive," to paraphrase a line I read once, a real lady rarely offends anyone by accident.

[Mike O]

Picked up on your site from Instapundit and I like it. Just wondering does anyone have figures on the chances of death for these students in the next year if they stay in L.A.? Might turn out to be higher than in Iraq.

[dgci]

Mike O, check out the stats provided by the Centers for Disease Control. Don't have the link at had, but you can Google for it and find it. The number one cause of death among black males aged 16-30 is....violence at the hands of other black males.

[Steve]

Hello Mike O and dgci,

Juliette's numbers indicate that death rate in Iraq is around .03% or 30 per 100,000.

According to the National Center for Health Statistic's 2003 fact sheet for California, available here: Accidents, Homicides and Suicides occur 39.1 per 100,000 in the year 2001

[baldilocks]

Thanks, Steve. I was lazy and didn't look up the numbers: 572 (rough number of casualties) divided by 150,000 (rough number of troops present).