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TechnographCounter-recruitment or counter-patriotism?
Liberal efforts to slow enlistment numbers detrimental to students, nation
By John Bambanek
Posted: 11/1/06 Section: Opinions
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A video on military service called "Before you Enlist" was recently approved to be shown to Centennial High School students by principal Dr. Weigand. This video, created by the American Friends Service Committee, was presented to Centennial by members of the Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort, an organization that is in no small part ordered to eliminating hatred and invidious discrimination in our community.
If the point of the video were that people should take what recruiters say with a grain of salt, I would have no objection. But the video goes far beyond that to paint the military as a den of rapists of their fellow soldiers, including the first-person testimony of one enlisted woman. I know quite a few women who have served and none of them had any inkling of such problems. Painting the military as a group as rapists is the kind of invidious stereotyping AWARE should be against.
Yes, there have been incidents of rape in the military and when discovered they have been prosecuted. There have also been incidents of frat boys putting roofies in women's drinks at frat parties. Shall we consider the entire Greek system a den of rape too?
Another favorite claim of the anti-war left is that the military recruits 18- and 19-year-old "kids" who don't know what they're doing. So let me get this straight: according to the left, a 12-year-old has all the faculties necessary get an abortion, but an 18-year-old can't make their own career choices when those choices include something noble like military service?
Sure, some of the antics on this campus give weight to the claims that college-aged people are basically kids. Just turn a few pages and see the puerile comic "Aww Shit" and you'll see what I mean. For that matter, just look at Professor Kaufmann's anti-Chief antics and he's well over 20. However, just because some people get to college with a sense of entitlement that the world somehow owes them, doesn't mean all college-aged people are that immature.
If the point of the video were that people should take what recruiters say with a grain of salt, I would have no objection. But the video goes far beyond that to paint the military as a den of rapists of their fellow soldiers, including the first-person testimony of one enlisted woman. I know quite a few women who have served and none of them had any inkling of such problems. Painting the military as a group as rapists is the kind of invidious stereotyping AWARE should be against.
Yes, there have been incidents of rape in the military and when discovered they have been prosecuted. There have also been incidents of frat boys putting roofies in women's drinks at frat parties. Shall we consider the entire Greek system a den of rape too?
Another favorite claim of the anti-war left is that the military recruits 18- and 19-year-old "kids" who don't know what they're doing. So let me get this straight: according to the left, a 12-year-old has all the faculties necessary get an abortion, but an 18-year-old can't make their own career choices when those choices include something noble like military service?
Sure, some of the antics on this campus give weight to the claims that college-aged people are basically kids. Just turn a few pages and see the puerile comic "Aww Shit" and you'll see what I mean. For that matter, just look at Professor Kaufmann's anti-Chief antics and he's well over 20. However, just because some people get to college with a sense of entitlement that the world somehow owes them, doesn't mean all college-aged people are that immature.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
Leeroy Jenkins
posted 11/01/06 @ 9:55 AM CST
This is by far my favorite writer at the DI... he's clear, concise, and presents solid points of view...
We need more writers like this.
S.S.
posted 11/01/06 @ 12:24 PM CST
I would like to contact you personally further about this article. I used to be a recruiter for the army.
wayward
posted 11/01/06 @ 4:15 PM CST
Without having seen the event, here are my comments on your piece.
Enlisting in the Army can have more serious and lasting consequences than joining a fraternity. (Continued…)
John Bambenek
posted 11/01/06 @ 7:13 PM CST
There's a difference between telling someone to not take everything their recruited says as Gospel and what the AFSC video asserts.
Yes, going into the military is a serious decision and should be made seriously, I don't dispute that. (Continued…)
Brian Bone
posted 11/02/06 @ 12:15 PM CST
Bottom line: Incidences of rape, assault, and other violent crime are lower in the military than they are in the civilian sector. Every enlisted troop is given a job skill, as well as the opportunity to cross-train into a different skill if they are qualified and there is a greater need for the new skill. (Continued…)
Jeff E.
posted 11/03/06 @ 12:11 PM CST
It's easy to take pot-shots at the so-called unpatriotic marxists. The fact is, in our economy, many kids feel they have no choice but to enlist in the military. (Continued…)
Redhead Infidel
posted 11/14/06 @ 6:29 PM CST
*Jeff E said: The fact is, in our economy, many kids feel they have no choice but to enlist in the military.
Our present economy? The one that's going gangbusters? THAT economy?
*Jeff E said: But now the military is desperate for bodies to send over to perpetuate the president's war on terror. (Continued…)
Robert
posted 2/20/07 @ 3:24 PM CST
Much talk has gone back and forth about the morality and necessity of the Iraq War. Each day with the news of more US and Iraqi causalities growing the people, the politicians and the media are starting to question the costs and premise of this war. (Continued…)
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