See, some of my friends have wondered why people sign up for the military.

[conuly]

This is why. Because the military aggressively recruits to teenagers - who, let's face it, are slightly more likely to tend towards the naive side of things. Because it would be un-American to teach kids to weigh commercials and recruiting, or to see when they're being oh-so-subtly coerced. Because the military presents itself as an option - sometimes, they only option - for kids in poor areas, who aren't likely to go to college and probably can't get a good job, not unless they join up.

Comments

[theshiversbaby.livejournal.com]

Ugh, the military. Don't get me started. Anyone who doesn't understand that the military is a killing machine and thus is not going to spend precious funding on bettering your quality of life as an enlisted needs a long, hard wake-up call.

The part about the military being, at times, the only option for poorer kids hits hard, though. I don't know how much times have changed in this respect, but I do know that joining the military (at age...16?) was the only thing that got my grandfather out of abject poverty. Had he not joined, I'd probably be living in the mountains of eastern Kentucky today, where many of my relatives who remain there have no running water. In very rural areas, joining the military is often your ONLY chance of ever escaping (should you desire to "escape"). I doubt it's quite as bad in inner city areas in larger cities, because at least then you have ready access to social programs, scholarships, schools, etc. Then again, I'd be interested to hear perspectives from people who have first- or second-hand experience of poor urban life.

[leora.livejournal.com]

I don't have experience, but something that may tip the balance in urban areas is that if you already have friends dying from gang fights or whatnot, then the military doesn't seem as bad. Go to organized war or live with unorganized war...

I really wish everyone had better options. And I agree with the comment about how in many cases the military is the best option available for acquiring various skills - this is why I feel US education needs to improve and expand. We should be giving our kids the ability to learn the job skills they can use. They should not need to risk their lives just to acquire job skills. It should be a right.

[lizziey.livejournal.com]

odd, since once chris is done his BCT, i not only have a place to live, but i also have the free child care so I can go to school (which i really need, just ask connie. i miss school), and free schooling, oh, and did i mention that place to live is quite nice? oh, yeah, and my husband has a job that is definately not going to be downsized anytime soon, and thus him losing it...oh, yeha, and if he re-enlists for many years, like a LOT of people do (coming from ana army family on my farters side) our children also get free college educations...oh, yeah, and even with him in training now, the baby and i have medical covereage, which is MUCH better than the shitty medicaid we were on.

[conuly]

IF you go to school, you know I'm nothing but happy for you.

I heard that Seth's stopped talking. That's serious. Have you considered signing at him? Not using ASL necessarily (though that'd be nice) but just helping him a bit?

[lizziey.livejournal.com]

yeah, he's a bit behind on the speech lately. he does have signs, ones that basically only i understand, but they work. :), there is also the fact that he very rarely speaks even what words he does say in public.

[conuly]

You might want to add a few more signs to his repetoire. By which I mean *your* repetoire. Start using them when you speak, y'know?

[lizziey.livejournal.com]

well, we have tha basic baby ones..up, etc. but he does a motion for both eat and cup (they are different motions, do wish i'd see teh eat one more...), want, hug, kiss, "no, that toy", and a couple others i can;t think of right now.

[conuly]

What about "come here/go there", "give me/give you/give him", "outside", "dog", "I'm tired", "all done", "it hurts", or... well, the list goes on and on and on.

I can find a few sites, if you like. Heck, I'll even move beyond ASL, you can do a little improv. The important thing is the communication, not *how* you're communicating. If there seems to be a long-term problem, then you can worry about that later.

[lizziey.livejournal.com]

well give me is basically "want" he doesn;t have a sign for doggie cuz he actually sasys it (koggy, hurts is crying.