To the editor,
Becky Thomas’s “Military madness” (May 28, News) left me a bit
chuffed. Citadel High children were given space in the paper with their
protest about military recruiters in schools. Being a service member, I
feel that these children are sorely misinformed. From the article: “One
of my friends recently got recruited” (my italics). I must
stress that military recruiters do not benefit from recruitment drives.
When I enrolled in the military almost eight years ago, no one came to
my school. I went out and volunteered. The same goes for every single
Canadian that felt the responsibility of wearing the Canadian Forces
uniform.
It is more than a little irresponsible for the media to fuel these
misconceptions by not correcting them and by printing these poorly
chosen words. I dont blame the children, in so much as they don’t grasp
these concepts and truly believe in their fight. Somewhere, somehow
these misaligned comments need to be put in check.
After all is said and done, students in Citadel High, I assure you
when I signed myself up, I fully understood the weight of my
actions. I accepted that my life in service to my country is noble and
warranted. I implore you to talk to military members and refuse to
accept what is shoved down your throat by the media. There are several
aspects of my career I don’t like, but there are infinitely more
aspects I love, and many more Canadians feel the same. Keep in mind,
kids, that in some countries, military service is mandatory, and the
people who serve their country are immensely proud. You should be happy
you are not forced into mandatory service, or mandatory civil service
either.
Remember, the reason you aren’t required to serve is because of
blood spent by people you never knew, who were proud to earn you that
option. —Curt Eckhardt, Halifax
Related Stories
Students protest against military recruitment at local schools.
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2009.
What is your point? So you signed up, so what? It’s not about you, bozo, or your circumstances. It’s about Tam Fawcett giving slick DND recruiters exclusive access to children on taxpayer’s property, and then when a few bright kids stand up and make a statement she attempts to give them the old heave-ho. It’s wrong, wrong, wrong.
I agree whole-heartedly with Curt. The Armed Forces is a viable option for many students. It seems the issue people are taking with military recruitment in schools is that the military exists in the first place. Sure, it is shitty that we need an armed force to guard this Country, but the blame for that fact shouldn’t be placed on the recruiters that arrive at the schools.
It bugs me that these kids think that their classmates need their protection, as though other kids in the school couldn’t make their own decisions based on facts and personal beliefs & ideologies.
Ironically, I have no doubt these kids would be the first to fight against any form of censorship if it is done by ‘the man’. It’s cool if they do it though, right?
Hey Bill, show some respect and some common sense. Companies recruit high school kids all the time, it’s only when the government does it (funded by the very same taxpayers, not private interests) that people start to cry foul. The military is a great opportunity to learn about this country and the rest of the world, not to mention the steady job and benefits.
Bill, Tam Fawcett is being used as a new argument for these misinformed kids because their entire protest was a farce full of factual errors.
Look at all schools. Like Cole Harbour high forcing patriotism on students by suspending them if they don’t stand for O’Canada, when in the charter of rights and freedoms it says very clearly forcing patriotism is not allowed. But you’re only bitching about Ms. Fawcett and her words which were probably chosen by the school board themselves?
But, shes right. Its not the students responsibility(nor within their rights) to try and brainwash other students, the Recruiters show you the information, let you decide, then test you extensively to see if you’re even RIGHT to serve our Queen & Country after you apply. They don’t force you to believe what they believe, or take the mentality they take, they don’t even push you to join when you talk to them.
These hipster protesters and trying to FORCE onto other students their beliefs about the military. Something the CF would never do.
Hrm.. Sounds a little like the NSDAP doesn’t it? Wait a few months, these kids will have armbands and banners all coated in a lovely red, white and black.