Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents

NY Times ^ | June 3, 2005 | DAMIEN CAVE

[jmc1969]

Rachel Rogers, a single mother of four in upstate New York, did not worry about the presence of National Guard recruiters at her son's high school until she learned that they taught students how to throw hand grenades, using baseballs as stand-ins. For the last month she has been insisting that administrators limit recruiters' access to children.

Meanwhile, Amy Hagopian, co-chairwoman of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association at Garfield High School in Seattle, has been fighting against a four-year-old federal law that requires public schools to give military recruiters the same access to students as college recruiters get, or lose federal funding. She also recently took a few hours off work to stand beside recruiters at Garfield High and display pictures of injured American soldiers from Iraq.

"We want to show the military that they are not welcome by the P.T.S.A. in this building," she said. "We hope other P.T.S.A.'s will follow."

Two years into the war in Iraq, as the Army and Marines struggle to refill their ranks, parents have become boulders of opposition that recruiters cannot move.

Mothers and fathers around the country said they are terrified that their child will have to be killed - or kill - in a war that many see as unnecessary and without end.

Around the dinner table, many parents said, they are discouraging their children from serving.

"Parents," said one recruiter in Ohio who insisted on anonymity because the Army ordered all recruiters not to talk to reporters, "are the biggest hurdle we face."

[vpintheak]

Rachel Rogers, a single mother of four in upstate New York, did not worry about the presence of National Guard recruiters at her son's high school until she learned that they taught students how to throw hand grenades, using baseballs as stand-ins.

IMAGINE! The military teaching people how to use weapons! The Humanity!

[68skylark]

Rachel Rogers . . . did not worry about the presence of National Guard recruiters at her son's high school until she learned that they taught students how to throw hand grenades, using baseballs as stand-ins.

Well what the h*** are we supposed to throw at the enemy -- spitballs?

[Blue Scourge]

She also recently took a few hours off work to stand beside recruiters at Garfield High and display pictures of injured American soldiers from Iraq.

Gee..I wonder who she voted for....

[The Iguana]

Many of the mothers and fathers most adamant about recruitment do have a history of opposition to Vietnam. Amy Hagopian, 49, a professor of public health at the University of Washington, and her husband Stephen Ludwig, 57, a carpenter, said that they and many parents who contest recruiting at Garfield High in Seattle have a history of antiwar sentiment and see their efforts as an extension of their pacifism.

I'm shocked.

[The Iguana]

Could be Nader.

[GVnana]

"We want to show the military that they are not welcome by the P.T.S.A. in this building," she said. "We hope other P.T.S.A.'s will follow."

She does this instead of talking to her children.

[goldstategop]

Liberals think freedom doesn't require the ultimate sacrifice. So its inevitable the New York Times comes up with another article throwing cheap shots at our military. These people sure do have an agenda.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[coconutt2000]

Pretending to throw hand grenades with baseballs as stand ins is not the big deal they're making it out to be.

We threw rocks at other kids and made exploding noises when the rocks hit the ground (or bounced off of a body).

[goldstategop]

hehehe... New York is full of Cheri-loving voters who think a baseball is gasp!> a grenade! Good riddance!

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[goldstategop]

Yeah and who says liberals don't impose their values on others? sarcasm>

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[EagleUSA]

So its inevitable the New York Times comes up with another article throwing cheap shots at our military.
------
Yes, the ultimate socialist society, that has no cost for freedom -- it is amazing that this sick, anti-American, fantasy mindset can even exist in this country. Where does it come from? It certainly is not taught in any credible school (are there any left?).

[Bluegrass Conservative]

IMAGINE! The military teaching people how to use weapons! The Humanity!

I'm not against the National Guard teaching people how to throw hand grenades. But maybe they should wait until the kids actually enlist?

[goldstategop]

This mother thinks she lives in France. I'd like to see her advocate a White Flag salute every morning in our nation's schools, including instruction in the fine art of kissing our enemies' asses.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Paul Atreides]

Well what the h*** are we supposed to throw at the enemy -- spitballs?

If so, we need to begin cloning Chris Matthews immediately!

[Paul Atreides]

Rachel Rogers, a single mother of four in upstate New York,

Maybe she should try keeping her knees locked together, before she takes on the military.

[niteowl77]

I'm not against the National Guard teaching people how to throw hand grenades. But maybe they should wait until the kids actually enlist?

They should at least wait until those kids have mastered the public school condom training.

[68skylark]

A high school senior, Katie Coalla, 18, stood up at one point and tearfully defended the recruiters, receiving applause from the crowd of about 70, but Ms. Rogers persisted.

It's nice to read how a student stood up for the U.S. military. Sometimes I think young people today have their head screwed on straighter than a lot of "grownups." Don't trust anyone over 30!

[SteveMcKing]

Parents' problems with U.S. Army:

JAGs

[68skylark]

But maybe they should wait until the kids actually enlist?

Why should they wait? If it gives the kids a little taste of military life and helps the recruiters build some good rapport with the kids, then it sounds like a great idea to me.