Posted on 11/16/2006 1:00:40 PM PST by george76
With ...John Kerry's recent "botched joke" about our enlisted personnel, I've been reminded that skepticism toward the military is not uncommon in our country.
New York City is no exception to that sentiment as I've noticed lately while thinking about the military a bit more than usual.
Last year, our son applied and was offered admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Such a choice was not expected in our family, and it was all but unheard of at our private New York City high school.
However, with the help of the college counselor, and, actually, the enthusiastic support of our son's peers, he submitted his application.
Throughout the process, my husband and I heard a range of reactions from our own friends.
To be sure, there were those who expressed heartfelt support. But we were also met with confused looks and annoyed tones that seemed to belie attempts to figure out whether we were misguided or just crazy.
It was assumed that, as his mother, I did not approve of the idea, and both my husband and I were sternly warned to avoid all things related to the military.
We received reminders that now is not the time to attend a military academy because (as if we didn't know) there is a war going on.
Indignant parents reacted as if my husband and I had crossed a forbidden line by allowing our son to apply and go to West Point.
And, one parent added angrily, only 17-year-olds are "stupid" enough to consider the military as an option.
Antipathy toward the military is often found among people who claim to support our troops but not the war in Iraq. They are sometimes the same people who believe that it is possible to negotiate with terrorists.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
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great article! Thanks for posting it
I could never live in New York City. If I did, there would be a marked increase in hospital admissions for broken noses.
from article:
As a still-uninitiated parent of a West Point plebe, I am more than a little in awe of what the U.S. Army has done with over a thousand 18-year-olds fresh out of high school. In six weeks of basic training, our son, along with other new cadets, was challenged in ways I could never have foreseen. He learned how to salute, stand at attention, and march in step with his company. He learned how to be on time. He was introduced to M-16s, hand grenades, tactical marches, and long days that began at 5 a.m. He continues to learn what it is to follow orders down to the most seemingly inconsequential detail.
I had imagined the Army to be little more than a machine churning out fighters, but I'm now more inclined to think of the Army as the final word on team building, a think tank devoted to training our country's soldiers and officers. I imagined military academies to be filled with dull cookie-cutter types in uniform but instead have found dynamic, articulate, and thoughtful individuals. At West Point, these individuals are energized about educating young men and women, our sons and daughters, to be "leaders of character." Increasingly, I see military life as for neither the faint-hearted nor the weak. It is a life of sacrifice, service, and commitment.
Selfless commitment, the willingness to sacrifice, and the decision to serve are not popular notions in our culture today, nor are they ideas that we baby-boomer parents instill in our children. For the most part, my generation grew up in a culture filled with cynical disregard for such lofty concepts as duty, valor, and steadfastness. Yet these are qualities that our military must embrace in order to prevail. They are ideals that as a country we must support if our military is to be successful. We may pay lip service to supporting the troops, but how much do we respect them, and how well do we understand their job, especially now during a time of war?
We'd probably only give you one ...
Thanks.
Air Force Academy Parent - Class of 2008
Thanks G76.
Don't worry, my quotas done... i'm working on yours here.
'Better check that dog. Muslims, for whom a new "prayer room" (whatever that is) has been established at The Point, ain't gonna like it, and won't stand long for it!
Go Army! Beat Navy!
Selfless commitment, the willingness to sacrifice, and the decision to serve ...
Proud parent of a daughter, USAFA Class of 2010.
West Point parent
I meant the annoying liberals.
I know that. I was just having a little fun : )
Have a great day!
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