Posted on 07/15/2007 3:36:47 PM PDT by infoguy
The 21-year-old nephew of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez has enlisted in the Marines, and Lopez isn't happy about it. "Don't become a pawn, I told my nephew," Lopez writes. His column is, "When the reality of Iraq hits home" (Sun., 7/15/07).
Says Lopez:
Some have argued that without a draft, enlisting in this war is a matter of choice, so what happens, happens.
But that's not necessarily true in the case of National Guard troops who have been called up. And as for soldiers as young as my nephew, I don't see enlistment as a well-informed choice but as a product of manipulation.
Not a "well-informed choice"? A "product of manipulation"? At 21 years old? Am I the only one who think this sounds a tad condescending?
So, why did Lopez's nephew join the Marines? Lopez tells us that he has written from boot camp.
"What I want for my life is to stand above the majority," [the nephew] wrote. "I believe in honor, discipline and courage…. I wish to be bigger than myself, to be a part of something more — something important and significant…. I hope that you will understand my reasons for this decision and will continue to support me."
Lopez has a justified worry that his nephew will be deployed to Iraq. Nearly everyone can sympathize with that anxiety. But Lopez claims that President Bush "misled us from the beginning" and "will keep sacrificing lives in a vain and futile attempt to save face." Bush's campaign has been one of "deceit and simplification," says Steve.
"Misled us"? "Deceit"? Ugh. It seems Lopez has bought into the "Bush lied" canard. Being from Los Angeles, Lopez should be well aware of KABC radio host Larry Elder. Lopez needs to take Elder's "'Bush lied, People Died' Challenge." (Scroll down to the lower left of the home page.) It could be that the nephew knows more about the Iraq war than Lopez does.
+_+_+_+_+_+
(P.S. - After reading Lopez's column, I thought of this ... Back in 2005, Californians debated Proposition 73, an initiative that would require minor girls to acquire parental notification before getting an abortion. In an October 2005 column (I found it reprinted here), Lopez talked with a group of high school-aged girls, most of whom were against the initiative. One girl even insisted it was "nobody's business" (Lopez's words) if a 13 or 14 year old had an abortion by herself. Despite misinformation and relativism ruling the discussion, Lopez beamed at the end of the column that he had "much respect" for the girls. Lopez wrote that he hoped his own daughter "will be able to handle herself as responsibly as these girls have." It sounds like these teens have earned more respect from him than his own adult nephew.)
Me too. There’s lots of things I regret in life, but one of my disappoints and perceived failures is not having joined the military when I had the opportunity. Now I have asthma and they won’t take me (which is BS IMHO).
Hey Stevie Boy, how about letting your nephew speak for himself?
Oh, right — Even if you let him do that, it would simply be the misguided ramblings of a poor, manipulated, brainwashed kid, therefore it would be easily discountable.
Idiot.
His nephew will come out of his military experience a changed man. Not a better man necessarily, but he will have a body of knowledge that is not available to anyone who did not share the experience. Let us contrast two 18-year-olds - one rides a skateboard and the other one stands behind the helm of an aircraft carrier. In the latter's hands rides the life of thousands and the responsibility for millions of dollars of equipment. It changes you. It can't help but.
“Back in 2005, Californians debated Proposition 73, an initiative that would require minor girls to acquire parental notification before getting an abortion. In an October 2005 column (I found it reprinted here), Lopez talked with a group of high school-aged girls, most of whom were against the initiative. One girl even insisted it was “nobody’s business” (Lopez’s words) if a 13 or 14 year old had an abortion by herself. Despite misinformation and relativism ruling the discussion, Lopez beamed at the end of the column that he had “much respect” for the girls. Lopez wrote that he hoped his own daughter “will be able to handle herself as responsibly as these girls have.”
“The 21-year-old nephew of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez has enlisted in the Marines, and Lopez isn’t happy about it..... “And as for soldiers as young as my nephew, I don’t see enlistment as a well-informed choice but as a product of manipulation”
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Let’s see now ...Lopz thinks that a 13 or 14 yr old arranging the murder of her helpless, innocent baby is “nobody’s business”, should not be the decision of anyone but the teenager, (especially not an adult relative) Lopez has “much respect” for the young girls and hopes “his own daughter “will be able to handle herself as responsibly as these girls have.”
But when it comes to his own ADULT 21 yr old relative deciding to do something heroic like volunteer to defend his country, that’s not “a well-informed choice but as a product of manipulation”
Y’OK where’s the Candid Camera...This is a sick gag, right?
Dear Steve.
I would rather have a sister working the Midnight shift, cents off, lips division in a Tu Do Street whorehouse than have ANY relative or person even remotely associated with me working for a newspaper, TV network or other news organ(with the accent on organ).
Your Nephew (obviously the one and only straight male in your family of slackers and wankers) is fortunate to get away from the same city you are residing in and join other decent young men not afraid to offer their nation something of themselves for the good fortune of being an American.
The Marines will give him an opportunity to recover his honor which you shred and throw on the crap heap each day you publish your mealy slaggings.
My best to him, and the mirror image of D&D to you. Long may you wave. Until a hardworking Vice Cop nails you for it.
“Not ‘A Well-Informed Choice,’ But A ‘Product of Manipulation’:
whoops.
For a sec I thought this was a thread about planned parenthood.
Make that ‘registered with the selective service’.
The Godfather thanks you....
Sounds like you went is a couple months earlier than me. I reported to MCRD San Diego August 25, 1965. Might have passed each other’s platoon while there.
Certainly one could argue that, given the massive “enemy within” present in America and the success that these forces have had in causing U.S, military defeat, agreeing the serve is more than a little idealistic.
I just thank God that we have some truly idealistic youth.
And, i pray to God that America’s enemy within is rooted out and destroyed. That is even more important than victory in Iraq.
We are the same age (42) and I don't recall there being any draft in the early 80s!
Thats what I thought you meant!
Memo to self: engage brain, then type.
“This kid is no fool.”
Certainly not. I served two combat tours in Vietnam and would happily do it all over again, even knowing the outcome.
The military experience, in my humble opinion, is the most important educational opportunity that I ever experienced — and I have multiple graduate credentials including a terminal degree.
Subscribing to the L.A. Times is “Not ‘A Well-Informed Choice,’ But A ‘Product of Manipulation’.
Bat
That's because the girls agree with him and his nephew does not. HE is being manipulated by the Marines but the girls are not being manipulated by their peer group. He has to be kidding.
See? I wouldn’t have made that mistake if I had joined the military. ;~)
LOL! You're welcome, Don!
He didn’t say that. You are being defensive, like a guy who did not try out for football.
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