The youth are to a point asleep

We went to a birthday party today, for a young man turning 21... his sister, 26 and her significant other, I'd say the same age. The brother, 24 and the celebrant's fiancee were present, (she is oh 20)

Anyhow the converstation turned to the ever so lovely draft.

Well one of them asked, when did this all start? So we told them. Then we also told them why they need to register to vote and damn it VOTE. One is pretty apathetic and may just wake up when his draft card comes in the mail... (you are in the army now, enjoy your all expense paid trip to Downtown Baghdad). The rest were a tad incredolouos.

Well my brother in law is a USN Veteran, so is my husband, and I have seen action (not with the US Military) as well. So we told the kids unbelished stories of war and what war is like. And I mean unbelished, we also told them what the SSS is doing...

I know at least one of them will vote, even if he still believes that even if a draft comes in... he will never be called in (chuckle). I told the kids, who I hope we managed to scare enough... to do three things:

1.- Get INFORMED and don't expect CNN to tell this to them... it takes lots of digging to stay informed.

2.- Talk to their friends and tell them what the stakes are... also personlized it by letting them know that college will continue to be unafordable as long as we have Republicans in charge

3.- Don't bother doing any of the previous ones if they do not bother to register to vote and damn it MAKE THEIR PRESENCE made at the polls. If they should decide NOT to vote, and they get drafted, well I will take a perverse pleasure in telling them, sorry kids, I told you so... enjoy your time in the army now... and remember DUCK!

I just hope we managed to scare them into voting... and hot damn it, I am sick of this apathy and afluenza... though I kmow things are quickly changing at many levels...

young women who don't think they have to speak up and protest about the "pro-life" policies and candidates.

They never had to worry about the right to choose so they haven't even thought about it. And if they don't do something, they'll lose it.

I am a woman they cannot draft me...

Yes, yes they will, if the bill does not include women the ACLU will sue.

Another one, "but I am in college."

One of the bills under consideration has NO EXCEPTIONS, they may let you FINISH, your degree aka a delay... but as a member of ROTC... welcome to the Army Liuteneant.

I will go to Canada

There is a treaty now with Canada where they will return you

I will go to Mexico....

Mexico will round you up and return you, see above about treaties.

I will go hide

Desertion in time of war is punishable by death.

But I have problems

Yes, but you can hold a rifle, aim and pull the trigger, all requirmeents met for a draftee military.

But I am gay

Ok that is nice, we won't ask again, and if you tell, we won't hear what you said either.

But I can take some pot....

That policy is already out the window (guard unit with half of them taking pot, they were still sent to Afghanistan, even when they popped positive)

When we were done with all the but, but, but... they sat there stunned. I fear I ruined a birthday, but may have scared them out of their apathy, I hope... that may actually save their lives.

the generation of 60's went apathetic after nam in the 70's the offical concensus is they saw they couldn't change the world, and hit the disco. No, it was after the war was over, what incentive did they have. Only 100 million people vote out of a possible 200 million that's a hell of a lot. I'm betting at least 60-70 million of those are libs socially. We need osmething to scare them.

one at a time, we must wake them up!!!

she said a good 25% of the people there were women under the age of 25...i think, the percentage may have been larger. youth are no more asleep or awake than their parents and grandparents.

but sadly to a point you are the exception. Look on the bright side,
you are in the leading edge of the resistance to what is coming down the pike, worst case scenario ok

lol.

Anyway, don't be so down on my generation. I have some American friends here at University of Toronto and all of us hate Bush* except one (he's a Republican, but at least he's aware of what's going on... I guess)

I have some liberal young friends at home too, which is remarkable since I'm in hard-core Republican country. I'd put it at about 30%, which is above the number of adult liberals in my town. It's not as good as it should be, but I'm not ready to denounce my generation yet.

Talkin' 'bout my generation...

;)

Surprisingly, though, they're not asleep in my classes. A couple of weeks ago a student started making bush jokes and the entire class was laughing and one-upping him. There wasn't a person in the class who seemed uncomfortable with the derision. The topic had to do with bush's inability to express himself articulately.

In a faculty meeting, I was surprised to hear one teacher announce to the others that we should consider bringing up the draft in our classes. We should, she suggested, be suggesting the students understand how their writing abilities might be used in mobilizing political action against the draft. The other teachers thought it was a good idea.

Another interesting tidbit regards a student who has been in a number of my classes. His father sells arms, if you can imagine that. While I like this student a lot, I've always thought of him as thoroughly freeperized. Well, get this: the kid says we have no business in Iraq and that we should get out of there immediately. This student idolizes his father and would not have that opinion if his father didn't, too.

Keeping in mind that I teach at a private university where rich repukes send their kids, these events surprised me.


Cher

Also you teach kids at a Private university, where the stakes are a tad clearer and higher.

I mean those kids face, if the Rangel Bill comes in, a slot patrolling downtown Baghdad.

Now the kids I am talking about, they are your low middle class working folk, who have no time to keep current... if you get my drift... aka the ideal draftee... they will notice when it is too late

The right has at best disdain for education and at worst loathing for it. People who THINK and QUESTION are dangerous things to the right wing.