Why would parents allow their little kids do this?

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/2772012.shtml

Young Marines hitting the road

Nearly 30 local Young Marines will be spending their Memorial Day weekend on the road -- first in a bus for 10 hours, then marching for hours in front a crowd of thousands in the nation's capital, then another 10 hours on the bus back home. snip

"It's an honor to march in the parade and honor the veterans," Matthew Rodrigue, a 17-year-old staff sergeant from Augusta, said of the group's first-ever participation in the parade, where he'll be a leader of the group's color guard. snip

"I'd rather be in the parade in Washington," said Ricky Carmichael, 14, of West Gardiner. "I'm psyched."

Carmichael's younger brother, Dalton, 11 is also going. He admits to being a bit nervous about the parade. But he answers with a quick "yes sir" when asked if he's ready.

"I'm proud of them," said the Carmichael's dad, Rick, who noted he was taking the boys for haircuts after they practiced marching Thursday, so they'd have sharp, military-style haircuts for the parade.


http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/view/letters/2785531.shtml

Military recruitment has gone too far this time


This letter is in regard to the May 26 article, "Young Marines hitting the road."

Recruitment of young people by the Marine Corps has bottomed out (Iraq). So, like the Nazis in a foundering Germany at the end of World War II, they recruited and brainwashed youngsters to defend "the Homeland."

:shrug: They are supporting vets, not Phelps. I would not let them march with Phelps.

organization.

I don't know WHAT IS.

Just like the HJ and the Bunde...

As a parent, I certainly hope my daughter will share my values and feel strongly about them. I probably wouldn't send her off on a bus alone at age 11 or 14, but by late in my 12th year I was firm enough in my anti-war beliefs to take on the local school administration who permitted students absences to be excused while attending at pro-war (Vietnam) events, but not for attending similar pro-peace events. My parents were aware of what I was doing and supported it, but it was my own decision and action I took without any prompting by my parents. Had I chosen to not attend, or to attend and be given an "F" in all of the classes I missed my parents would have supported those actions as well. I am well aware that some of the pro-war parents wondered what in the world my parent were thinking, letting me challenge the administration like that - and would have been appalled had I chosen to just skip with my parents' permission.

While I find militarization in general troubling, and particularly so when it is aimed at youth, I expect the hopes of these military parents are not that much different than my own for my daughter (that their would grow up and share their values). Were I of that mindset, and I had tested my child's interest to make sure it was not just aimed at pleasing mom and dad (or peers, or whomever), I would probably allow the 17 year old at least to make his or her own decision. For a local event, I would probably allow it for all three.

and, say, the Boy Scouts is what?

Personally, I find that most group participation things smack of cult behavior. Think about saying the Pledge of Allegiance at school, at any civic event.

We here only find this creepy because the brain-washing is to us so obvious here. But it takes place in a similar manner in many circumstances. Think of Sunday School. Actually raising someone to think independently is quite tricky, because you run the risk of that person thinking quite differently from you. It's much easier to indoctrinate, even though that's not always successful.

Marines when their Young Marines eligibility ends.

But it's nothing new, and they're not really military. Quasi-military, mock-military.

Started in '58 (but I'm fairly sure this is a re-do of a program something like 40 years older), but official chartered under Johnson. I've checked into the history, and this sounds about the same as the legislative and non-youngmarines.com history reports:

http://www.youngmarines.com/About/images/HISTORY.htm

Dem prez, repub prez ... seems not to matter.

A 17 year-old Staff Sergeant??? He must've enlisted when he was 11 or 12 to make E-6 by the time he's 17.

who sends his 3 sons to a military camp every freakin' summer to get them ready for their coming military service. They LOVE the psycho-in-chief and are all planning on joining the military. They HATE JOHN KERRY WITH A PASSION.

Buh Bye! LET 'EM GO! It's THEIR war they started. If they want their kids to be killed in illegal wars, who am I to argue? All I know is....MY SON ISN'T GOING!

What kind of parent lets their kids do this??? BUSH BROWN-SHIRTS WHO LOVE KILLING PEOPLE. GOOSE-STEPPERS WHO LOVE STARTING WARS. RACISTS WHO WANT ONLY WHITE, BLOND HAIRED, BLUE EYED PEOPLE TO INHABIT THE EARTH. HATEMONGERS.

The modern Nazi Youth. Bush = Hitler.