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| No | 72% | 875 votes | Total: 1213 votes | |
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Add to FavoritesParents : Would you send your child off to war?
Send our kids off to war? What an odd question, as if we would bundle our kids up and post them off to war.
Okay the actual debate is - would you sanctify your childs decision to join the armed forces and consequently go to war? My answer is no. While its true a career in the armed forces promises security, good pay, camaraderie, new skills and adventure the adverse consequences of extended service in a dangerous war zone are not always publicized. Many service men and women return home burdened with a life sentence of traumatic flashbacks and painful injuries. Who wants that for their kids? For years our brave young soldiers, sailors and airmen have been ordered overseas to fight other peoples wars often in harsh and hostile environments. Despite their courage and endurance the wars were never really won. Would I send my child off to war? No, not willingly. As a parent I want my child to enjoy a healthy, happy life and live to a ripe old age.
Family influences can be a significant source of guidance for young teens. However eighteen year olds should choose their own employment direction with the final decision being theirs alone. My job as a parent is to express concerns about war service, not by nagging but by providing information and creating a balanced perspective. Kids need to hear and understand both sides of a story before making major changes in their lives.
In the past I have tried not to sound discouraging, to show respect for their choice of career and at the same time make sure they see the bigger picture. I actually tried in a non-intrusive way to learn why my child was interested in the armed forces. Did they want security, a well paid job or to be part of a group with a common purpose. Did they understand that by joining the army they may be sent to fight a war overseas. Did they understand its far from glamorous and not at all like the movies? The benefits of a career in the armed forces are many but how many kids understand the reality, the cruelty of war. Are they mature enough at eighteen to understand what it is like to live in harsh conditions in a strange country far away from your loved ones? Can they cope with losing a mate or seeing the dreadful injuries that guns and bombs inflict?
As a parent I believe its my job to play the Devils Advocate. I have asked my kids to speak to personnel who have recently returned from active overseas service, both able-bodied and disabled. I'm not advocating scare-mongering but why not at least prepare them with a stiff dose of reality. All the positives and negatives need to be fully explored. If despite all this your child is determined to enlist, and the government of the day decides to send him to war then at least your child will have reasonably realistic expectations, though its small comfort for a parent.
We have lived through the Vietnam War and seen first hand how our brave young men and women suffered in service of their country. Many who escaped death returned to their homes but are no longer the same person. They have disabling permanent injuries and are deeply troubled. The nightmares of war still have not left them 40 years down the track.
Lets hope in the future our sons and daughters can escape the horrors of war and have the opportunity to become happy, healthy elderly citizens.
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Learn more about this author, Judith Roinich.
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Yes
During peace time, it is easy to respect and support our young adult's decision to join the military. During time of war, it is the most difficult thing to do. Nevertheless, it would be his/her choice to make. In spite of fearful reservations, I would be proud of his/her committment to serving our country and defending our freedoms.
The military is an ideal training ground for learning how to navigate the challenges of life. Many young men and women have gone into the military and received specialized training, which served them well in their later choice of career in civilian life. This is a wonderful option for those who do not have the resources for furthering their education through attending college.
During time of war, it is an option with considerably higher risks. I would not discourage a young adult from serving his country in such an honorable way, but I would ask him to weigh the dangers and negatives of such a decision in a serious light. I would feel compelled to point out the possibility of loss of limb, or even loss of life. If he was adamant about his desire to serve his country, I would have no recourse but to bid him farewell, wish him safekeeping, and hold him tightly in my heart and prayers.
We spend all a child's formative years teaching him to do the right thing. We do not always specify each and every detail of what constitutes the "right thing." We rely on his conscience to be his guide. If we do a good job with his upbringing, he will grow into a responsible, conscientious adult with respect for himself and others. If he makes the decision to take those carefully instilled attributes to a higher level by nobly defending his country and our freedom, we cannot renege on our teachings and complain about our own job well done.
We must respect our young adults' choices and be supportive in appropriate ways:
* We can be activists at home on behalf of our loved one and all the brave young soldiers fighting our war. We can prevail upon our political leaders to make wise decisions and insure our men and women at war have equipment, supplies, technology and leadership to mitigate their exposure to danger.
* We can motivate and mobilize the businesses in our communities to contribute money and necessary items for the comfort of those in training and combat.
* We can prevail upon all facets of the news media to present facts in a truthful and compassionate manner, keeping the moral support of our troops as the utmost priority.
* We can support the families in our communities who are making extraordinary sacrifices every day on behalf of their military loved ones.
* We can implore business,political and medical communities in our country to be generous and supportive in welcoming returning veterans back into our society and giving them every advantage to succeed as they try to assimilate back into civilian life. They should have superior medical care, educational and job opportunities available to them. The government should sponsor special insurance and mortgage opportunities to insure entire families do not suffer for the time their loved one spent in service to our country.
I would not have to choose to send a family member off to war, because the choice would not be mine to make. Neither would I stand in the way of a young adult who felt his calling was to serve in the military and defend his country.
I would, however, make sure as he marched off to battle, I was doing my own battle of sacrifice on the home front. Until he was able to lay down his weapon, I would wield my own weapon of conscience on his behalf.
Learn more about this author, Carol Gioia.
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