Would you be prowar if you had to send your child?

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: ilyria

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: ilyria

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: ilyria
Ok for all the pro-war people on this board- would you still support this war if you had to send your eldest son to fight against Iraq? I'm truly curious.

Why would you? There is no danger of the draft happening in this conflict. You are asking an irrelevant question.

It's a question regarding convictions, I never even mentioned the draft. I believe that makes your comment irrelevant.

Pray tell how you are not implying the draft by saying "if you had to send your eldest son to fight against Iraq?"

Why would you have to? The only way the someone could force you to is by the reinstatement of draft. Maybe you should CLARIFY what you mean in your original question. HAD implies some type of force or no other option. What is your "alternative scenario" if it was not a draft?

The draft randomly selects people to be in the military whether they or their parents are in support of the war or not.
Arguing for or against the draft is clearly not the purpose of my question. I simply wanted to see how much people would be willing to sacrifice (in this case the possibility of a dead child) in order to have this war.

As someone else mentioned earlier in this thread- if all the heads of state had to risk their own children in order to conduct wars, I'm sure the world would be a much more peaceful place.
I'm also inclined to wonder if the names of the children of those in power are even placed in the lottery of our draft system.

To those who said that they supported the war even if their own children would have to fight- I am amazed by your sense of conviction, b/c that is something I could never do (assuming I ever have kids), no matter what the circumstances.

I would not sacrifice any of my children, but if they were called to duty I would expect them to honor their obligation to their country. That decision is solely up to the individual. Were my son old enough to go right now and he wanted to volunteer I would not try to stop him. I take great offense with your contention of never being able to send YOUR children into battle WHATEVER the circumstances. Obviously by the way you plan on portraying our goverments policy I would suspect they would not be inclined to feel the need to but that's hardly the point. No matter how misguided your personal perceptions are you are definately obligated to heed the call of your country. There are graves of fellow Americans all over this land, some of them never made it home to be laid to rest properly that DEMAND the same dedication and service from ALL that are needed. I can spin a million scenarios in which conceivably EVERY American regardless of age or gender would be not only REQUIRED to fight, but would be compelled so just out of a sense of duty to the country which affords them the great life they enjoy. Disagreeing with the current or former administration's policies is one thing, not having any sense of obligation to your COUNTRY based on that is shameless. You and your children are no more important than mine or anyone else's, politicians included. Perhaps you should find somewhere that you can be proud of the policies of your goverment and would be willing to fight for that country's ideals, even if just so that your children get to live in this great land you find, maybe then they will feel an obligation to something greater than THEMSELVES>>>>


BTY I love the term Pro-War, unfortunately that blanket doesn't fit the bed like the term Anti-War does. Those that are Anti-War are against war for any reason whatsoever, those you call Pro-War are for THIS war, but possibly would have not agreed with former or future wars. Some people understand there can be mitigating factors that are different in every scenario, the carefull consideration of each might lead to a determination that war is needed or not. Anyone for THIS war will agree there are plenty of circumstances in which they would agree a different war is not necessary. Anyone Anti-War will never accept the fact that ANY war is EVER needed. History has shown that is tremendously naive.

 

[Bignate603]

My father was active duty for 5 years as an officer, reserves for many more. He knows what a war would involve, especially if it involves urban combat, that was his specialty, which it very well may this time. He knows the losses we'll risk and supports action. I trust his judgement, I support action because of him. However, the army won't take me because of allergies and I think I can honestly do more good in the long run buy finishing my degree and working as a mechanical engineer, who knows, I may end up working for a defense contractor.

 

[SherEPunjab]

i see a lot of people here saying yes, yes i would, but funny thing is not one has actually done it.

Easier said than done.

Personally, I would, if I felt the war was justified. In the case of Iraq, there's no way in hell I'd let them fight at this time. Its not a just war.

 

[lowtech1]

What would you say to your children if 5 years from now Iraq bombed us and 5,000 people died?

That is the risk that we have to take living in this world full of weapons, deaths, violent & hunger.
There isn't a guarantee the Iraq don't bomb the US after the war, nor any other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Norht Korea, China, Indonesia, Iran, Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Yeman, etc...
Thinking like the way you do, we should enlist all our youth to wipe out the countries that I mentioned above. Or, we could just simply nuke everyone and save ourself the posible danger in the long run.

However, I would die befor I let my child be harm (glad I'm in Canada & don't have to run up here).

 

[Alistar7]

Most normal people would do almost anything to protect their children, that goes without saying. My point is there are things greater than yourselves. What if your child felt this war was just? Is it not their decision to make? There are plenty of people who listed family members currently enlisted on this thread, while they did not enlist KNOWING this war might happen, they enlisted with the knowledge that they might be called to fight. Thankfully this country has an abundance of courageous people, I shudder to think what the world would be like if we had to rely on the bravery and valor of the French or Canadians...

 

[AmerDoux]

In 9 days my son will turn 18. He has graduated from HS and is in his second semester at college. The last couple of months, he has debated whether to join the military or not. His friends come over to our house and talk about it. A couple of them fully intend to enlist this June, as soon as they are graduated from HS.

For me, the issue is close, personal, real and immediate.

I support this war.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: ilyria
Ok for all the pro-war people on this board- would you still support this war if you had to send your eldest son to fight against Iraq? I'm truly curious.

yes, no problem

i served ten years and if either of my daughters joins the military, i would expect them to carry out their orders and do what was required of them, including laying down their lives


see this is where the "world" gets mixed up, like japan/germany did before WWII

they think we are a country of carefree, no courage, beer drinking sluts with no morals/ethics, no backbone

all you hear about are the suicide bombers and people with "conviction" to their cause that are willing to die for their "cause of the day" , etc, etc

but when push comes to shove, the US digs deep and will do whatever it takes to maintain this country as a free nation, not subject to other countries/terrorist groups whims. we will defeat all those that come against us, you are either for us or against us, take your place

 

[Alistar7]

Congratulations or raising your son with a sense of obligation to something greater than himself. He sounds like a fine young man who understands the need to give back for what we all take for granted so lightly it seems at times. I applaud his friends for their courage and sense of patriotism, tell your son to decide for himself on his own terms though. Apparently he is more than mature and intelligent enough to make that decision. Thank you by the way, I was beginning to wonder if all my relatives died on the battlefield for nothing....

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: ilyria
Ok for all the pro-war people on this board- would you still support this war if you had to send your eldest son to fight against Iraq? I'm truly curious.

yes, no problem

i served ten years and if either of my daughters joins the military, i would expect them to carry out their orders and do what was required of them, including laying down their lives


see this is where the "world" gets mixed up, like japan/germany did before WWII

they think we are a country of carefree, no courage, beer drinking sluts with no morals/ethics, no backbone

all you hear about are the suicide bombers and people with "conviction" to their cause that are willing to die for their "cause of the day" , etc, etc

but when push comes to shove, the US digs deep and will do whatever it takes to maintain this country as a free nation, not subject to other countries/terrorist groups whims. we will defeat all those that come against us, you are either for us or against us, take your place

Didn't the Taliban ask us to come over and play??? Too bad they meant hide and seek when they clearly implied a fight.....

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: SherEPunjab
i see a lot of people here saying yes, yes i would, but funny thing is not one has actually done it.

Easier said than done.

Many of us have children in the service and also have served. Some in combat and others in non-combat.