So what if they're "insulting the soldiers"? I've never understood the whole "support the troops, not the war" mentality. I don't support the war, and I don't support those who keep the war going. Whether it's Bush, or the people in his employ.

Two weeks ago my 18 year old daughter received some mail from the National Guard. The envelope had a clear window, like where your address would normally go, but the address was printed on the paper part. What was in the clear window was a mock up plastic credit card with her name on it.
Real nice.

Then on the inside was all this ridiculous jibberish about winning points for prizes if you go to their website and fill out some questions, and of course how much moolah you were going to get if you joined.
UGH!

All power to the grannies.

Thanks for the link to the discussion over at the metblog... I noticed you concluded with "prospective troops are not being given sufficient information to make informed decisions about whether to sign up" which is the crux of my viewpoint... I find it REALLY hard to believe that these protesters think the people signing up for military service don't understand what that means.

Aaron, it's not surprising our conclusions are different, but I appreciate what you're saying. I don't find it hard, though, to see how naive, impressionable young men signing up for military service might be duped into it. It's heroic to be a soldier, but is it heroic to be exposed to depleted uranium when you didn't know anything about it?

And whether Kerry now thinks it's a flubbed joke, it's pretty clear that many of the young people most susceptible to recruiting efforts are those who don't have many other opportunities in life, whether through societal disadvantage or through their own stupid choices. Either way, getting killed or maimed in a bullshit war really isn't much of an "opportunity."

I received an email trying to sell me on joining the Army. So I asked how much my husband would get if I was killed.

$400,000.

"...getting killed or maimed in a bullshit war really isn't much of an 'opportunity.'"

What a stupid fuck-shit argument.

Getting killed fighting a fire started by a crack whore dropping her pipe as she passes out. Is being a fireman much of an opportunity?"

How about being snagged in a net and being pulled over the side of a crab boat so that a couple assholes can eat crab cakes? Is that an "opportunity."

At least a soldier can get a college education out of the risks he takes whereas listening to people meddling in other people's affairs is just a waste of time.

This whole argument is part of the great change that has swept across society in recent decades, where almost everyone feels they have the right to examine and criticize other people's choices, and even perhaps to manage others' choices for them.

Isn't it nice to be able to feel you're protecting all the stupid people in the world from themselves and the choices stupid people make?

i met several peace-loving, wonderful, smart, determined, raging grannies and wilpf-ers (women's international league for peace and freedom) in portland in july '06.

BRAVA! to these gutsy gals.

military recruiters are allowed to lie to the kids they snag, they do it all the time, and there is NO legal recourse once it's too late.

and if you haven't heard about it yet, quite a few recruiters in tucson were dealing dope for years, and recruiting (?) in high schools at the same time, before the fbi stepped in. where else might this be happening, i wonder?

what does that tell us about this corrupt, phony system set up by those who control the most powerful corporations which only profit and lose nothing, from the atrocious destruction perpetrated by, and on, american soldiers?

it's essential to have high ideals. but let's put those ideals to NON-violent conflict resolution ~ which is what the raging grannies try to do.

and certainly, let us not continue to allow our senators and congressmembers to vote for more funding of war. we can't afford it ~ in money, lives, or respect.

contact your reps NOW to pass hr 508, THE plan to end the u.s.occupation of iraq.
also tell your senators to pass sen. con. res. 7, the non-binding resolution, which is unfortunately as far as the senate will go at this point. even better, tell them to pass a binding resolution which mandates our already -allocated tax money to be spent on withdrawal of u.s. forces, reconstruction by iraqi companies, and no permanent military bases there (similar to hr 508).

sincerely,
joyce smith, a tucson raging granny.

Go get 'em Joyce. The last time I checked this is a free fucking country and if a bunch of feisty senior citizens want to kick some ass and raise some hell about something they believe in I'm all for it. These ladies are true American heroes in my book. I also agree it's easy for Joe College types to kick back and take shots at people who put their life on the line for a steady paycheck and a shitty college fund they will probably never use. This isn't the land of opportunity people...wake up!!! These grannies are pissed off and I don't blame them one bit. I say hanging the war criminals on the White House lawn at dawn would make this country a better place in an instant.

PS:

I am a Veteran, the widow of a veteran and the mother of a soldier who served over 15 months in George Bush's hell hole.

I'm also a Granny who is appalled at the roll over Congress which has allowed that school yard bully and his side kick to attack not only a defenseless country but the very Constitution of the United States. If you care at all about your country you will get off your ample backsides and start raising hell to this wimpy congress.

Here are some toll-free numbers you can use to call any or all members of Congress right now, 800-828-0498, 800-459-1887 or 800-614-2803, 877-851-6437 866-340-9281. If one doesn't work try the next one.

100 Hour agenda # 866-699-9243

Together with other Grannies, I have been following reports of recruiting violations of the rules and also talking to veterans, students, parents and recruiters and took a good look at the sign up form.

It is quite clear from all of this that recruiters, who are under tremendous pressure, falsify student information, harrass students, especially young Latinos, and vastly exaggerate the financial and career benefits.

Stings have recorded the falsifications and parents complain bitterly to us of non-stop harrassing phone calls. Veterans report that boot camp conversations are full of bitter reports of lies they were told by their recruiters.

Only a small minority of recruits ever manage to meet all the requirements for the maximum college benefit that is advertised and only a small percentage report any improved career advantages. The form that recruits are made to sign is formated to maximize chances that they never see the un-numbered page on the back of page two that explains that the contract, while binding on the recruit, is not binding on the military.

Our youth deserve more forthrightness if they are to put their bodies on the line. And by the way, returning veterans deserve free lifetime medical care and rapid processing of disability claims---which are denied them by this administration.

Now I read that the new reinforcements are being sent into battle with less than normal training
and inadequately armored Humvees. It is to weep.
Granny Gail

Now I want cookies :)