June 3, 2006 at 19:06:13

Eleven Excellent Reasons Not to Join the Military

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By David Swanson (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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5. You May Suffer Long-Term Health Problems

Here are stories from Nevada, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. "You" in this case includes your children, even those not yet so much as a gleam in your eye should you be capable of producing a gleam in your eye.

6. You May Be Lied To

In this chapter Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg describes her experience posing as a potential recruit. The recruiters blatantly lie to her and cruelly pressure her to join, risk her life, and help fill their quota.

7. You May Face Discrimination

Aimee Allison describes a military culture that is openly and brutally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic. "These revelations are not surprising," she writes, "to former Marine Corps Lance Corporal Stephen Funk. During his training in 2002, Stephen told me that his drill instructor gave a rousing speech at the end of Marine combat training: 'This is the reality of war. We Marines like war. We like killing. We like raping females. This is what we do.'"

8. You May Be Ordered to Do Things Against Your Beliefs

Here we get into the matter of orders. Even if you don't mind following orders that you think might actually have been given for some good reason, what will you do if ordered to murder children? Read these stories of what others did in that sort of situation.

9. You May Find it Difficult to Leave the Military

You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave.

10. You Have Other Choices.

There are many other ways to get money for college, to take overseas adventures, to do good for the world, and to develop skills and abilities. In fact, a list of resources is listed at the end of this book.

Buy this little book here http://www.endthewartour.org by the dozen like donuts, and hand it out at high schools.

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David Swanson is the author of the upcoming book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union" by Seven Stories Press and of the introduction to "The 35 Articles of Impeachment and the Case for Prosecuting George W. (more...)

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