So yesterday I take my kids to see Over The Hedge and

during the trailers at the beginning, there's a commercial for the National Guard. All the reasons you should join. My nine year old says, "I want to join the National Guard when I grow up." My 13 year old and I say at exactly the same time "NO YOU DON'T." This really angers me that they play these commercials before the movies come on and make it seem so glamorous.

eom

but I didn't. I'd probably wind up on some watch list or something.

I watch FX for "King of the Hill" and "That 70s Show". They air Army, Navy and Marines commercials nearly every commercial break. I always mute my TV when they come on. NOT INTERESTED to die for *'s poll numbers (but they wouldn't take me anyway).
Ringo

And MTV is hardly a right-wing network.

I suppose it is either this or bring back the draft...

the front of the line.

I wish I had a dime for every time I heard that excuse...

Why else would they create and fund a first person shooter to recruit future troops? They know that life is a little skewed for some out there...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America's_Army

My mother and I were watching television last night and we saw an army commercial they make it sound so appealing its really sick.

try to make it seem like, joining up is all fun and games and what not. It's enough to make my mind go *duh*...and pop.

Most of the people who go into the forces thinking they'll have money for their post high school education probably never come out alive.. I would like to see those numbers

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

office. My son made his decision to join the Marines when he was 19. It was his decision. And he has no regrets. He's been to Iraq twice and will go again. He's a liberal who voted for Kerry. But I'm sure he would agree with me when I tell you to talk to your children about enlisting. Ideally, the parent should be very involved. And that is not always the case. During recruitment,
there are many promises made. And the young person signing up needs to ask questions. Lots of questions. The contract needs to be read very carefully. This is a huge decision and too often adolescents don't consider all the consequences. This is a time when a child really needs their parent's straight forward advice. And I'm not sure that is always encouraged by the recruiter.
My husband and I shake our heads when we see that Marine recruiting ad at the movies with the buff young Marine scaling a rock cliff. That's a far cry from standing in the broiling sun in Fallujah hoping an IED doesn't tear your limbs off.

show them some pictures from The Memory Hole:

Photos of Military Coffins

US Military Personnel Wounded in Iraq & Afghanistan: A Running Log (there's a link on this page to a photo gallery of the wounded - USE CAUTION - CONTAINS GRAPHIC, DISTURBING PICS)

We need to let our kids know that war is not X-Box.

Nick Jr and Disney, etc. One of the sites we looked at (not those two) for kids games had a advertising section with links for the military, guard, etc. Totally geared towards kids, especially girls. We avoided that one.