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Question: Should Single Parents Be Exempt From Deployment To Iraq?

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orleans

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Sun May-27-07 08:46 PM
Original message

Question: Should Single Parents Be Exempt From Deployment To Iraq?

Edited on Sun May-27-07 08:46 PM by orleans

recently there was a story about a single parent female who was killed in iraq and her daughter was living with the soldier's mother. the mother cannot collect on the insurance because only a spouse is allowed to collect--instead the money is in a trust until the child turns 18 & the grandma was saying it's going to be a hardship raising the child without that money.

then there is this story that is fucking horrifying:

A south suburban man has been charged with murdering his fiancee's 4-year-old son. The child and his older siblings were in the care of the man while their mother serves in Iraq.

The dead boy, 4-year-old Cameron Smith, was one of three children whose mother and biological father are both serving with the United States Army in Iraq. The parents are divorced, and the mother, whose National Guard unit deployed only two weeks ago, left the kids in the care of her new boyfriend. He is identified as 23-year-old Donell Parker of Calumet City.

Parker is charged with beating 4-year-old Cameron to death over a two-day period, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Police say Parker called them to the apartment at Memorial Drive and Abraham Street at 5 a.m. Thursday morning. The officers and paramedics found the boy's bruised and lifeless body in a bedroom.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5339564

so i'm curious to know how people feel about this.

should single parents be exempt from deployment? deployment to a war zone?

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Tom Joad

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Sun May-27-07 08:47 PM
Response to Original message

1. People who have children, thinking of children, or have ever been a child

Edited on Sun May-27-07 08:48 PM by Tom Joad

at any time in their lives should not be allowed into Iraq.

I also think we should prohibit Heterosexuals and gays from Iraq. Or those of any gender.

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orleans

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Sun May-27-07 08:55 PM
Response to Reply #1

5. i absolutely love your answer! n/t

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proud2BlibKansan

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Sun May-27-07 08:47 PM
Response to Original message

2. None of our troops should be deployed

NONE.

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Clark2008

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Sun May-27-07 08:48 PM
Response to Original message

3. I shouldn't have read this thread.

I'm sick, now.

How can anyone harm a 4-year-old?

:cry:

Sorry, I didn't answer your question. I'm too addled to do so.

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bling bling

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Mon May-28-07 12:08 AM
Response to Reply #3

14. Ditto.

Children bring out the monsters in some people. Where I live some babysitter just (allegedly) shook an 11 month old to death. They put the sweet baby's picture on the news and it's been haunting me all weekend. I have a one year old so hearing stories like that makes me crazy.

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tabasco

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Sun May-27-07 08:52 PM
Response to Original message

4. What use is a soldier that can't be deployed?

Might as well not let them sign up at all.

If they do want to sign up, they have to accept the deployments.

Even unjustified deployments in unjust wars, unfortunately.

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RC

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Sun May-27-07 10:17 PM
Response to Reply #4

7. Oh, really.

If we were a civilized country we would use our military for for domestic protection only.
For what purpose do we have bases all over the world? What other country has as many military base as we do outside their borders?

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tabasco

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Sun May-27-07 11:34 PM
Response to Reply #7

10. Yes, really.

If the soldier is unable to deploy to a foreign country, what makes you think they will be able to deploy to California or Georgia?

Do you seriously believe it is in our best interest to wait until an army reaches our shores to fight them?

I don't agree with our massive military budget or the huge number of overseas bases, and I certainly don't agree with the neocon version of preemptive war. But I don't think we wait until the enemy arrives at our shores before we are justified in attacking them. WWII is an example. Vietnam and Iraq are counter-examples.

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spoony

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Mon May-28-07 02:15 AM
Response to Reply #4

15. What about the NG?

Before this war I didn't even know they could be sent overseas. Certainly some of them should not be deployed to foreign war theatres.

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BrklynLiberal

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Sun May-27-07 09:01 PM
Response to Original message

6. I think EVERYONE should be exempt from deployment to Iraq except Young Republicans.

Edited on Sun May-27-07 09:02 PM by BrklynLiberal

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RC

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Sun May-27-07 10:20 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. How about rescinding draft deferments no matter how old?

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BrklynLiberal

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Sun May-27-07 10:29 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. OK. For the Repukes I would be willing to do that. :D

Edited on Sun May-27-07 10:30 PM by BrklynLiberal

If they want to TALK war, let them WALK war!!!!

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SoCalDem

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Sun May-27-07 11:51 PM
Response to Original message

11. Single parents are drawn to the military to provide benefits

Edited on Sun May-27-07 11:52 PM by SoCalDem

for their children. It's a sad fact and a sign of our times.

With national health care, joining the military would not be the "only" choice for so many under-employed/poor people.

If you have only a high school diploma and live in a small town with no real jobs, the military (until recently) has been a great opportunity..BUT when there's an IDIOT serving as CIC, you might have to give your life so your kid can have dental check-ups and amoxicillin from time to time..

When there was a draft (and before women joined in combat units), there was a ready "supply" of young and UNMARRIED/CHILDLESS recruits. In fact, to get married, you had to have a certain rank and needed permission. The military then was all about having a constant supply of men without wives & kids (except for the older lifers)

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flying_monkeys

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Sun May-27-07 11:57 PM
Response to Original message

12. No. All have to be able to be deployed.

It is the nature of the beast, I fear.

Soldiers need to be deployable, anywhere, anytime, just cause or sick Bushie fantasy. It doesn't do anyone any good to have soldiers that can't get sent to fight if needed - - kinda defeats the purpose of an army, kwim?

I truly wish we had a country where there were OTHER options for a single mother to be able to provide her kids rather than joining the military....

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sanskritwarrior

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Mon May-28-07 12:00 AM
Response to Original message

13. If you volunteer you must deploy

if you don't want to deploy, get the frak out of the Army.......

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orleans

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Mon May-28-07 12:59 PM
Response to Reply #13

16. that's funny coming from someone who says they are in the military

"get the frak out of the Army"

hahahahaha!

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sanskritwarrior

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Mon May-28-07 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #16

18. Why is that funny?

I miss the punchline......

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orleans

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Mon May-28-07 11:22 PM
Response to Reply #18

19. the "punchline" is that you make it sound so simple as if they can

just get up and walk out.

i suspect it's a bit more complicated than that.

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booley

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Mon May-28-07 01:01 PM
Response to Original message

17. yes but then I am biased

I think parents in general should be excluded.

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cynatnite

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Mon May-28-07 11:28 PM
Response to Original message

20. I went into the Army as a single parent...

knowing that there was a chance I could be sent to war while my daughter was with my parents. Single parents weren't allowed to join. The only way to join was to sign custody of my daughter over to my mother. Realize I lived in a small town. I was divorced and had no education other than a high school diploma. A hard choice was needed and this was it. My parents were beneficiaries of the life insurance should something happen to me. They would continue to care for my daughter.

My answer is no.

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