Reply #17: My son turns 20 in two weeks... [View All]

[Turn CO Blue]

and those arguments have crossed my mind, as well.

I am a little ignorant on this subject, but my son would likely be eligible to be an officer or perhaps choose his assignment (he is chasing a double-major in college on full scholarship - majoring in both physics and chemical-engineering) because he is a total whiz-kid, especially in math and science.

But I have understood the arguments for this war, and when he was growing up, whenever we saw recruiting materials or commercials - I told him he had a differenct future and advised him to try to discern the macho/glamour hype of life in the military. I had him watch Saving Private Ryan and Apocalypse Now. Not pretty.

I do want to support the troops over there in Iraq (and the world over) -- I can't imagine how terrible it must be to be shot at and to have to shoot or bomb people. The fear... The guilt... Some are those kids chose that career, some enlisted after the war -- but some of them say that this is not what that got in for.

I know I don't want any of that for my son. How selfish we all become when it's our own precious child...but I feel like I would have a total freak-out and try to sneak him off to Mexico (where we have some distant family).

He did advise me that if it came down to a draft letter or volunteering -- either one would be HIS decision, and I will have to respect that (kind of a reversal of "my body, my choice".) He doesn't agree with this war in the slightest, but he doesn't want to shirk his duty either or be seen as a coward.