Roadside bomb claims life of another Canadian soldier

[Bragi]

"Trooper Good, the father of two young daughters..."

It's past time that we stop allowing troops with young children to volunteer for lethal combat. It is irresponsible to let this kind of child abuse continue.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090107.wafghanistan0107/BNStory/Afghanistan/home

[daleo]

1. I still think it wouldn't be legally possible

But I agree with the sentiment.

My dad fought in Europe in WWII with the Canadian Forces, long before I was born. But I know it took its toll on him, and we children were thus affected as well. So, the trauma of war can still pass to the next generation, even if the soldiers don't actually have families at the time of combat.

[Bragi]

2. The issue isn't constitutional, its about children

There is no legal right to be a member of the forces, or to engage in combat. And differential treatment based on having dependent minors is already part of numerous laws and government programs where justified (think welfare, social services, tax policy, immigration laws, etc.)

I appreciate your sentiments re: WWII. In that war, men with children were not conscripted, or conscripted last, though (I think) they could volunteer.

As for the terrible effect that having a parent go to war has on children, here's a report from last year:

A mental health crisis has erupted at the Petawawa military base, where children are "on the brink of suicide," Ontario's ombudsman said Friday as he released a damning report on the state of Canada's military children.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/04/13/children-ombudsman.html?ref=rss