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Parents of teenagers have become familiar with the dishonest tricks used by military recruiters. Lies, gifts, "love-bombing" copied from cults, constant pursuit until the kid gives in and signs -- all are standard techniques that reflect the difficulty of recruiting soldiers for an unjust war. One nasty aspect of the recent federal education law is a requirement that all high schools receiving federal money (that is, all high schools) give military recruiters access to addresses and phone numbers of their students. The only exceptions are students whose parents or guardians have formally insisted, in writing, that the addresses not be provided to recruiters.
The schemers at the top in Washington who came up with this program are well aware that their aggression in Iraq was not in defense of the United States, but a power-grab and resource-grab designed to enrich and empower a tiny wealthy minority. Working people, and their naive children, are intended to provide the cannon fodder. And when they won't make that choice if told the truth, trickery and lies are used.
Peace activists and parents in many communities are mobilizing to urge all parents to sign letters objecting to their teenagers' addresses and phone numbers being given to recruiters. The November meeting of the California State Central Committee of the Peace and Freedom Party adopted this resolution by an overwhelming vote:
"The Peace and Freedom Party supports all legal counter-recruitment activities in high schools and at all sites where military recruitment takes place. Furthermore, the Peace and Freedom Party supports the right to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience at those sites."
Some parents are afraid that signing such letters could result in their targeting for harassment or persecution by the government. However, such a letter on file could be very helpful in supporting a claim of conscientious objection if the draft is reinstituted, and thousands of signers are just too many to target effectively, so this is not a good argument against parents sending such letters to the schools.
During the coming spring many demonstrations at recruitment sites are expected. For specific local information call your Peace and Freedom County Central Committee contact people, or send a letter or e-mail to the Party at the addresses given elsewhere in this paper. Real patriots oppose imperialism. Be one!
-- Kevin Akin
This story is accompanied by a cartoon by John Jonik titled "Gulf War Memorial". It shows a person looking at a statue maybe five times his height, with the Washington Monument in the distant background. The statue shows a soldier, with his right arm amputated just below the shoulder, sitting on an oil drum labeled "Exxon". Beneath the soldier's feet is a pile of skulls, with assorted body parts and an unexploded bomb mixed in.
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