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MORE NEW ARTICLES TOMORROW
Meanwhile enjoy the
devotion for today.
Thank you for visiting the webzine and...
look at this great article about Ruth Graham's life
Ruth Graham died late yesterday at 87.
God Bless her husband Billy, her children, and family.
In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing. Robert Ingersoll
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THE MILITARY IS OK BUT WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE WAR-BY KELLY THOMAS
On the last episode of the Sopranos AJ wants to join the Army. Carmela and Tony(parents), especially Carmela, are not happy.
THE MILITARY IS OK BUT WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE WAR was definitely what Carmela is thinking. Her words are something like, "The military might be good for AJ, some discipline, but there's a war on and so we have to rule it out."
Where did the Sopranos writers come up with this idea? It is the prevailing view of Americans. Military recruiting is way down because parents don't encourage their kids to go in the military because of Iraq. And, can they be blamed? No. The Iraq war is divisive and against an enemy that doesn't play by the rules.
HBO
| Of course, the writers showed AJ's immaturity, as they have throughout the series. He definitely could use a tour in the Marines.
He has the unrealistic view of a kid-learn Arabic, go into the Army and become a helicopter pilot, get out and become Donald Trump's personal pilot. Where did he get those views? Here again, the writers reveal the prevailing view of Americans, especially America's youth, through the words of AJ.
HBO
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Even though Tony is a mobster, in mobster terms, he is upper class. The military is not made up of upper class kids or anywhere close.
Here's an example of how unrepresentative the Volunteer Army is of America. It is shameful as my Mom would say.
Every week Newshour on PBS offers up in silence the names and photos of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. On one recent broadcast, there were fifteen young Americans who had lost their lives over the last several days. Nine were from the South, four from California and two from other states.
The fact that we do not have a plan in place to tap into America's youth is unbelievable. AJ Soprano is young and willing; and, although the military might not be the place, there are other opportunities which he might choose if offered. Suppose we had a National Service obligation for American kids. If we had one in place, Tony could have said to AJ, "No way, you can choose something else for your service. but not the military."- Teach America, Peace Corps, Habitat for Humanity, or scores of other nonprofits. The military would be only one among many.
The fallout from a National Service obligation would work for everyone. The military would definitely benefit. My suspicion is that many Americans would choose the military under almost any circumstances. We don't have enough faith in our kids to believe this, but many kids want it tougher, to meet challenges, to be the best. Look at the Marines and the Airborne. They have always been volunteer. In the 82d Airborne Division, there is usually a waiting list. The pool of young Americans is large, between the ages of eighteen to twenty-six. The time is NOW for National Service. KT
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