Vets press for access to students (FL)

[soup]

By DONNA WINCHESTER, Times Staff Writer
Published April 19, 2006

LARGO - A group of veterans on Tuesday took a message to the Pinellas County School Board: Students who are considering joining the military are getting the pros, but not the cons, from military recruiters who visit high school campuses.

About a dozen members of a local Veterans for Peace chapter handed out fliers before the board meeting urging district officials to let them provide students with "balanced information regarding the military."

The veterans moved to the street when a Pinellas schools police officer asked them to leave. Then they sat for nearly three hours awaiting their turn to address the board.

"The School Board has determined that military recruiters may enter schools to discuss military matters with the students," said Veterans for Peace member Dwight Lawton. "We, therefore, should not be denied access to students to discuss military matters simply because the School Board or school administration may disagree with our views on the subject."
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/19/Tampabay/Vets_press_for_access.shtml

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/

[Demeter]

1. Truth In Military---What A Concept!!!!

Man, I have lived long enough to see the Golden Era--when the last bastion of Manly Men comes crashing into Reality. I now have renewed hopes for the ERA and universal health care.

[SoCalDem]

2. "...discuss military matters with the students..."??

Are things really going THAT badly?? They need to discuss ,military matters with kids...:rofl:

[soup]

4. shhh. Above Top Secret, don'chya know?

can't believe they let the cat out of the bag...

:rofl: right back at ya. Good catch, and too funny.

[ClintonTyree]

3. Good for the Vets.......

trying to counter the lies of military recruiters who make it sound like joining the Army is like a trip to the Amusement Arcade. Show these kids some shattered bodies and minds, THEN they can make an informed decision. These Vets are doing our country a great service, showing impressionable youngsters the REAL cost of war!
I don't suppose the School Board will see it in the same light though. There will be heavy pressure on them to keep the Vets far, far away from the governments potential cannon fodder resources. :grr:

[soup]

5. Being asked to leave and sitting outside waiting for 3 hrs

for a turn to address the board... I just shook my head in wonder at that one. And this:

>>School officials in both Hillsborough and Pinellas have said the veterans' message doesn't correspond with school goals.<<

Somebody please answer the door - Reality is knocking.

[ClintonTyree]

7. What the hell are their goals?

Letting the Army, Navy, AIr Force, Marines brainwash kids into thinking that it's going to be one big video game if they sign on the dotted line?
Stuff like this is why I moved out of Florida a few years ago. Being raised in New York and living there for most of my life I bought into the Lie of Florida being a "retirement paradise". :eyes: I found just the opposite. I guess if I had checked my brain at the state line I'd have been OK but I could never acclimate to the cultural and political shock. It didn't take long to realize I'd made a mistake. Back to New York, winter and all. Florida is not for everyone.

[Benhurst]

8. Pinellas motto: "Turning out cannon fodder for the New World Order"

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

6. K & R. Our vets are trying to get the word out. n/t

MKJ

[saigon68]

9. I'd love to tell them how fucked up the military is

Unfortunately I can't do it here

Because the military moms and jock sniffers here, think I am abusing the troops

[soup]

10. I hear ya.

The tightrope is pretty thin.

I truly appreciate what the Veterans for Peace are trying to accomplish - and the fact that they are veterans, not recruiters with a quota, and not video game developers carries one whole hell of a lot of weight with me.


WEST POINT, N.Y., March 30, 2004
>>The game, "America's Army" has become such an overnight hit, the Army staged a tournament in New York. Recruiters were waiting at the door.

"This is a fantastic recruiting opportunity," says Lt. Col. John Gillette. "We would like to sign up as many as possible. We are looking for five to ten."

One of these teens enlisted after playing the game, the other two are thinking about it, which is exactly what the creator of "America's Army" had in mind.

"We look at all the things that the Army is doing that is under the control of the Army that captures people's attention and the game is number one," says the game's creator Col. Casey Wardynksi.<<
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/30/eveningnews/main609489.shtml

[H3Dakota]

11. Wow, this is embarrassing

I live in Pinellas & have to deal with the school system here - which sucks across the board anyway, by the way, thx to W's brother.