Warning to parents of pre- and teen-aged kids

[paineinthearse]

Every 2 years the Air Force presnts the Thunderbirds at Hanscom Field, west of Boston. It must have been at least 3-4 years ago when I brought my son, who would have been about 11.

They have a huge tractor trailer full of the latest video games, but, here's the catch, in order to get in, you need to complete an ID card.

You enter your name, address, phone number & date of birth. It takes your photo and voila, a picture ID is generated that the kid wears.

Two weeks after the show he started receiving mail from the Air Force.

So my warning is BEWARE if you go to airshows or similar military demonstrations. DO NOT give out personal information.

[cwrightmills]

1. As fun as they are to watch...

... encouraging your children to attend air shows and whatnot is encouraging them to fetishize and celebrate the naked aggression of the military complex.

[bryant69]

2. How about watching old war movies?

Same deal?

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[cwrightmills]

3. Usually...

It really depends on how the movie is made... Most old war movies are thinly veiled propaganda for the American war machine.

[realisticphish]

5. ever seen tora tora tora?

most definately not that

[cwrightmills]

6. Notice...

... I said most... "Tora Tora Tora" certainly wasn't -- then again, half of it was directed by Kurosawa.

[realisticphish]

13. o, i know

but i think that TTT is a good example of the 50's war movie. they were made by men who were in the battles, and thus knew what it was really like. for glorification of the war machine, look to MODERN war movies (Top Gun, Navy Seals, Independance Day), or old monster movies.

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. And last time I checked, TCM doesn't require ID cards either. nt

[realisticphish]

7. while this one was,

air shows are not neccessarily military.

and, in any case, i love military planes (especially WWII era), but that doesn't mean i "fetishize" war. i just freakin like the planes

[paineinthearse]

11. I agree, and have not attened since

At the last one I attendeded they glorified battle by having two A-10 "warthogs" make runs over the field while blowing up charges which produced fire and columns of smoke, simulating the dropping of bombs, all the while a PR guy was pandering to the audience about the formidibility of the weaponry.

[Stirk]

14. I've really got to disagree with you there.

Like anything else, it's a matter of guidance and presentation. My dad took me to every accessible airshow- especially the military ones. He loved them because he was a pilot, and the technology fascinated him.

He'd tell me all about how the things functioned, the physical principles involved, etc., etc... it was always a great experience for me.

He was as far to the left as you can get, and did not support the military industrial complex in any way. The air shows were a great way to spend time with his kid and talk about the world, from science to politics. I loved the air shows.

[HockeyMom]

15. Sounds familiar

My older daughter was going to enlist in the Army out of high school, but changed her mind. The recruiter would call her about once a month for almost year to see if she had "changed her mind".

During this time, my younger daughter started getting stuff in the mail about joining the Army. He must have figured can't get big sister, work on little sister. She thought it was hysterical. She was 11 at the time. Little did she know 7 years later they would be ringing her phone off the hook (Leave No Child Behind) too.

[XemaSab]

17. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[newyawker99]

18. Hi cwrightmills!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[realisticphish]

4. easy

lie. give them bullshit info, still get to play video games, but no air force.


still, it's a shitty practice (not that it's anything shocking, unfortunately)

[bluestateguy]

9. 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield....

The Simpsons'address.

[realisticphish]

16. 221b

Baker St.

They might know the simpsons... go a little more literary ;)

WHOA!
Idea!
Give them the address of some right winger who is pro-war... make it easier for him to join up :evilgrin:

[LeftyMom]

8. Just fill out "your" info

Jenna Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC.

:D

[paineinthearse]

12. Now THAT is an idea!

Think she'd join?