DU: you might have saved my friend's life. (She was thinking of enlisting)

[femmedem]

To all the good DU folks who responded to yesterday's plea for help dissuading my friend from joining the Air Force reserves: it worked! She just sent me an e-mail saying she wasn't signing anything, all caps, three exclamation points. And she sends her thanks. She was touched that you cared.

And to all the good folks at DU who were busy yesterday or who didn't notice my thread or for whatever reason didn't post: this might be a good thread to bookmark. It's one-stop shopping for counter-recruiting info. You never know when a family member, a friend or an acquaintance is going to announce that they're thinking about enlisting.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x990783

My friend--more like an acquaintance, really, but I wouldn't wish today's military on my worst enemy--is a quirky, trusting, adventurous young woman. She didn't know anything about stop loss, depleted uranium, the military's ability to alter contracts at will. I would have hated to see her fall for the recruiter's B.S. And thanks to you all, she didn't.

[benburch]

1. Excellent.

We need to try to reach anybody who is thinking of enlisting.

Right now, enlisting only makes you complicit in war crimes that WILL be punished.

[fooj]

2. Sounds to me like she is lucky to have you looking out for her...

Peace.

[havocmom]

3. Good for you for caring enough to gather info for her!

DU can be an amazing asset for spreading truth and knowledge.

[graywarrior]

4. Tell her is she wants to do something for her country, help a

democrat get elected.

Glad you posted yesterday to get the response you did. And welcome to DU.

[MuseRider]

5. Thank you.

I did miss it and now have it bookmarked. I appreciate the heads up.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. Hey, that's GREAT!

We helped to save a life!!! How excellent is that?

You did good for your friend, and, again, welcome and stick around. You're DU now, kid.

:yourock: :woohoo: :woohoo:
:applause:
:applause: :woohoo: :woohoo:
:applause: :woohoo:
:applause: :woohoo:
:applause:
:applause: :woohoo:
:applause:

[femmedem]

15. I'm not planning on going anywhere.

I already sent for the DU team jacket, the tin foil ear muffs, and the secret Bush/Cheney BS decoder ring.

[PublicWrath]

7. She's very lucky to know you...........n/t

[sarge43]

8. I'm glad to hear that.

It's an important victory.

It makes me sad to write this, but I have to agree with you ".... I wouldn't wish today's military on my worst enemy ..." I have many reasons why I detest Bush et al, but I think the one at the top of the list is the damage they've done to the armed services. I hate them for making me say to a young man or woman "Don't enlist; there's no honor left".

[Ian David]

10. Want to enlist? Wait 'til 08!

That should be the new slogan.

Want to enlist? Wait 'til 08!

Not that the armed forces are not worth joining, but that the current commander-in-chief is a bad boss.

Would you join your High School Football team? Sure!
Would you join the team if your coach was awaiting trial on pedophilia charges? Probably not.
So, you sit-out one season and wait for a new coach.

[sarge43]

11. Or "Wanna enlist?"

Wait until after Barbara and Jenna Bush do.

[femmedem]

16. I understand, and I'm saddened on your behalf. n/t

[Ian David]

9. I wouldn't let Republicans see these threads

Republicans are more than welcome to send their kids with absolutely no objection from me.

[Neil Lisst]

12. Great!

Not with Bush in charge. Otherwise, I think it's been a good path for some, at least for one tour of duty.

[OneBlueSky]

13. I just bookmarked that thread . . . great resource for when . . .

you encounter an innocent about to sign his life over to BushCo . . . thanks . . .

[noamnety]

14. If any of the rest of you have info to add to that thread

please do so. Even though this one person was convinced not to enlist, it's good to keep adding resources to it - especially if others are bookmarking it.