Local high school students stage counter-recruiter protest!

[Generic Other]

Hell, no, they won't go along

MARTHA MODEEN; The News Tribune
Last updated: May 6th, 2005 11:25 AM

About 60 students turned out Thursday to Foss High School’s courtyard to watch fellow students protest military recruiters at the Tacoma school.

The small, informal protest took on an added urgency, some students said, because they felt their free-speech rights were curtailed when Principal Sharon Schauss canceled a student “teach-in” designed to give an opposing view of what’s given by military recruiters. Students alleged that Schauss caved in to pressure from the school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, a training program for students interested in the military. A JROTC official denies he tried to have the event canceled.

Students, with the help of a local activist group, earlier this week sent an e-mail message to 10,000 activists across the country urging them to call school administrators. They say courts have upheld students’ right to express opposing viewpoints...

<snip>

Thursday’s protest was the latest instance of Foss students flexing their protest muscles. Two years ago, students held an anti-war “teach-in,” followed by an assembly that offered an opposing view.

<more>

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4839746p-4444990c.html

Hey DUers! Give these kids some positive feedback. I can personally guarantee they'll read every word.

Right now the student with the bullhorn is in a meeting with the principal and the JROTC.

One of the kids observed the irony of not allowing 16 or 17 year olds to drink or have sex, yet permitting the military to recruit them to sign away their lives. Smart kid, huh?

Also, don't believe the MSM. I got it on good authority that there were 120 students.

[Cha]

1. Thanks, Generic Other for this great news!

You go kids!!..Why should anyone sign up to die in bush's WEB of DECEIT?

[FreedomAngel82]

15. This is great!

Part of me does feel bad for recruiters because they're just doing their jbo for the most part but I'm glad the kids are sending a message! Good for them.

[Generic Other]

20. "i sing of Olaf glad and big" by ee cummings

whose warmest heart recoiled at war:
a conscientious object-or

his wellbelovéd colonel(trig
westpointer most succinctly bred)
took erring Olaf soon in hand;
but--though an host of overjoyed
noncoms(first knocking on the head
him)do through icy waters roll
that helplessness which others stroke
with brushes recently employed
anent this muddy toiletbowl,
while kindred intellects evoke
allegiance per blunt instruments--
Olaf(being to all intents
a corpse and wanting any rag
upon what God unto him gave)
responds,without getting annoyed
"I will not kiss your f*king flag"

straightway the silver bird looked grave
(departing hurriedly to shave)

but--though all kinds of officers
(a yearning nation's blueeyed pride)
their passive prey did kick and curse
until for wear their clarion
voices and boots were much the worse,
and egged the firstclassprivates on
his rectum wickedly to tease
by means of skilfully applied
bayonets roasted hot with heat--
Olaf(upon what were once knees)
does almost ceaselessly repeat
"there is some sh*t I will not eat"

our president,being of which
assertions duly notified
threw the yellowsonofabitch
into a dungeon,where he died

Christ(of His mercy infinite)
i pray to see;and Olaf,too

preponderatingly because
unless statistics lie he was
more brave than me:more blond than you.

[wildeyed]

2. Smart kids!

Last week, the hs kid doing investigative journalism and this week, protests and teach-ins by hs students. I have great hope for this younger generation.

:applause:

[John Q. Citizen]

3. When they say "no child left behind" they mean from Iraq

From the linked article..

snip
"Under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation, the military can request the names and addresses of students. Some students, including Lightner, maintain that military use of their student information is tantamount to a “back-door draft.” Lightner said she wanted her fellow students to know they can remove their names from disclosure by writing a letter to the school at the start of the year."

[FreedomAngel82]

17. Yep

Now you know why they named the program that. It's certainly not for education purposes. And you can know that for sure since the people in his administration and everybody around him is pro-military.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

4. kick

nt

[Generic Other]

5. Read between the lines folks!

Notice that the ROTC students attended the counter recruitment protest after the school cancelled the scheduled event. They declined to comment according to the reporter. Ask yourself why. Did the kids in uniform come to defend free speech or did they come to silence it?

How sad. And how brave for Clara to stand up to them.

[FreedomAngel82]

18. Silence it for sure

Definietly. They're already trying to brainwash the children. :mad: The Bush administration is now using children against each other.

[Generic Other]

19. Bingo

We can feel very proud of young people for standing up to it too!

[AnnInLa]

6. for more info, please visit this website

www.militaryfreezone.org

[Generic Other]

7. Thank you for that link!

I was surprised to discover kids could request that school's withhold their personal information if they did it in writing. That sounds like an excellent writing assignment to me--one every high school kid should do for homework.

[Eloriel]

8. You kids have NO IDEA how much good it does my old boomer heart

to hear about the young people of today doing something proactive. It gives me a little hope.

Thank you, kids! Keep up the good work.

[Book Lover]

9. There's going to be a similar event here in the SFBA

May 22nd - there's going to be a counter-recruitment concert in Pacifica, CA.

[Generic Other]

12. A concert? That's good

Every generation has to take on the power structure in their own way.
The first step is getting people's attention.

[strategery blunder]

10. I recognized the name of the school

My grandmother lives in Tacoma.

That said, how do I contact these kids to tell them :yourock:?

[Generic Other]

13. The prinicipal has been hearing from the 10,000 the student emailed

:)

The students will read this on DU. If you PM me, I might be able to direct an email. I know some people who know some people...

[welshTerrier2]

11. all generations together in the same struggle

we stood at the barricades and said no to war ... we studied so that we could defend ourselves in debate ... we helped teach others how to evade the draft because the war was corrupt ... we knew that the reasons for war that were sold on our TV's was nothing but propaganda ... we stood our ground when the National Guard and the police tried to force us off our own campuses ...

and the war ended ... and the draft ended ... but the lies and corruption did not ... and today, again it is the young who are called to do their bidding ... again, it is the young who are sent to die for their lies ...

many of us "old-timers" have stood up again to resist them ... we have waited for so long with so much hope for the next generation of activists to join us ... we see your actions ... we know your courage ... we respect you and hope that you know we stand aligned with you in your cause ... and that your cause is our cause too ...

[Generic Other]

14. Hear Hear!

:applause:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

16. Young People to be proud of.

Never take what you are told at face value.

Especially from me ;)


Think, read, learn, and confront the world informed!

:yourock:


:kick:

[KittyWampus]

21. They Need To Get Pix & Write Letters & Journals If They're Gonna Be CO

conscientious objectors.

To get that status, you need a background with evidence.

[Generic Other]

22. Shamelessly kicking again

:kick: