ChopperHead said:
Ya I totally agree with everything in this thread alot of the disrespect comes from HighSchool Where people are rebelious and Left wing because It's seen as being cool. Ie all the "BAD BOY" characters in movies are always fighting against the Government and The Establishment. Another Big thing that alot kids talk about is Anarchy for the most part they dont even understand they just think it's cool to say that and wear the sybol and whatever else. this is behaviour is deveoped in highschool and carries on to college if you were to show up at an elemantry school and talk to the kids heck even just walk in there in uniform to pick up your kids all you would get are kids who are interested and think that it's the coolest thing and want to join the army and have a zillion questions. At my highschool when the military showed up to give out info and stuff at lunch time there was like 15 people that whent to the booth to check it out. there was 1800 kids at my school just to kinda give some references but I talked to people after and they said they thought it was cool so I ask them why didnt they go check it out then and they just kinda shruged it off but I know why It's because they dont want to be seen as being interested in the army. Cause they dont want to be made fun of. At my grade 8 grad when they tell everyone what you want to do and everything people laughed at me when I said I wanted to join the military. It's just all messed up but it goes the same for everything like girls starving themselves because of cosmo girls and teen magazine or whatever else but I wont get into that. Adults are respecting the military more these days and thats why I voted that the military is getting more respected these days as apossed to a few years ago simply because the public is getting more aware and starting to relise what is going on out there A perfect reflection of this is the increase in defense funding by LIBERALS and TV shows being devoted to the Canadian military and they are in the news things are starting to get better alittle anyway but we still got along way to go. My wrists are getting sore ya thats my 2 cents.
Kyle
I agree that it IS becomming more respected to a point... but kids in school still show great disrespect and dishonor for the military and the events surrounding it. This is what I have noticed. Our school had about 120kids when I went there a few years back. The CF showed up and there were 3 people that went to the booth at lunchtime. 2 of them wanted to know 'all about their assault rifles and grenades, and if they had any in the back of their truck so they could get their weapons in advance'. I was the other one, who's interest solely was on how do I join, what do I have to do to join. That's it. So, the guys there seemed very interested in giving me advice, and when class started, I decided to skip half an hour to talk to the guys as they were packing up, etc. They seemed like a great bunch of knowledgable, disciplined people. After I shook hands with them all, they told me that the choice I was going to make.... I wouldn't regret it.
A few years passed and I graduated highschool. The guidance counsellor kinda sold my parents the idea of college and university, and those choices being decent ones, I knew it wasn't really for me. After 2 years of pissing around in university, I said, enough is enough, I'm joining the CF like I should have from the start.
Point being, I'm very surprised that even for smaller numbers of students, the turnout's very small, like 1 or 2 percent of the whole school attending the booth.
As for the disrespect I previously mentioned, NONE of the students really supported Remembrance Day. During the assembly, the old, kind war veterans would get up and speak, people would be talking, not paying attention... picking at each other. To many of the vets, I could see that this saddened them, somewhat. No one would buy poppies, no one really wants to support the local Legion anymore(we have to do a big load of fundraisers on a constant basis)... and this is kind of sad.
I think that the adults of today are STARTING to respect the military more, because more adults tend to watch the news and keep up with events that are currently happening, unlike the majority of the kids in school. During the services held by our honorable war vets at the war memorial a few commmunities down, there are very few people who turn up. The last Remembrance Day ceremony, despite the fog and cold drizzle, the old war veterans still held the service, just as proud as they were when they joined the military many years ago. We had about 20 people attend the ceremony, myself and the verterans included. The only factor that stopped some of the vets was sickness. The turnout for civillians...this is just unacceptable.
Why do I think this is happening? For a few reasons. Canada hasn't been really involved in a MAJOR conflict in quite some time. There aren't many members in the CF as it is(It should be bigger, but I'm not gonna open another can of worms). Less families (well around here anyway) have members that serve in the CF and well... they just don't really care about what's happening. More and more parents are advising their children that joining the CF isn't logical... That the sense of pride is worth nothing because apparently, you will most likely end up dead.
To elaborate on the reason that we haven't been involved in a MAJOR conflict... or any conflict direct to our country. Even today, we haven't had any major terrorist attack against us, like bombings or plane hi-jackings. Many people that I know think we're 100% safe, because we are a 'peaceful country that doesn't kill people'. Therefore they go about their daily business, thinking that nothing will ever happen... Uneducated about what our CF does, and what it does to make this country a safe place to live in.
/end rant
All I know is that the youngsters, 19 and younger pretty much just don't care about the CF... past, current, or possible future conflicts. And many of those interested, just want the guns, grenades, tanks, and to kill people.
This is what I've noticed anywho. Totally opinion.
If ya don't believe me, prehaps I should take a video of the next Remembrance Day assembly at the school. Y'all can see for yourself! Oh wait.. I'll be in BMQ! ;D