Decision ultimately up to the student

Why is it whenever someone mentions the military people’s hackles go up? I am a junior at Cascade High School and wouldn’t mind if a military recruiter called me. In fact, my best chances of going to college are through the military, not because I’m stupid and have poor grades, but because colleges are so expensive. The decision to join the military will ultimately come from the student, not from the parents; therefore students should make the decision whether or not to be contacted by the military.

When a youth turns 18, parents don’t intervene on their newly acquired voting privileges, refusing to let them vote for any party except for the one of their choosing. Instead, they use their values and ethics to inform their child so that when the time comes, they are prepared and of their own mind.

Any parent, particularly in light of the war in Iraq, would greatly exaggerate the horrors of the military and equally downplay any good that may come out of it. As a result, students brave enough to join the military are making an informed decision on what they’re getting themselves into. The issue over recruitment contact to juniors and seniors should be handled the same way.

Leeann Bradshaw

Everett