When I see our Armed forces I see our children What does the government see what do you see?

Question

Today on my way to the Beer store I saw a young girl - in full uniform - a cadet - collecting donations for the Army Cadets

So I gave her a twoonie (2 dollars ) and she gave me a little sticker thing that says I supported Canada's Army Cadets
This girl is from the nieghborhood - She could not have been more than a teenager - 17 ish or so
There she stood at attention just like the Vetrans of the war do on or about Nov the 11 - with a donation box waiting in silence for people to give money -- And they do esp to the older Vetrans of the wars on Rememberance day (Nov 11)

When I passed this child and that is what she is - I wondered - When I see the Cadets I see children when I see the Vetrans I see my Grandfather - when I see the regular Armed forces going here or there or marching up and down the square I see really young men and women - friends coworkers

Our young men and women our children our grandfathers

What does the government see and what do you see ?

I stopped for a moment at the street corner - as I waited for the light to change - As always the cadet - stood quietly at her spot and did not move or speak - saying only thank - you to those who gave - nothing more nothing less

All I could think was IF I was in command it would take a lot to send these people off to fight and to die - It would have to be one hell of a cause for me to do that -

My own Grandfather fought the 1st war - He stayed a year afterwards to bury the dead so he did not come home until 1919 -

All he could say about war - is that

"War is no good"

I wonder if we lost that somewhere along the line ?

War is not good and sending these kids off for anything less than absolute necesity is plain evil -

When the government and the Crown looked at my Grandfather I wonder what they saw - I wonder what they see when they look at that Cadet on the corner -

At attention in uniform and in silence - as per orders

I wonder what you see

Answer 1

i wonder myself. my stepson is on his third tour in iraq. i have 4 impressionable grandsons. i think they see them as expendable. i do not believe that they see them as parents might. when i was in the army, we would requisition a replacement much as we would requisition a replacement vehicle.

i hear that our president cries about the dead and wounded that have come about on his orders. it doesn't make an impression on me. there is no replacement value on a human life.

Answer 2

Governments don't see, but the elected officials in my country see as many different things as all other people. No President has ever sent troops in harms way without a gut wrenching feeling and no commander has either. I, on the other hand see young men and women who know that their country has to have a standing Military for their own defense and they are the ones willing to do it in my country. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the men and women in uniform and wish that there was never a reason for a war, but the human creature is too warlike for that and there is always evil that has to be dealt with. These are soley my views and they are based on a fairly long life of military service and service in several different combat zones. I always used to like the saying "Wouldn't it be nice if they threw a war and nobody came" Have a great day.

Answer 3

what I see is NO NEED FOR ALL THIS BIGGEST MILITARY ARSENAL and great numbers of military forces ...
and to prove it to you ,Tell me first ...WHERE is the USA forces at the moment ?? mostly shatterd all over the world ..in Iraq,Afghanistan,pakistan,India,Kuwait,Saudi Arabia, Bosnia & hertzgovina,Germany(since last world war !!!).Egypt.....etc!!!!!
so it is quite clear that americans doesn't need army more than what is in fact EXSIST inside the states.....
But I think somebody wants to build his own historical glory on top of the rekless of USA., and he is convincing his own people that "WE ARE BUILDING THE DREAM IMPIRE OF THE USA."....... what a lol.
he thinks they are thick or dump?no Mr. Bush & your gov. , you must be sure that no impires is possible to exsist any more , the last one was the Osemand (Turkey), ............ and you can see where it is now, what it looks like , how they are living over there !!!
Some times dreams is much more bigger than to be realised , specialy if it was some how imperialistic .

Answer 4

I see people who have chosen to put on the uniform.

Sadly - what most people see is based on their prejudices rather than any real understanding.

Answer 5

i see the men and women who answered the call to help defend their country. they are the first line of defense. without them my and your country wouldnt be today.

Answer 6

i see young men and women who like myself are willing to give service and defend their country, even if it means the ultimate sacrafice.

Answer 7

"What does the government see what do you see?"

Can somebody translate this to basic English as I dont speak or read basic Canadian :-P

The Government see people it has trained and paid to get the job done.