[Col. Writ. 5/5/05] Copyright '05 by Mumia Abu-Jamal
Across the nation, from city to country, from
urban to rural areas, the U.S. Imperial Army is
finding it harder and harder to meet their
recruitment targets.
While the corporate media likes to call it 'a
volunteer army', in truth, many young people opt
for the Army out of sheer economic necessity.
They also often do so because they've been
promised the moon by Army recruiters, who
tell them things like: "We'll give you up to
$70,000 for college!" -- or-- "You won't have
to go to Iraq!"
Like high-pressure salesmen, recruiters must
get the old John Henry on a contract, and the
rest, as they say, is history.
In 2004, the National Guard fell short of its
quota by 13 percent. The Reserve is down 10
percent, and the Army fell behind some 27
percent in February.
Parents are quietly steering their children
away from an increasingly unpopular war,
where their children may be killed or maimed.
There is also the undeniable factor of the
raging Iraqi resistance.
People know, now by the millions, that the
U.S. isn't in Iraq to 'bring freedom', as King
George so blithely states.
While largely ignored by the corporate press,
demonstrations are happening all across the
country, in high schools, and on college
campuses, against military recruitment.
It's also true that much of this recruiting is
among young people of color; Black and
Latino, working class kids; those with the least
economic prospects, are targeted with promises
of money for college and vocational training.
The promise of four years for a livelihood
seems quite attractive.
But, in fact, many young people will be
bound for eight years -- not four -- if the
administration declares such a necessity.
Many of the people who lost their eyesight,
their limbs, their very lives in Iraq were
actually past their due dates.
Remember the No Child Left Behind Act
of 2002? A little-known section of the law
required *all* public high schools to deliver
personal contact data on juniors and seniors
to military recruitment officers.
It kinda gives a whole new meaning to
'No Child Left Behind' -- doesn't it?
Interestingly, the nation's private schools,
where the economic elite are educated, are
not subject to that law.
Hundreds of students at San Francisco
State University of California-Santa Cruz
marched against Army, Navy and Marine
recruiters, kicking them out of their annual
job fair.
The protests that opened this war may have
dissipated when it came to later mass
demonstrations. But that obviously doesn't
mean that people are not deeply opposed to
this mad adventure in Iraq.
Even the corporate media's polls show a
majority of respondents feel Iraq simply
wasn't worth it. That number will only grow.
In times of war, governments try to
advance their most noxious brand of
repression; yet people always find ways
to resist.
That resistance must grow until it
gives voice to a true, solid anti-imperialism,
that washes away the corporate political
elites that use ruinous wars for private
profits.
This war isn't a war against terrorism;
it's a war for Halliburton; for Bechtel;
for Lockheed-Martin, and the oil giants.
It's not a war for freedom, but for *un*freedom;
for more government control, and less freedom
for every American.
It seems that this simple truth is getting through.
Technorati Tags: War Iraq Mumia Abu-Jamal
--
Posted by Violette to Mumia's Columns at 5/22/2005 05:28:51 PM
Across the nation, from city to country, from
urban to rural areas, the U.S. Imperial Army is
finding it harder and harder to meet their
recruitment targets.
While the corporate media likes to call it 'a
volunteer army', in truth, many young people opt
for the Army out of sheer economic necessity.
They also often do so because they've been
promised the moon by Army recruiters, who
tell them things like: "We'll give you up to
$70,000 for college!" -- or-- "You won't have
to go to Iraq!"
Like high-pressure salesmen, recruiters must
get the old John Henry on a contract, and the
rest, as they say, is history.
In 2004, the National Guard fell short of its
quota by 13 percent. The Reserve is down 10
percent, and the Army fell behind some 27
percent in February.
Parents are quietly steering their children
away from an increasingly unpopular war,
where their children may be killed or maimed.
There is also the undeniable factor of the
raging Iraqi resistance.
People know, now by the millions, that the
U.S. isn't in Iraq to 'bring freedom', as King
George so blithely states.
While largely ignored by the corporate press,
demonstrations are happening all across the
country, in high schools, and on college
campuses, against military recruitment.
It's also true that much of this recruiting is
among young people of color; Black and
Latino, working class kids; those with the least
economic prospects, are targeted with promises
of money for college and vocational training.
The promise of four years for a livelihood
seems quite attractive.
But, in fact, many young people will be
bound for eight years -- not four -- if the
administration declares such a necessity.
Many of the people who lost their eyesight,
their limbs, their very lives in Iraq were
actually past their due dates.
Remember the No Child Left Behind Act
of 2002? A little-known section of the law
required *all* public high schools to deliver
personal contact data on juniors and seniors
to military recruitment officers.
It kinda gives a whole new meaning to
'No Child Left Behind' -- doesn't it?
Interestingly, the nation's private schools,
where the economic elite are educated, are
not subject to that law.
Hundreds of students at San Francisco
State University of California-Santa Cruz
marched against Army, Navy and Marine
recruiters, kicking them out of their annual
job fair.
The protests that opened this war may have
dissipated when it came to later mass
demonstrations. But that obviously doesn't
mean that people are not deeply opposed to
this mad adventure in Iraq.
Even the corporate media's polls show a
majority of respondents feel Iraq simply
wasn't worth it. That number will only grow.
In times of war, governments try to
advance their most noxious brand of
repression; yet people always find ways
to resist.
That resistance must grow until it
gives voice to a true, solid anti-imperialism,
that washes away the corporate political
elites that use ruinous wars for private
profits.
This war isn't a war against terrorism;
it's a war for Halliburton; for Bechtel;
for Lockheed-Martin, and the oil giants.
It's not a war for freedom, but for *un*freedom;
for more government control, and less freedom
for every American.
It seems that this simple truth is getting through.
Technorati Tags: War Iraq Mumia Abu-Jamal
--
Posted by Violette to Mumia's Columns at 5/22/2005 05:28:51 PM
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