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Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Playing American kids for fools
Posted by Jill | 6:23 AM

Last night Mr. Brilliant and I were watching some of the C&W performances at Live 8 on CMT (Country Music Television) -- hey, it was a lousy night for TV, whaddya want?

But in heavy rotation, on a network that is clearly geared towards red-staters, were advertisments for Army recruting that were so insulting, and such utter horseshit, that I was outraged at their cynicism. The first one involves a black kid telling his mother that he's found someone to pay for college; that "someone" being the army. The second one is far worse; it depicts a couple of white teens playing pool, and the one who's decided to enlist says he's doing so because he wants to be "involved in something important", and besides, it's the reserve, so he goes through training, then he's stateside unless they need him.

Does anyone actually still believe that enlisting in the reserves is a guarantee not to go to Iraq? The cynicism and condescension of these ads, which are clearly aimed at kids without a lot of higher education options, from towns without a whole lot of employment opportunities, is just appalling -- further proof that the American kids who DON'T come from affluent families, and AREN'T part of the 101st Fighting Keyboarders, are regarded by this Administration as just more cannon fodder.

Meanwhile, the College Republicans, a.k.a. Keyboarders In Training, are definitive in their "support the troops" credentials in regard to their less affluent brethren:

Most of our members either serve, have served, or plan to serve in the United States Armed Forces, or have participated in events or projects supporting the United States Armed Forces.


"Plan to serve"? Like when, Cochise? And what are "events and projects supporting the United States Armed Forces"? As Joe in DC at Americablog says:

There you go. Most serve, have served, plan to serve, OR HAVE PARTICIPATED IN EVENTS OR PROJECTS, such as Operation Drink a Beer for the Troops, Operation Burn a Dixie Chick CD, or Operation Put a Yellow Ribbon on my SUV, supporting the United States Armed Forces.


If the U.S. military can't recruit adequately without lying, then perhaps they ought to look at why. I suggest they start with looking at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and work from there.

Meanwhile, I'm gonna go order up a couple more o'them USO Care Packages.
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