The anti-recruiter war
Last year, the anti-war movement discovered that they can’t stop the war through Congress – mainly because Congress doesn’t want solutions to problems, they only want issues. So the anti-war crowd decided they would attack the troops who are detailed as recruiters. At about the same time, the Army decided to build a $12 million pilot facility called the Army Experience Center at Franklin Mills Mall near Philadelphia which has a variety of video games designed to give potential recruits a taste of the Army. I can’t wait to visit and try the shoe-shining and the latrine-scrubbing video games.
Since it opened last year, the AEC has stuck in the anti-war crowd’s craw. They’ve protested it at least once before that I know on February 16th – it kind of fizzled out, of course. So this past Saturday, they decided to make a concerted effort towards shutting the AEC down.
Our own Raoul was on the scene, of course, and he phoned in a report last night. He met them in the church parking lot where they assembled at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ. In short order, Raoul was able to get the church’s secretary to call him a mother f@#%er twice.
All of the Leftist reports say they had over 300 people to protest, Raoul tells us it wasn’t even 200 – which is surprising since the Left also says that over 30 groups participated. Even if it was 300, with 30 groups, that’s piss-poor attendance.
But the whole thing is comical. Here’s 200-300 people protesting video games. They had slogans like “If you’re not old enough to drink, you’re not old enough to kill”. So I guess, like me, they think the drinking age should be lowered, too.
IVAW Winter Soldier, Jesse Hamilton was there. His deep intellectual contribution to the discussion was; “You can’t simulate the heat. You can’t you know the cries of people who are getting killed. You can’t simulate the noise when things are exploding around you.” Well, ya know what Jesse, they get an idea of what it’s like during training, don’t they? It’s not like they load the kids on buses outside the AEC and take them straight to Iraq, do they?
Here’s a local TV report;
One blogger from the Left, who certainly thought highly of himself and his actions that Saturday afternoon at the mall wrote;
The complaint was read out loud, which had a profound effect on everyone who was there shopping, and visiting the various eateries.
People stopped to listen, and really couldn’t believe what was happening. I myself, was part of a group of protesters who donned death masks and the names of fallen soldiers and stood directly in front of the AEC, which was at that point surrounded by police.
But that didn’t stop us from demanding that it be closed and they should cease and desist corrupting our youth. Those of us in death masks stood silently by and watched the rest of the group shouting at the recruiters. “Stop stealing our kids” “No wars for empire”, “SHAME ON YOU!” to the endless pounding of drums.
It seemed to me that the recruiters were becoming a bit unnerved….
Yeah, soldiers who had faced an armed enemy on foreign soil were unnerved by a bunch of smelly geezers. I’m sure. And as far as a “profound effect” it had on shoppers, I’m pretty sure they were real impressed by loud-mouthedclowns interrupting their day of shopping to scream intellectually vacant chants like kindergartners.
Someone should probably point out the Army isn’t stealing anyone’s kids. Everyone who joins is an adult in their own right, making their own decisions and the fact that these pathetic cowards think that kids are stupid enough to think war is a video and need rescuing says more about the fantasy land these clowns occupy than it does about America’s youth.
ShotgunDroid sent us this video from GamePolitics;
Seven people were arrested, one was Elaine Brower, who I mentioned in the earlier post, the others bravely wore hoods and masks. The whole confrontation lasted 9 minutes. One of the arrestees wrote;
After only one warning, the police decided to aggressively arrest seven of the protesters who were wearing death masks, peacefully standing in front of the AEC and not blocking the entrance. Taken to a distant precinct, the civil affairs Captain vowed vengeance by trying to charge the seven with a “misdemeanor in the third degree.” After 6 hours in the most deplorable conditions, they were released to return to court in June.
Yeah, in the video, you can see how aggressive the police were. I saw where they even refused to arrest one little old bag who was begging for it. And the captain “vowed vengeance”, huh? Or, maybe he vowed to enforce the peace.
Raoul reported that only people who were angry were the folks trying to get in the AEC. Fox reported that the anti-war protesters have to keep their lawyers employed;
Anti-war protesters are suing. They claim the Army Experience Center is endangering the welfare of children.
What children, you retards?
Most of the pictures I see say “Courtesy of Bill Perry” so I guess I fixed his camera well enough. Hey, Bill, Raoul says he saw you standing safely off to the side.
Raoul also reports that our buddy Pinhead was there and was showing anyone who would pay attention his VFP card to prove that he really is a veteran while Raoul pestered him for the month’s pay Pinhead owes Raoul on their wager. Yeah, we never said you aren’t a veteran, Dennen, we were wondering about the World War Two medals you wore at protests.
I’m sure Raoul will have more to add in the comments.
Raoul adds:
It was a failure for them.
1. They mobilized from NYC to DC, promised 700 people, delivered 200. That’s 29%.
2. They got just one news story. The local Fox affiliate did a 333 word article for the website, no film. Another TV station showed, no story on the news that night.
3. They got better than they gave. Three counter-demonstatrers owned their rally at St Luke’s. Our PA was louder than their’s and they had to listen to our “Teach In”.
4. St Luke’s Church Secretary called me a “Mother F**ker” three times.
5. They pissed off a lot of locals stuck in traffic as the geezers walked a mile in 30 minutes.
6. You couldn’t tell there was a demo just 40 yards down the mall.
7. People coming and going at the mall mainly ignored them
8. They pissed off the teens who let the geezers know it.
9. They were in the mall for less than an hour.
10. The AEC opened 10 minutes after they left.
Category: Antiwar crowd, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Usual Suspects
Jesse Hamilton or Jessica as his friends call him, needs to speak for his/herself.
Leave it alone.
CR: It is a fact that the military is the enforcement arm of administration, or government, foreign policy. I don’t deny that the place to voice concerns about aspects of that policy to the government. However, there is a vocal demographic that only targets the military through books, movies, etc. That they think that everything to do with the military is evil, or there are only morons in the military that can’t do anything else (John F-ing Kerry), or don’t have any other option, is the the center point of their ideological outlook. They also continue to float the false premise that minorities make up the majority percentage of combat troops (they have been touting that lie since Vietnam, also), or the under-classes are carrying the burden.
I don’t know the particulars of what the AEC offers to the youngsters, but protesters trying to block the entrance to the place doesn’t really address the politicians. Maybe they should block the entrance to a congressman’s office in order to have their concerns heard?
AS: That you still defend that group is beyond me. Please don’t put the word “honorable” in the same sentence as IVAW, because they have none. Not after voting down the resolution to re-affirm the “peaceful org and concern for Veteran’s issues” in said resolution. Their true intentions have been made glaringly clear.
But with the Army Experience it is giving a sample of what Army life is like. It the parents and family are so concerned about this, should they not take more of a role in this?
I mean when I was trying to join the Army I had several people who I could talk to make sure that I knew what I was getting myself into. It is what people should be doing if they are so concerned about this. Also what are your views on using computer training for those that already are in the service? It that not the same thing as far as getting familiar with the gear and how to use it? (The first time I saw SPORTS was on the Army computer game.)
I’m down with you on that, OldTrooper. I’ve said it before here on TAH: I abhor any type of coercive “protest” that involves people forcing their views on others. Blocking entrances to prevent people from gaining entry is something that crosses that line. Showing up outside to hand out literature and talk to people is fine, blocking them from entry while you create a scene on private property is another matter.
On the subject of that mentality, there was a gentlemen on either Colbert or the Daily Show who wrote a book about the Secret Service. Apparently, Al Gore made a comment to one of his young relatives that he should, “Study or end up like one of those guys,” referring to the Secret Service. A lot of powerful people, both in business and government, tend to look down on people. Kerry probably still has the vestiges of whole officer = nobility thing from far gone days of other militaries.
I correct people on the minorities in the military thing all the time. “You’re pulling poor blacks and hispanics from ghettos to fight your rich white man wars.” If you look at the data, at least for the Marine Corps, hispanics are vastly over represented in combat arms specialties. Whites are also, but to a lesser extent than hispanics. Blacks are extraordinarily underrepresented in combat arms fields. Although they do join the military in large numbers, they flee to the support jobs. The Commandant of the Marine Corps came out in 2007, while I was recruiting, and talked about the dearth of black officers entering the military. His concern was that in 20 or 30 years we won’t have any black general officers.
I can only speak for myself. I still believe in the ideals and principles that the military exists to protect and represent, but I am disgusted by the policies that it is being ordered to carry out.
Well said, CR. As for the Hispanics in the Marines, well although I don’t agree with the following statement, I will say what they might be thinking “I want to join the best and that’s the Marines”. Damn, I almost choked just typing that 🙂
Sporkmaster:
My understanding of the Army Experience Center is that it is basically a glorified ISMT. High school kids shouldn’t be taking part in that stuff. Even with their TOC, base locator, and “career navigator” stations, it doesn’t show what life is like in the military. Plus, I would be willing to bet that most kids spend their time in the high speed tactical stuff rather than researching the bases around the world.
Playing soldier on a computer isn’t going to get people familiar with the military. It is nothing like military training. When a Marine goes to the ISMT for marksmanship training, he’s already humped that heavy bitch around for miles and miles, in tons of gear, sweating his balls off. Sticking 13-16 year old kids into an air conditioned simulator in the middle of a city just isn’t the same as putting a Marine or soldier into the same machine.
But I do not think that is a big deal since the large number of games out their that appeal to that age group. How much do you want to bet while most of these people are working their kids are playing Halo or Gears of War? This is the same type of crowd that goes after violent video games in the attempt to ban them. I mean it is suppose to get people interested in the Army., so why won’t there be one there? It is not a MEPS station where they get their shipping orders on the spot. They put the exciting stuff on front because there are thing in the Army that are boring as hell. Like doing PM on a vehicle, police calls and TA-50 inspections. But when it comes to signing up it is a different view. Also even if they get past all of that, I believe that Basic would sort out those who want to be their and those who thought it was all a game. But if playing a computer does not do that, then what about the computer simulators that we use now? Before we went to any range with live ammo, we went to what was a but a large duck hunt game. At the end there were games that we could use to see how well we where shooting. It even had scores and rank on who did the best. But it is not suppose to simulate it in full. It is to give a general taste to see if this is something that one would want to pursue. Also let me ask this; mass causality dills. The drill and the real thing are miles apart, but we use the drills to give a general idea of what it is like. CLS class, you really think that it is going to be done in a air condition room also? But just because it is not does not mean that it did not serve a purpose In all honesty I would be more concerned about .the referral program. I would… Read more »
My point about the whole post was that Hamilton and the other goofballs stood around and yelled that “it’s not like real war!” Well, no shit – really? Notice in the beginning I wrote that I wanted to play the boot shining and latrine cleaning game?
The elitist Left think they have the sole possession of certain knowledge they feel a need to tell us – in this case it was about the fact that standing in an air conditioned room with video depictions is not like real life. Because without them we’d never know that.
As far making reference to cowards – it’s so easy to stand in the United States and make a stink about things like video games. Why don’t you expend that energy freeing imprisoned people in Korea or Cuba. Stand up to the Havana Police Department – that’s courage. Not in a country where you’ll spend hours in an air conditioned police station sipping cold Cokes and then get slapped on the wrist for expressing your stupid opinion.
Impress me and stand up to a police force that’ll shoot your nuts off for littering.
That last line is one of the reasons why I love this site.
sporkmaster:
If that is the case, then the Army spent $12 million to build a glorified basement where local kids can come and play the same games they play at home. That is a colossal waste of money.
They probably use the games to pull the kids into the facility, then once the kids have imbibed government soda and used government video games, the kids feel obligated to visit the other rooms to hear an informal sales pitch. The kids are probably give some lit, have their information so a recruiter can follow-up, and that is that.
What a lot of people I know have against this type of facility is the fact that it is used to pull in children younger than those explicitly targeted for recruiting. It is a way to put an impression on them while they’re still younger than enlisting age so that it will sit with them until they’re high school seniors and older. That is what I feel is fundamentally unethical about the facility.
Honestly, the only problem I have is the video games. Sure, they can be played in the home, but that is where some things should stay. I don’t think they should be taking those same games, and then plugging them into an ISMT like training simulation for use by minors. If they’re screening kids and only letting in 17 and 18 year olds, then I have no quarrel with the center.
It is not the same because the software and hardware that is used to show Army procedures such as SPORTS. I have played the American Army game and it is different in that it treats the player as if they where learning on BRM week. It is being able to show knowledge in a different way. How is that a waste of money?
But that is what the place is for, to try to encourage people to be interested and join. It is not a big secret.
But there is one thing to your view. The age to enlist on your own is still eighteen. So once again, if people are concerned about their children rushing into joining the military, then why are they not involved in the process? I mean you can complain that they are too young, then what is that implying about people that are 24 years old and a Staff Sergeant? At what age does one become un-impressionable?
If it all about age, then what about JROTC? You have young kids doing military drills and such. But what is the difference there?
Jonn – I wasn’t expecting to turn any heads when I said that the simulations are unrealistic. I also don’t believe that most kids are naive enough to believe combat is like a video game. Among other things, the Army has turned the darkest part of service – combat – into its main selling point. I just don’t believe that has a place in a recruiting campaign, ESPECIALLY not to the tune of $12 million taxpayer dollars.
As far as the coward reference, I have no control over the fact that our police force is more civil that the one in Havana. Had I claimed that I was “brave” for attending the event, that would be a different story, but I didn’t do that.
I don’t like the AEC – you don’t like IVAW. We both have our reasons. I wanted to elaborate on what I was quoted as saying on the news, that’s all.
Are you still crying about money that is well spent?
Stop it. You are making my pizza want to come back up you IVAW asshat.
Jessica, please stop. I want to go to bed now. Not mess with you for the next 9,900,000 hours
Jesse/Jessica… What ever.
Good thing I made a screen shot before her slander went away.
sporkmaster:
As far as recruiters are concerned, a kid can be “worked” if he’s 17 and a high school senior. You can set an appointment and interview him without a parent, but a parent’s presence is virtually required since you’re going to have to basically do a sales presentation on them in order for them to sign the parental consent. Even if you can’t sell that parent, that kid can be a contract once he’s 18. Either way, if he’s a high school senior, he can be worked.
The problem that I have with the Army Experience Center is that I don’t know if they’re only letting kids who are “workable” use their equipment. What I do know is that the Army recruiters next door to my office had kids who were too young to enlist playing the ISMT looking game several times throughout the year that I was a recruiter. I knew they were too young because I had canvassed them in their schools and realized they were sophomores or freshmen.
JROTC is one elective class for high school kids. Presuming parental permission is required, I don’t have a problem with the program. It is only one class every other day (on the block schedule I had in high school) with parental consent. That isn’t a problem. But with the Army Experience Center, a 14 year old freshmen with a 16 or 17 year old friend can end up taking part in this “experience” that he has no capacity to understand, all without the important requirement of parental consent. Besides, doing drill and shooting pellet guns in JROTC is very different from sitting in a mock HMMWV shooting an M2 at computerized hajis with Army veterans telling you that you would make an awesome soldier.