Feed children instead of training them for war

[ModlrMike]

Limiting is what happens before a person speaks, consequence is what happens afterwards. Not saying that consequence can't be unjustified.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Perhaps, on reflection, Canadian Dimension decided that Mr. Jarman's article didn't meet the editorial guidelines of their publication.

https://canadiandimension.com/about/submissions

Canadian Dimension is a leading voice of the left in Canada since 1963. Standing in solidarity with local and global struggles for social justice, it offers a critical perspective on the issues of the day, placing special emphasis on the Canadian scene. It discusses prospects and strategies for social change at home and abroad, and provides a space for dialogue among socialists and other radicals. Written in plain language, Canadian Dimension addresses a diverse readership including political activists, community organizers, trade unionists, students, academics and all those seeking alternatives to the corporate media.

In sum, our mission is to provide in-depth analysis on important political and social issues around the world.

Canadian Dimension welcomes submissions from both established and upstart writers, reporters and artists from across Canada and beyond. To be considered for publication, we request a short pitch (not exceeding 200 words) outlining your subject, approach and sources.

Please ensure the content you are submitting is original and free of any unauthorized advertising or promotional materials.

As Canada’s longest-standing voice of the left, we encourage writers to familiarize themselves with Canadian Dimension’s editorial vision and content before sending us your written work. We are especially interested in coverage that has not appeared in mainstream sources, or stories that investigate Canadian issues from the perspective of Indigenous, racialized or otherwise marginalized groups.

Canadian Dimension welcomes all matter of submissions, including op-eds, news analysis, book and film reviews, photographic essays and poetry. We are also open to discussing alternative projects with you, where appropriate.

We ask that submissions follow some basic stylistic guidelines:

Please refrain from first-person narratives, wherever possible (avoid “I” and “me”).
Keep it brief. For first-time writers, we suggest limiting your work to 1,000 words.
Send final drafts only.
Adhere to Canadian Press (CP) style.
Use subheadings to break up longer pieces.
Include hyperlinks to substantiate assertions and references.
Reviewed content should not be older than one year.

We especially welcome short comments (50-100 words) on topics of the day as contributions to a new section called Dimension Pundits. These can be submitted frequently or occasionally.

From what I remember of the comments to the article the common theme was mostly individuals providing examples of the positive effect Cadets had on their own lives as well as similar positive effect it had on others.  It may be that the responses over the couple of days that it was on-line highlighted the inadequacies of the argument made.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Another example of why Cadets are important https://www.saanichnews.com/community/central-saanich-navy-cadet-overcomes-odds-sails-to-top-of-class/

 

[brihard]

Some of those kids definitey get fed better at cadet camp than they do at home...

 

[The Bread Guy]

The website seems to have taken down the article.  Considering the slant of the site, I'm actually kind of surprised.

But does anything really always disappear from the interwebs? 

 

[LittleBlackDevil]

From what I remember of the comments to the article the common theme was mostly individuals providing examples of the positive effect Cadets had on their own lives as well as similar positive effect it had on others.  It may be that the responses over the couple of days that it was on-line highlighted the inadequacies of the argument made.

Perhaps I'm overly cynical, but with a site with such an ideological bent, I wonder if they didn't take the article down because they didn't want readers seeing all the positive stories about cadets in the comments box?

 

[JLM1991]

Yes, I realize this thread is about four years old, but I have so many thoughts on this. It seems like this person has some grudge against their former cadet corp or something, which is just sad.

I was a cadet in my youth and I have so many positive memories of the program. I didn't really have a great childhood and have had an even worse adulthood (so far) so when I reminisce about the past it is often memories from cadets that enter my mind. In my cadet corps (I had multiple as I moved a couple times) I had community and fellowship that I haven't really had since then. I also learned practical skills that have proven useful outside the program. It truly was a few hours every week that I looked forward to.

This said, I'm not sure how offering youth a sense of community and civic responsibility is a bad thing, especially in modern society that is growing increasingly individualistic and even selfish in many ways. So many children and youth nowadays are messed up and I genuinely believe that a lack of direction in life is part of the reason why. They're glued to screens nearly 24/7 and programs like cadets can get them out doing actual healthy and social activities for a few hours every week.

Also, I'm not sure how the program "trains kids for war" since enlisting in the CAF is not even mandatory upon aging out. I didn't. I'm in my 30's and only now am I seriously considering possibly enlisting.

 

[Furniture]

Yes, I realize this thread is about four years old, but I have so many thoughts on this. It seems like this person has some grudge against their former cadet corp or something, which is just sad.

I was a cadet in my youth and I have so many positive memories of the program. I didn't really have a great childhood and have had an even worse adulthood (so far) so when I reminisce about the past it is often memories from cadets that enter my mind. In my cadet corps (I had multiple as I moved a couple times) I had community and fellowship that I haven't really had since then. I also learned practical skills that have proven useful outside the program. It truly was a few hours every week that I looked forward to.

This said, I'm not sure how offering youth a sense of community and civic responsibility is a bad thing, especially in modern society that is growing increasingly individualistic and even selfish in many ways. So many children and youth nowadays are messed up and I genuinely believe that a lack of direction in life is part of the reason why. They're glued to screens nearly 24/7 and programs like cadets can get them out doing actual healthy and social activities for a few hours every week.

Also, I'm not sure how the program "trains kids for war" since enlisting in the CAF is not even mandatory upon aging out. I didn't. I'm in my 30's and only now am I seriously considering possibly enlisting.

As a former cadet, I saw much of what you describe play out weekly during training nights.

I had a great home and a reasonably good experience in school, but cadets was still the highlight of my teenaged years. I was challenged in new and interesting ways, while surrounded by like minded peers.

 

[JLM1991]

As a former cadet, I saw much of what you describe play out weekly during training nights.

I had a great home and a reasonably good experience in school, but cadets was still the highlight of my teenaged years. I was challenged in new and interesting ways, while surrounded by like minded peers.

I am a person who enjoys being intellectually and mentally challenged. The cadets did offer some of that as well, which really worked well for me.

 

[The Bread Guy]

... I had a great home and a reasonably good experience in school, but cadets was still the highlight of my teenaged years ...

And as you and others have said upthread, some Cadets are there to get away from not having that bit in yellow

 

[rmc_wannabe]

And as you and others have said upthread, some Cadets are there to get away from not having that bit in yellow

Exactly this. Cadets was my escape from a pretty shitty home life and it gave me something to get through the week for.

I owe where I am today to the Cadet program. I probably would be in jail or dead if it weren't for having a place to belong as a 12-18 year old.

 

[Navy_Pete]

My daughter is in the Army cadets; it's been great for her self esteem, leadership etc as well as being fun. Also have to laugh sometimes when she complains about the cadets in her corps not being organized or whatever and have the 'I told you so' moments for when she didn't think my job was that hard.

I spent one summer on a tasking supporting a cadet summer camp in Whitehorse, and for some of the kids is was a break from a really shitty home life. It was kind of heartbreaking how casual they were talking about some the abuse/neglect, but glad they got a few months break.

 

[The Bread Guy]

.... It was kind of heartbreaking how casual they were talking about some the abuse/neglect, but glad they got a few months break.

Good for the ones in shitty situations to be able to share, and good for the buddies to learn about how not everyone is doing as well as it seems.

 

[Good2Golf]

Good for the ones in shitty situations to be able to share, and good for the buddies to learn about how not everyone is doing as well as it seems.

This. I was fortunate growing up, but many of my fellow cadets were not, and the program benefited all. Many kids getting support that they didn’t otherwise have, and those who had, appreciating more about life and the inconsistency across society at a fairly young age. Sense of purpose as well as a reasonably supervised environment for youths to be active, were/are likely a good thing. I’d be interested to see how many of those who complain about ‘raising child soldiers’ actually provided their own children as positive environment as the cadets did for many.

 

[dimsum]

This. I was fortunate growing up, but many of my fellow cadets were not, and the program benefited all. Many kids getting support that they didn’t otherwise have, and those who had, appreciating more about life and the inconsistency across society at a fairly young age.

Absolutely. The Cadet unit I went to was from (generally) a lower socio-economic area than where I was at, and I saw that support firsthand. Concrete example being that some of those Cadets wouldn’t have finished high school if not for the support from their Cadet peers.

I went back a few years ago as I still keep in touch with some of my peers back then, and their kids are now in the same squadron. The area has gentrified so it’s now middle-class instead of working-class, but my peers still mention the support that their kids’ fellow cadets enjoy thanks to the organization.

 

[The Bread Guy]

I know people I was in Cadets with more than 40 years ago who tell me they felt (and still feel) closer to some of the officers or civvy staff than to their parents.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

I know people I was in Cadets with more than 40 years ago who tell me they felt (and still feel) closer to some of the officers or civvy staff than to their parents.

My first CO retired this year after 40 years of working with the program. There was a DWD for him that had generations of his former Cadets attend. Amongst those former Cadets were doctors, lawyers, captains of industry, teachers, current CIC and COATS staff, members of the Public Service, and a lowly Sigs Captain that was extremely grateful to shake his hand and say thank you, one more time.

For anyone that thinks that program has no value aside from draining public coffers and indoctrinating youth to become child soldiers; take a harder look at the end product for those that see it through to completion.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

When I started volunteering with them, our Corp was feeding two Cadets every time they showed up, as they were not getting fed at home. Our CO at the time was RCMP and was working with Social Services to improve the Cadets home life as well.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

When I started volunteering with them, our Corp was feeding two Cadets every time they showed up, as they were not getting fed at home. Our CO at the time was RCMP and was working with Social Services to improve the Cadets home life as well.

When I was volunteering with a Corps in Downtown Edmonton, there were 2 or 3 kids that ate like Narnia was running out of toast. Didn't matter what it was: IMPs, Haybox, Pizza Night, you name it... these kids would demolish food and ask if their peers were going to finish theirs.

I came to find out these kids were living off cereal at home. Their parents were in and out and Family Services was a revolving door in their lives. They kept slipping between the cracks.

From then on, I would show up early with a Safeway roast chicken meal for those kids, as I would have to grab something myself on the way down from Namao. I would sit and have dinner with these kids and make sure they at least had one good meal a week on nights I was there.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Sounds like children ARE being fed in the situations where it could help out - funny that ...