Which of your children would take up arms if need be to defend their country

I think my angry 5 year old would have a good crack at it.

Both of mine would DD and DS

I suspect both of mine would. They are too young at 10 & 7 but I can definitely see ds following through on his plans to join up. He's currently at Cub camp in the pouring rain having a fabulous time.

If we were governed by an authoritarian regime sending the police and death squads to pick up people from the streets for torture and murder because they were from the wrong family/ wrong politics/wrong colour. You would just tell your children to pick up a stick and fight?

This. My DS wanted to sign up when he was younger but I discouraged it and thankfully he took a different path. My DD would be more helpful on the nursing side rather than fighting (not in her nature).

Is France really that bad?

Hear hear @ChillOutMate

I think my boys would fight to defend their families/loved ones. They wouldn't fight to defend "their country". Far too many young men have died for the egos of rich white men - my sons will not join them. I'd encourage them to escape to their other home country if at all possible.

As another poster has said, you’ve obviously never had the threat of an invading force taking away your citizenship, raping your children, and murdering your family members as you watch. You might wish to find a safe place too.

I suspect that poster is a Farage fan.

Well ignoring the goady posts, could we even believe what we're being told by the government? I'm thinking of the weapons of mass destruction lie...

Well I'm one of 'their people' and I say what you have written is a load of fucking nonsense.

If the country was in that much danger ( invasion) I would go myself!

Why would anyone defend a country that won't even protect its own borders?

I agree with this, yes, Scouts have given my children independence, steadfastness, self-reliance and opened their eyes to wider society responsibility. It's great to see this in our society that is increasingly selfish and narcissistic.

Interesting question. I'm an immigrant in that I'm Irish but live in a different EU country. I've been here for years and really like the people, but if there was an attack I'd leave and go back to Ireland.

It's why I think it's right that, for example, I can't vote in elections here. Immigrants are generally very productive members of society, but they dont have the same connection to the country. Makes sense then that our rights would be different.

My 3yo definitely, she’s semi-feral and loves swordfighting with sticks

My 4 month old unlikely, he’s crap at holding stuff still

@Sixpence39

you don't know what you'd do in this circumstance unless you've lived it.

Indeed. The same would apply if UK was invaded.

Mine are too young, and also neurodivergent so I’m not sure what they’ll be capable of by adulthood. In principle I have no issue with them signing up for the greater good.

100x this

Interesting thread. I grew up in a country (neighbours with @Natsku ) where there was conscripted national service for all boys at 18. Very few medical exemptions; roles were found for most. Would-be conscientious objectors were offered training in roles not bearing arms, and most would accept. If not, a prison term would be mandatory. There was a constant, underlying awareness of the Russian threat in our waters.

Now, there is an obligation for all citizens aged 16-70 to be available to fulfil 'defensive obligations', one of which is engaging in national service training. Every young person has to submit an online form detailing education and medical history for the draft and will be called up for muster if found they meet criteria. More than 100000 were called up for training last year, I think. Adults are called for periodic refreshers.

I hate war. I'm an immigrant to the UK. I work with refugees from war-torn countries. Organised defensive readiness and action is really important. I'm surprised to see so many responses on this thread which either say a flat 'no' to defending the country on the grounds of not wanting to put themselves or loved ones in harm's way, or because they think the UK is a 'shit hole'. But seriously, what is the alternative? It's not a scenario anyone would wish for, but the UK really is worth defending irrespective of whether one's political views align with the government's. Defense in its broader terms ought to be a shared awareness and responsibility, along with the comparative privileges and security we enjoy, and not simply left to those who have actively chosen a Forces career.

In answer to OP's question; DD2 and I would be bricking it, but we'd show up. DD1 medically exempt.

Once the politicians, super rich, landed gentry and royals (and their children) take up arms, my kids and I can fill in behind them
@zmq3Zm96uijcs2c

Plenty of landed gentry and their sons fought bravely in both world wars.
I googled politicians lost lives world wars:
^^
The conflict claimed the lives of more than 20 MPs, including Charles Duncombe, 2nd Earl of Feversham and the Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, who was killed during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in 1916.
^^
Herbert Asquith, Britain’s Prime Minister at the start of the war, lost a son, while the country’s future leader Andrew Bonar Law had two sons killed
^^
It is interesting to note that four men who went on to become Britain’s Prime Minister saw active service during the war: Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan. For Eden victory came at a particularly high price, for he lost two brothers while another was seriously injured.

However that was then……obviously I don’t know about any future conflict.

That's what I don't understand about all the men coming over on boats. Why are they not staying and fighting for their country. If it comes to it they should be the first to be returned to fight for their country. wtf would I let my sons sacrifice themselves to protect people who have no interest I. Doing it the selves