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

I think some people underestimate the power of social media - if there was a sustained propaganda campaign on tiktok and other sites as there has been in Russia that created huge fear (like in Covid) and a sense of purpose/activity/meaning/honour in fighting then I think parents would not be able to stop their children from the choices they then make

l completely disagree. Most people can think for themselves if they’ve got half a brain, Dd doesn’t do social media, DS would ignore it. People would just turn against it,

Non of the armed forces would take either of my kids ,Ds1 is an insulin dependent Diabetic
And Ds2 is severely autistic .

He's considering it but most asylum claims by Russians in Finland have been denied, and by claiming he risks deportation if its denied.

It would very much depend on the aggressors and why they were there
Nazis /Reform/trumpists- all of them

@Shenmen You would fight against right wing regimes, but would you fight against a left wing aggressor? Or do you believe better red than dead?

Politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves, instead of organizing nothing better than legalised mass murder

My 3.5 year old would go. Scared of nothing, but would be easily subdued if the enemy put Peppa Pig on a big screen on the battlefield.

There are times in life when the working class people are indispensable, during a pandemic and a war. 🥰 amazing how essential workers kept the countries going.

It's very obvious reading these that British people have never been governed by an oppressive regime. It's not just a matter of fighting as an opponent lands on your shores, what about if you were living under a brutal regime (possibly because you were unsuccessful in defending your shores). Imagine living in a time and place where people disappear in the night for voicing an opinion, where human rights are non existent for British people. Or imagine you and everyone you know were removed from your homes while the oppressive race or nationality moved in, you were sent to live in an area with no toilets and filthy water, where you had to queue for food for hours or forage in the woods, or sell your body to feed your children. Imagine your babies dying with no medical aid, or your DD being raped, your parents being humiliated, and this becomes your norm for 10 years while all around you the 'other' people live normal good lives. Now you have the choice of allowing your children continue this existence for the rest of their lives or joining a rebellion which involves doing things you aren't morally comfortable with, at the risk of their lives, what would your choice be?

So many people saying 'not my kid' - and I totally understand why - war is an abhorrent waste of human life, destroying everything and everybody.

I think sadly this situation would really show the fault lines in our society - the young people I know in the cadet forces are mostly from working class families - they have fewer options than the children of those here on mumsnet and would be likely to see fighting for their country as a good thing.

I think some people underestimate the power of social media - if there was a sustained propaganda campaign on tiktok and other sites as there has been in Russia that created huge fear (like in Covid) and a sense of purpose/activity/meaning/honour in fighting then I think parents would not be able to stop their children from the choices they then make.

Will someone think of the white people!

None, they're disabled, and have mental health problems

I wrote a piece for a collection of writing published to raise money for Ukrainian charities about the men (primarily) who suddenly found themselves pulled away from their ordinary jobs to fight on the front line. (it was deliberately just about men, I was writing from a male perspective, and only wanted to write about men; I knew that others were writing about how women were affected)
I'm officially too old now, but even though I'm an anti-war pacifist, of course I would, if under threat.

No chance in hell would I or any members of my family be fighting just because a rich man in a suit demanded we did.

Not one of them.

I am a maths teacher teaching mainly A level, so 16-18 year olds. I honestly think if we were in a horrendous situation where our shores needed defending, today's young people would be every bit as brave as the ones in previous world wars.

My 18mo DS would be first in and last out. The older one (4yo) not so much.

Everyone would be desperate to drive to port, airport, you won't get out gridlock.
I am buying a dinghy, off to England, UK is tougher and bigger.
Ireland is so small and defenceless, while it offers easy access for the enemy to attack the UK.
It has crossed my mind.

My stepson. Hes a bit of an animal. My own kids wouldn't be much use, especially my 6ft 4 autistic son, he's an overgrown teddy bear

Reform supporter’s unpopular thinking is that the ‘men in boats’ are a modern Trojan Horse, building an army from within; that they will defend their country and religion but from here, and against ‘us’.

It is worth thinking about a scenario where another country has invaded the UK, like Russia has invaded Ukraine,

It almost happened in WWII

The choice is either to join the war effort (military or in a civilian role) or to flee - but places Brits could seek safety as refugees would be limited. Airlines may no longer be flying so likely somewhere you could reach by boat which hasn’t itself been invaded already. Maybe better to stay and defend?

This question has become harder to answer now the possibility of needing to seems to be closer than it has been for a long time

Conscription isn’t necessarily grounds to claim asylum.

Under the UN refugee convention you have to be fleeing war, conflict, persecution…

Although he could claim that if he returns he will be persecuted due to his beliefs (ie pacifism) but not easy.