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

[Lardychops]

Ive been thinking about this a lot lately in a thought experiment/abstract way since Ukraine invasion and having lived years ago in Israel where young people do national service from 17 as a matter of course with frequent refreshers- obviously now for them being put to the test .
So, my question is -
In terms of the ‘barbarians at the gates scenario which of your children/neices /nephews /siblings parents would drop everything to defend their country/ city/town/ village and family if they needed to ? And do you think their lifestyle/career path impacts on this?

I have 1DD single mother of 3 - she would have been first in the queue pre kids and if I looked after them she would be first to front line

3x DS - all tradesmen- without hesitation- 1 has a child but a partner - he would be first on the front line after his sister. One of them would be terrified but his pride would make him follow his brothers to protect his family rather than any bigger picture

1xDSD - works in retail -No doubt she would pick up arms and fight to the death.

1xDSD- left Uni-just got back from travelling - nothing in hospitality- no chance.

Mine would be medically exempt, and I am very pleased about this.

Funny enough had this convo with some cousins the other week and none of us would pick up arms and neither would I want my children to. Each person has there own opinion

Even with aggressor boots on the ground I would take the option of keeping my children as safe as possible for as long as possible . If that meant surrendering and collaborating then so be it. No way would any of mine be sent as canon fodder .

It's easy to say 'of course I would' when it's so hypothetical.

If you had a son in the US, and he wanted to apply for financial aid to go to university, your lad would be forced to register for the draft, with the understanding that should war ever be declared, he'd be liable for callup.

My eldest son was in Air cadets right up to 19, he loved it and got his sergeant stripes. He's now an engineering apprentice in the government science sector. He says he often thinks about working as an engineer in the RAF once fully qualified. I'm fairly certain if the need came, he'd enrol and do his bit.

I'd throughly recommend enrolling kids in Air, army or sea cadets if they have an interest. It teaches them so many life skills, and they do a lot of public service and NVQs. Scouts and Duke of Edinburgh is also good for this. I don't think that many teenagers get enough structure, public service and life skills just by going to school. It's not for every kid obviously, my middle son is bookish and quiet, he's destined more for caring type jobs.

My son is a grown man. My daughter a teenager.
IF it came to our home town being invaded and the likelihood of them being captured, murdered, raped... (how far are we going with this?) Then my son would be behind me protecting his sister whilst I bear arms in defense of my family.

If fighting for the UK in general - fuck off. No chance. I don't see anything worth fighting for.
I'd be using our EU passports in a channel boat relay.

The problem is, we don't all share the governments view of which side we are on. I am absolutely definitely not on Israel's side, so don't be dragging my boys into a war to defend that monster that is Netenyahu

I don’t think that any of my children, nephews or nieces would. You can’t expect people who constantly read online that they, and people like them, aren’t British because of their skin colour to suddenly fight for you.

I don’t think it will ever get to the point of a boots on the ground invasion, if we’re ever attacked I think it will be cyber and/or nuclear. However, if there was an actual invasion of people, most wouldn’t fight for ‘the country’ but they would fight to defend their families, their homes and their communities. My kids are young but if they were adults at the time, I guess they’d join in to some degree although I imagine more as medical, food or logistical support as neither strike me as particularly confrontational. Doesn’t bear thinking about to be honest.

I would hide my kids in the cellar and I’ve probably got room for about another three more if anybody wants me to take theirs as well.

OP, in your hypothetical scenario, are those looking to send our children into war offering their own up first or are they protected?

So if Israel took it into their heads to bomb the UK tomorrow would I send my children to defend the country?

In all honesty I’d rather go myself but what choice do you have? Like most people I’d want to avoid war but if it comes to it I think they would try their best as would their parents to protect those who can’t protect themselves.

Leave, find somewhere better. Find somewhere they could get an education, earn a decent wage, buy a home, somewhere that invests in the most vulnerable in society rather then the most powerful and richest... I wouldn't want any of my children to fight for this country.

My son would absolutely. He is 15 and so very patriotic but the exact type the government seems to hate…White working class!!

I’d hope my kids would be directing things from Westminster. However the reality, they’d be classic draft dodgers. 🤣

The vast majority of my family and friends would be conscientious objectors. I don't have kids but certainly my nieces and nephews and siblings - no way would they involve themselves in war.

Several of my friends go to Calais regularly to help with the camps there so I think that's their moral duty done.

I, personally, would hate the idea of killing anyone or going into any kind of battle but I have no doubt in my ability to if it was needed.

Not the same at all but twice since I've been with DH he's been attacked by other men in my presence (he's seen as 'soft') and both times I launched into defence fight mode, it was unconscious really, but I won both times (never been in in a fight before or since, I'm not violent!). I think if I was in the situation I'd probably go into same automatic mode

How is that going to be possible? Where do you think they could go?

And if countries start walking into other countries without challenge very quickly nowhere would be as you describe.

People who willingly, of their own volition, choose to take a paid job in the army, who are fully aware of what being a soldier entails.

This whole fight for your country thing is framed as bravery vs cowardice as that’s the only way to get young men to give up their one and only precious life for some abstract ideal.

Give up your life to protect your own family from immediate harm? Of course.

Give up your life to prevent a change of administration in the government? What a meaningless waste.

So are you on Hamas’s side?

My nephew would. He's just about to finish school and join the army at 16.

I wouldn't trust my autistic adhd kid to cook dinner by himself never mind fight in a war

My eldest is an expert in COD as most people his age are so we’ll be okay. Seriously though we all know if push comes to shove it’s going to be the working class that go first, the elite will probably fly out of the country because they can afford to escape.

To defend our shores? Ds would be there and I'd be right beside him.

Just because you don’t support Israel that doesn’t automatically mean you support Hamas. Some people can see the wrong on both sides and are fed up of watching innocent civilians getting killed.

Don’t we have paid armed forces that a lot of public money is spent on? Maybe they could do it 🤷‍♀️ Maybe also the politicians who caused the war to start in the first place.