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.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8175/

Dont we have a military to protect us in these kind of events. Let them crack on playing toy soldiers with other peoples lives and leave my kids out of it.

Some are forced into it, definitely, there's a young Russian man in Finland that is in a very difficult situation because he needs to renew his Russian passport to renew his residence permit but going back to Russia to renew his passport risks him being forced into the army. I feel for those young men that are forced, and they don't really have much of an option - prison in Russia is brutal. But there is also the reality that many in the Russian army are just brutal rapists and murderers, Ukraine has shown that.

Realise they don't have to fight? Eh, they don't have a choice, anyone who had the money left Russia, your faith for refusing would be worse at death on the battle field.

Can he claim asylum in Finland.

And the IRA had a lot of funding from the US. Would you say that makes it OK for us to bomb them?

It sounds like a very difficult situation and i understand the threat. It just makes me so sad that this has to happen all because the rich and powerful unhinged leaders of some countries want their last ejaculation of violence because they clearly are too old and impotent to realise it any other way.

Like my kids.
One even drives a white van - so the most hated of all !

You'd prefer someone else fight for your freedom and autonomy instead?

Are all their countries at war? Or are they leaving to escape persecution for a whole variety of reasons? I don’t understand the relevance to this thread.

@Natsku

Agree.

Most here are in the fortunate position of being able to debate the issue, and their kids have the right as to whether to serve or not..

The question is whether it would be worth signing up to preserve that status quo..

Oh, and the idea of being exempt from service due medical reasons is great, but would be of limited value under many regimes...

Take a look at Gaza, what country is left for them to fight for?

Very brave of you to say you’d stay and fight 😂 Yes, I’m sure the threat of your family being raped, murdered, trafficked or tortured is just MINOR in the grand scheme of things!

and yes I am generalising as the majority of migrants are not barbarians and the minority should not mean we turn our backs on the genuine cases.

but yeah, your privilege is hilarious.

I laid out my kids (hypothetical) position in the OP
They -bar one- would be at the front (with me and their dad) and nothing anyone could do or say would stop them.

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.

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

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?

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’.

Most my cousins my age and some of their kids have served/are serving in armed forces (all grew up in the West Country so very common path as very rural and work options ltd etc)
One medically discharged after Afghanistan.

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

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

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.

Not one of them.

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.

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.

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