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.

If Britain was attacked and all our lives were on the line, there's a chance that they would. To go and defend Finland or Lithuania from Russian aggression? No chance and over my dead body.

In the event of an invasion I don’t know what I’d do - I don’t know if the invaders would recognise Wales and Scotland as separate countries so escaping there wouldn’t necessarily save us.

However if a nuclear bomb was dropped then I’d grab dh and the pets and march towards the mushroom cloud. I have no desire to survive a nuclear bomb.

Oh, it’s a racism post! I wondered what your point was.

The horrors of the Russian Revolution and Despotic reign of terror by the deranged mass murderer Stalin are revered by many in the West, who lead hugely privileged life’s with the type of freedoms they would never be afforded under those regimes.

See Also Fidel, Che etc - without any understanding of the absolute horrors they inflicted on their own people.

Im sorry for your mum’s uncles. x

None of my kids would go because they know all wars are funded and profited on both sides by the same people whose children would never be near a front line. Anyone who happily waves their kids off to war is an idiot.

Look at the people who voted for Brexit and Reform. Not exactly the brains of the country. Anyone with half a brain would see through it. All a social media campaign would do is attract the people who would go anyway.

A lot of the educated males fled Russia. So it didn’t have much influence on them.

Actually an annoying post. Nobody wants to fight. But nobody wants to suffer what happened in Bucha. It depends on the situation.

Some escaping civil war or other internal violence, which is very different to the scenario given here. Your own country's army/government attacking you, imprisoning and torturing you, versus fighting an external attacker. No power, no arms - how do you fight? you don't know what you'd do in this circumstance unless you've lived it.

That was depressingly quick. How to turn any subject into a potshot at immigrants.

Fighting for your country shouldn't mean to the death.

Same for me.
Nor Israel or Palestine.

None of them. If our family unit was directly attacked we would fight to the death to protect each other. Before anyone looks to take my sons they can take all their own young men back.

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

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.

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.

100x this

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.

@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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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