Getting the Whole Picture to Maine's High School Students
by Rosalie Paul
Maine, like the rest of the nation, is under siege. As the United States
pursues its deadly policy of endless war, the military is desperate to fill
its ranks by luring young people into enlisting. Recruiters are under great
pressure to meet their quotas. Youth are under great pressure to enlist.
It is so important that young people make crucial decisions based on an
understanding of the whole picture, not just on the glamorous image painted
by hungry recruiters. The American Friends Service Committee project on
Youth and Militarism in Maine is working hard to be available to students
and to show them a broad and hopeful picture. We are learning how to counter
the recruiters' message and we are also learning how to help students find
alternatives to the military through scholarships, financial aid and job
training.
The committee is now a growing group of volunteers in five regions of the
state working to build relationships with some 25 schools, so far. We have
developed materials and are getting them into guidance offices. We are
connecting with school administrators, history teachers, civil rights teams,
students and parents. Working closely with Veterans for Peace we are taking
advantage of their speakers bureau and are looking for invitations from
schools. We are grateful that Perry O'Brien, a young former Army Medic who
served in Afghanistan, has become a conscientious objector and is eager to
speak to young people. We will likely schedule him into exhaustion.
AFSC Maine is currently working in Bangor, Augusta and Portland area
schools as well as schools in the MidCoast and DownEast regions. Every
student we can help to steer clear of the military makes the end of war a
little closer. Perhaps, as you read this, you'll realize that you have a
connection with a school in another part of the state? Can you connect us
with Farmington, Kittery, Eastport, Fryeburg, Greenville? Please contact us
at gaia@gwi.net or by phoning 371-2077.
Join AFSC Maine and Perry O'Brien at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick on Thursday evening, April 14 at 7 pm
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Talk Index, Spring 2005