Objects to military recruiters on high school campuses

This is in response to Cathy Carlson’s letter of Dec. 23.

I, too, was at the Global Exchange meeting that Ms. Carlson criticizes. Interestingly, I have a different take on what happened at that meeting. First, I’d like to let your readers know that the meeting wasn’t some sort of subversive underground meeting of outsiders. I can’t vouch for everyone at the meeting, but personally, I have lived in Thousand Oaks since 1961. I am not an outsider. I am a very concerned citizen and parent who loves my son and daughter and their friends very dearly and would hate to see their young lives destroyed in an ill-advised, illegal, and ill-planned military venture based on lies.

I attended the meeting because I have personal experience with the recruitment techniques of today’s desperate military and wanted to share my information with other concerned parents.

A female Marine recruiter in attendance snuck in after everyone had been seated, never took a seat, stood rigidly at the back and shouted at the speakers while they were speaking. She continually interrupted the meeting with defensive comments.

What was to be an informative meeting was interrupted and diminished not by the worried parents and educators who were there, but by that Marine.

I feel that appearing as she did in full uniform was meant to chill our exercise of First Amendment rights to gather and speak freely.

Finally, I suggest that all parents of teens search your hearts with regard to our involvement in Iraq and weigh our accomplishments with our costs including your own children’s lives. Research your rights and be aware of the active and aggressive recruitment that is occurring on our high school campuses.

Debbie Birenbaum

Newbury Park