Would You Send Your Child Away or Back to War?

September 18, 2008

The other night, I watched Stop-Loss holding my sleeping son. Without giving anything away, there was a poignant scene when a mother drives her son who has been "stop- lossed" to the border, because his options are to run or return to war. If he crosses, she will never see him again. If he goes back to battle, he may die. It's a position no mother would want to be in, but if it was a reality — what would you do?
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16 Comments

pinkprincess1101 4 years 34 weeks

i agree CG i mean as a mother it would break my heart to pieces but that is a commitment he made to his country regardless if he had served ten wars, at the same time prior to him ever considering to join i would explain the possibilities of death from war, so its not like i am being cold and wanting them to stay and and die but there is always that possibility of death when you enlist

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 34 weeks

I would strongly suggest that my son keep his promises and be an adult and go back to war, if he wanted to wuss out and go to canada he can drive his own self. I would still love him, but i would be very dissapointed.

alerixon 4 years 34 weeks

I agree with your point Arienne, and it worries me how many people are stressing the commitment. What about our commitment as a country to our soldiers? Our countries commitment to enter into wars only when absolutely necessary and not use them as disposable pawns? These are not men and women that blindly signed up for the military thinking it would be all cookies and milk, these people have served multiple tours and are not being allowed to leave when their committed term is up. We need to look at our commitment to them.

arienne 4 years 34 weeks

I find it a little distressing that many of the comments make light of the stop loss situation. Yes, soldiers know about the possibility of stop loss when the sign up. That doesn't make it a less serious situation when it happens. These aren't people running away at the first sign of war. These are people who have already fought bravely, some for years, some on several tours. They have lost friends and superiors, and have experienced things we can't even imagine. One of my best friends was due to come home from Iraq. He had been an officer for years, had been in Bosnia, Macedonia and Iraq. A week before he was due to leave, he was stop-lossed. Extremely disappointed he did his duty and stayed were he was ordered to. Less than a month later he was killed. The situation was devastating for everyone.

arienne 4 years 34 weeks

CoralAmber 4 years 34 weeks

I honestly would try to let them know the consequences of joining the military before they were old enough to sign up. The commercials you see for the military make it seem great. You get prepared for a technical career and they pay for school, but there is so much more to it. If they still signed up for the military (knowing they could die at war) and wanted to run away later, it would depend on their reason and mental stability.

pinkprincess1101 4 years 34 weeks

my fiances says which i kind of agree with, "is they knew what they signed up for, they know that there is a possibility of war" but then my motherly instinct would come to play and the thought of losing one of my children is terrifying no matter how they go

jessie 4 years 34 weeks

it would be my childs choice. hopefully they would honor their committment....for they knew what they were getting into......as much as it would break my heart...i would be so proud

milosmommy 4 years 34 weeks

I wouldn't make that decision. At that point it would be theirs to make not mine. Although like shoogerbooger said I would remind my child of the commitment that they signed up for and how they should follow through with their commitments.

LaurenG22 4 years 34 weeks

This movie has a stupid concept. The whole stop loss thing is WRITTEN into your contract that you sign. UGH. People who make stinks about it are dumb.

PinkUnicorn 4 years 34 weeks

I completely support the men and women fighting in the armed forces, but I would hope to never be in that situation because I would make it clear as they were growing up that the military is not a road I would approve of them going down.

Frank y Ava 4 years 34 weeks

I wouldn't want my child to run away from what they signed up for.

bluepuppybites 4 years 34 weeks

It was their choice to join the military. That's the choice of an adult, as parents we can only guide them. Yes they may die, but they may return.

shoogerbooger 4 years 34 weeks

I hope that I am never in that position, but if I were, I would leave the decision to my child. I agree with Greggie that it is their decision to make. As hard as it would be to see them possibly go back to war, I would also remind my child of the commitment they made to the military and our country.

shoogerbooger 4 years 34 weeks