So we had a parade today in Medford - the Pear Blossom Festival. A tribute to the orchards that can be found across much of our lovely valley. There were bands, and Shriners in tiny cars, and local digntaries in convertable classic American cars (well, except for two - noted on my
own blog). But notably and very disturbingly, there were youth in military uniform. The Young Marines and the Sea Cadets, both units in full combat fatigues and marching like they were full-grown soldiers.
The Marines came by first, and followed a VFW colorguard, and it was not immediately clear that they were KIDS...not 18 - 19 year old kids like we think when we think about "those kids over there", but like 12 - 16 year old kids. Looking very serious. And getting standing O from the crowd (only one of the day, that I saw).
The Sea Cadets came along a bit later - far fewer of them, looking not as grim and determined, and not marching quite as crisply.
I turned to the woman next to me and asked, "Doesn't that make you a all uncomfortable?" She replied "I didn't know we had anything for them so young." I muttered to myself "Just keep telling yourself we aren't in 1930's Europe and maybe you'll be convinced."
I was at a booth later chatting with one of my Ex GFs indicating it was very Hitler Youth-ish and she immediately went into "You are so exagerating" mode and me into "You are so not paying attention" mode, though I then conceded that she was right, Bush isn't like Hitler, since he's not as competent a fascist. Not that this has prevented us from actually having the word HOMELAND in an effing TITLE of a piece of legislation.... /rant