Yea... he's just turned 21 and went to one of those online high schools. Pretty narrow view of the world and very lonely. I should've put more effort in keeping in better touch with him over the years
I actually read this one a few days ago. Was on my mind when I was talking to him. So fucking bleak... I don't really have a great sense anymore of what the average american's views are on ICE vs the military? My assumption is that ICE is viewed as "much more evil" by your average person whereas the military is largely worshiped outside of leftists? Maybe that's changed a bit since I moved.
What does he think the military is? Free bed and breakfast in an exotic tourist spot?
Pretty sure that's roughly what he's picturing. He vaguely knows they've done plenty of bad things, but doesn't see them as fundamentally a force of evil. I think I need to focus on dispelling this illusion.
Ask if he would shoot a child if someone asked him to
I'm considering this approach, but I worry being too harsh will just push him away from his "crazy communist brother". Ultimately, I don't think I'm going to turn him into a principled anti-imperialist over night, but maybe I can convince him that the military is a lot worse than he realizes as well as it not being in his best interest anyway? Like maybe if I focused on showing how a lot of veterans regret their decisions.
Men think that they will get some masculinity reset by joining the military when working a service job at McDonalds is far more brave and respectable
Absolutely. In his case I'm not sure how much is actually motivated by masculinity. Certainly some of it, but I think with him it's the structure and feeling of purpose. Like I honestly think he would agree that working at McDonalds is more brave, but would just say he's not very brave... I could be totally wrong about this though.
He tried doing a bit of online community college, but it didn't go very well. I think a combination of not knowing what to do with his life and being depressed from being stuck in a pretty shit home environment. I'm hoping I can convince him to come live with me for a bit or at least give him some option to move out and maybe in that time he'll be able to think more clearly about what he'd like to be doing.
Yea it honestly didn't even sound like him. I'll have a read through that thread, thanks a bunch!