TONIGHT: SF School Board to Vote to Eliminate ROTC

There are over 1600 students involved in JROTC. ALL of them participate VOLUNTEERILY. Statistics show that less than 10% actually enroll in the military after their senior year.

IF the Board really has any interest in the students, they should provide alternative programs BEFORE doing away with JROTC.

With over 30% of San Francisco children attending PRIVATE schools, let's not give families yet another reason to leave the public schools.

Let us not make some general statements without having the students of San Francisco in mind. The majority of the students want JROTC. A few that speak against JROTC - do not have good reasons linked to JROTC training. Assumptions are made that are mostly far fetched.

Mostly Asians students take pride in joining the JROTC. I saw them in the hundreds on 555 Franklin Street convinced that they had one last chance to save JROTC - but that was not to be.

As it is many families and children are leaving San Francisco. If a few SFUSD Board members think they have accomplished something with this drastic vote 4-2 against have JROTC - they better think twice.

The Federal Government should withdraw all funds linked in anyway to SFUSD. Enough is Enough.

Mr. Kelly the Board Memers that started this nonsense is using his life style and personl issue as a Military Objector to high light this issue in the wrong lime light.

While I agree mistakes have been made by sending our troops to Iraq, Vietanam, and so on that does not mean that JROTC studends are forced to join the Military.

In the course of the last 15 years I have met many JROTC students and I have never heard one of them speak against it.

I have never heard a student tell me that they were forced to join JROTC. I have not heard one Active Military Person tell me that she or she joined the Armed Forces because they joined JROTC and were forced to join the Armed Forces.

I worked at the Presidio of San Francisco and Sixth U.S. Army and Presidio of San Francisco for many years. The ROTC was headquarted at the Presidio for many years.

JROTC many in the hundred to drill at the Presidio and it was always a pleasure to meet and speak to the youth. Many of them went to on to contribute their talents to this great Nation. Many of them were Queer and were proud to be members of the JROTC.

Yesterday, there were all sorts of blantant lies floating around. Much like the cowards that live a life of lies in the closet.

Who will defend our country here and if need be abroad? Granted, we the people should have a say and granted some politicians have led this Nation to war without just cause. Yesterday's cause to keep JROTC in our schools had nothing remotely to do with the war and our Nations policies.

All this has nothing to do with JROTC and the help this organization has given to thousands of students. We have to listen to the youth and most of them want JROTC. That is all that matters.
If we fail to listen to our youth - we will bear the drastic consequences.

JROTC has helped students develop leadership qualities. It is a sad day when biased grown ups speak for the youth. Some 1600 students and hundreds of teachers are left out in the cold.

A 90 year tradition abolished just because of life style issues.

This issue will for sure vote out the Board Members that do not have the better interests of the sudents in mind.

Many of them are single, have no children, have no desire to have children, and really do not feel for the children - they are on the SFUSD Board for the politics. Pathetic.

Life style issues should not be mixed with dangerous politics - the mix becomes all the more very dangerous when youth and the dreams and aspirations of the youth in JROTC at put on the line.