From childhood we are taught to be accurate and lethal with our ray guns for impending wars over resources.
After our fifth birthday we are made to spend four hours on the shooting range every Saturday morning. Of course, children aren't equipped with live ray guns - these are only permitted for the over twelves.
It was drilled into each student that this was an absolute necessity, that when the wars come these ray guns would save our lives. As youngsters, who were we to question such logic? The need to master these weapons seemed just the same as learning long division or the feudal system.
This practice has its origins in the USA, although Russia and China both had programs devoted to the armament of its young in development around the same time. The UK duly added it to their curriculum following pressure from its allies.
This created a rather lucrative market for children's ray guns with Apple's iRay becoming the playground's must have accessory. This despite its rather miserly battery life.
My grandparents were among the first generation to become proficient in these deadly arts. In fact my grandmother - as my grandfather often boasts, excelled as a marksman and - as I have witnessed, can still hit a given target from well over 200 feet.
But when the first actual shots will be fired on the battlefield I do not know - perhaps once negotiations for television and sponsorship rights are concluded.
Conscription has been mooted for when - or indeed if the time ever comes. Under current laws however, it is only those claiming unemployment benefits who will have to enlist in the armed forces. Should the unemployed choose not to serve, they risk losing their benefits.
I still have my ray gun, boxed along with the rest of my redundant possessions in the attic gathering dust. Despite the media running articles almost daily that the war is imminent, I remain hopeful that my ray gun may never be called into action.
After our fifth birthday we are made to spend four hours on the shooting range every Saturday morning. Of course, children aren't equipped with live ray guns - these are only permitted for the over twelves.
It was drilled into each student that this was an absolute necessity, that when the wars come these ray guns would save our lives. As youngsters, who were we to question such logic? The need to master these weapons seemed just the same as learning long division or the feudal system.
This practice has its origins in the USA, although Russia and China both had programs devoted to the armament of its young in development around the same time. The UK duly added it to their curriculum following pressure from its allies.
This created a rather lucrative market for children's ray guns with Apple's iRay becoming the playground's must have accessory. This despite its rather miserly battery life.
My grandparents were among the first generation to become proficient in these deadly arts. In fact my grandmother - as my grandfather often boasts, excelled as a marksman and - as I have witnessed, can still hit a given target from well over 200 feet.
But when the first actual shots will be fired on the battlefield I do not know - perhaps once negotiations for television and sponsorship rights are concluded.
Conscription has been mooted for when - or indeed if the time ever comes. Under current laws however, it is only those claiming unemployment benefits who will have to enlist in the armed forces. Should the unemployed choose not to serve, they risk losing their benefits.
I still have my ray gun, boxed along with the rest of my redundant possessions in the attic gathering dust. Despite the media running articles almost daily that the war is imminent, I remain hopeful that my ray gun may never be called into action.
