On 2 Jun 2016 at 4:42, Richard Aiken wrote:

> I couldn't help noting the hashtags: "cute little kid", "adorable,"
> "cut kids,"
>
> Doesn't it strike anyone else as a bit . . . odd . . . that this
> "cute" kid is wearing what appears to a genuine period adult military
> uniform (complete with real medals), just tailored in a kid's size?

When I was around that age, I had a USMC dress uniform bought at a
department store. Of course, that was long before the Vietnam War and
the change in attitudes regarding the mil.itary.

> I've seen kids of her apparent age in Civil War reenactment gear, but
> then there actually *were* kids of around that age in that war's
> fighting units. Did things really get desperate for the Soviets?

Check the Wikipedia entry for the Young Pioneers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin_All-Union_Pioneer_Organization

There are several mentions of Young Pioneers aiding in the war
effort, including in occupied territory. With some being awarded Hero
of the Soviet Union medals.

So while they didn't have kids that young in the military, they
certainly had them helping out.

Compare and contrast the Boy Scouts and the Hitler Youth.

Also note the bits about scouts and scouting in the Young Pioneers
article.

The Boy scouts were (and to some extent are still) a paramilitary
organization and one of the aims is to have the kids wind up suitable
for military service if they want to join.

ObTrav: Youth organizations on planets that range from as innocuously
paramilitary as the BSA, thru things like the Young Pioneers, and on
up to Hitler youth and worse.

You can get religious groups as well (Check out the Royal Rangers,
for example).

Whether these "kids" are a help, a hindrance or just "local color"
is up to the ref. But dissing them is apt to be a bad idea
regardless.

--
Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
shadow at shadowgard dot com