The other night, I couldn’t believe my ears. Two IT execs, both of whom I like and respect, advocated a return to the draft. Each for different reasons, but both advocated for it.
I was speechless.
… but only for a few minutes.
Having been drafted, had my life, and the live of my loved ones, ripped apart by the Viet Nam war — may Presidents IKE, JFK, and LBJ have a special ever lasting reward for their role in it — and seen loved ones inalterably changed by it. I saw a country ripped apart. Families divided. Old friends lost forever. And not just by battlefield deaths. I’ve seen at least one set of sweethearts ripped apart, never to marry, and never to have been what they could have been. Next to Lincoln’s War, what I call the War of Northern Aggression, can I imagine a more “natural disaster” type devastation on the USA. WW2 wasn’t as corrosive to the American spirit.
Any way, snapping back to reality, I took up the opposition.
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Point #1 — the draft would stop foreign wars because the American public would have their sons in any war; the all volunteer service means that the poor minorities fight the wars.
This was Charlie Rangel’s idea. The draft didn’t keep us out of Viet Nam. And, the big Gooferment war hawks don’t seem to be kept out of anything in the way of a foreign war. I believe the Dead Old White Guys knew that a standing army was dangerous. Too likely to be used. The Constitution calls for the Army to be around for only two years. How did we let it become an eternal institution? Only the Navy as an ongoing entity is “constitutional”. If you want to prevent wars, and Presidents who think they are above the Constitutional requirement for Congress to declare war, your going to have to impeach one or two to get the message across. And, the voters are going to have to back up that action.
Of course, when women get their act together, they can unilaterally stop offensive wars. “Yes, when we get out of here. We’re going to have to fix that. You know we control something that can get it done. Not the ballot box, but the other box. (A giant sucking sound as pure Miss Marie used that very rude idiom.) We can end war.” — character “Marie” being anti-war in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 262
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Point #2 — the draft and boot camp would be good for the young; teaching them discipline and needed life skills. And, an unspoken “benefit” was to create a common bond that would transcend “culture”. (Omitted because of the racist overtones.)
This is the height of ego. I know what’s good for you young whippersnappers. Why in my day we walked (insert absurd number) to and from school. Uphill both ways.
If in fact, there was NO army, then, and only then, would there be an argument that every yungster might be called on to defend the homeland. Think Israel where every girl and boy does a tour in the Army; they have a Civil Defense problem. Or, Switzerland, where every man gets trained and a military grade rifle and ammo to take home; with follow up drills every so often.
But, to say “You have to go to basic because it’s good for you” is absurdly trivial. To quote a modern clergyman recently in the news: “Who the hell do you think you are?”
You have no right to force me to do anything.
If we had a culture of self-defense, then maybe you might say that as condition of voting, you have to be capable of defending the USA.
And, maybe it’s in the form of a voluntary summer camp for ten weeks the summer after your 16th birthday. And, maybe it’s a one shot opportunity. And, maybe it’s justified. And maybe there are different ones for boys and girls.
And, maybe the whole thing is a bad idea?
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http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny15_rangel/CBRStatementonDraft02142006.html
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 14, 2006 |
Contact: George Dalley (202) 225-4365 |
RANGEL REINTRODUCES DRAFT BILL |
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WASHINGTON – Lawmaker Says Volunteer Military May be Overwhelmed by Military Challenges in Iran, North Korea and Syria requiring more troops who will have to be drafted Congressman Charles Rangel today introduced new legislation to reinstate the military draft that will include draftees up to 42 years of age. “Every day that the military option is on the table, as declared by the President in his State of the Union address, in Iran, North Korea, and Syria, reinstatement of the military draft is an option that must also be considered, whether we like it or not,” Congressman Rangel said. “If the military is already having trouble getting the recruits they need, what can we do to fill the ranks if the war spreads from Iraq to other countries? We may have no other choice but a draft.” The bill would mandate military service for men and women between the ages of 18 and 42. Deferments would be allowed only for completion of high school up to the age of 20, and for reasons of health, conscience or religious belief. Recruits not needed by the military in any given year would be required to perform some national civilian service. |
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Posted by reinkefj 
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