Bring the draft back? I fear for our sons.. (page 3)

Mac

Lyin,

I hope you didn't think I was in any way diminishing your concerns. I was just trying to elucidate the political intent of the bill and the fact that any true desire to have such a bill passed is nil.

Respectfully,

mac

Yerusalyim

This is all political pussyfooting, there is no effort from the Pentagon to institute the draft again. Drafted soldiers SUCK as soldiers, really they do. Our Army is more professional and capable now than at an other time in History. Charlie Rangle is just playing the political game, hoping to raise anti-war sentiment and anti Republican sentiment.

Apparently it's having some affect, rather than look at this from your emotions, ask yourself WHAT is being said BY whom, TO what end. We don't need the draft, we don't want the draft, we want a good volunteer army.

Marcos

Hey LyinEyes,

Reading this post brings back a lot of memories for me. I was prime for the US draft when I was a teenager. Any young man, regardless of nationality, was eligible. I was a witness at the time and dutifully declined to go into the military.

I also chose not to go to Canada. I spoke to the board, was offered options and declined. I was threatened with jail time and was so convinced of the correctness of my decision that I simply told them to bring it on. This was in Texas. Nationalism was high, especially in the south. My mothers family (consisting originally of 10 uncles) were ALL military. It wasnt an easy decision.

I saw (worldly) friends go into the military. Some came home some didnt. I saw friends that were witnesses go to jail and others not.

I have never criticized anyone for going into the military. The only thing that shamed me was the treatment received by a lot, if not most, of the guys returning home. I thought then as I do now that most of them did what they felt was their duty and obligation.

As for my personal decision not to go, I did not and do not regret it. My decision was based on conscience. Knowing then what I know now I would still be a conscientious objector. The only difference is that I would have opted for alternative service. For me, however, possibly dying was not the issue. My decision was based on my understanding of the Bible and how I view my relation to the government.

Perhaps it is inappropriate for me to offer advice. But, being who I am, here is my advice. You dont have to be a member of a religious organization to claim status as a conscientious objector. If I am mistake in this belief, someone will undoubtedly correct me.

If your son(s) make the decision to volunteer or to sign up for the draft, you would do well to respect their feelings. If you stand in the way they will probably resent it. If you dont you will be showing them that you respect them as young men and they will love you for it. Forgive me for saying this but, if the only reason they can give for not going is, my mama wont let me, they will feel humiliated. Not good for a healthy relationship.

If they accept service or refuse it it should be because they truly believe in their particular decision. Needless to say, the government wont accept a half-hearted excuse either. You have trained your son. There is much more you can (and will) teach him. But you have to rely on his understanding and application of your teaching. It is time for him to start to reason on his own and come to a workable understanding of his reasons for going or not.

Believe me, as a father, I would be heartbroken to see my own son go to war. I am proud of him as a son and would be proud of him if he were an American and decided to go. I would be equally proud of him if his conscience would not allow it. But, in any event, it would be his decision. You really cant make it for him.

I have nothing but high regard for the men and women who decide that military service is what they must do. And, I am touched and saddened when some of them die in service. I firmly believe that it IS a matter of conscience.

I doubt that this is of much comfort to you or to any other mother or father who might face such a prospect. But I hope that in some way what I have said will be useful.

Marcos

Utopian_Raindrops

(((((((hugs)))))) Dede,

As a Mom I know how you feel.

True my oldest are daughters but, at times there has been talk of women being drafted too. Equal rights you know.

As JWs our conversation was on a Christians neutrality. My oldest daughter said she was prepared for jail.

In time we learned that JWs in other countries were aloud community service in place of military service. So we decided that no matter what the elders in the U.S. said that would be the course.

Now, we must decide as Christians who are saved by grace and have a choice based on their own conscience not on another mans dictations.

My daughter is a pacifist. So she said she would inform the military of this and offers to be a nurse.

She could not imagine a young man fighting for his beliefs, his country, his countrymen .basically for her rights and being left without someone there to help him if he were wounded while fighting for so many others.

The Quakers were like this supporting their friends and neighbors but, never killing another human soul.(Here is Mulans report on Quakers)http://home.earthlink.net/~herblst/quakers.htm

I think maybe she is right in not wanting to harm another yet, still being there for a person in their darkest hour. Holding their hand and helping them to live. Nurses are very much needed I think.

Pettygrudgers son is very brave and determined for 16! Quite the man already! I hope many young boys are more like him.

Still I hope for no war. All are brave who go but, I saw my fathers pictures from Vietnam. It is gruesome and ugly war. The only beauty of it is the valiant men and woman serving their countries.

Yerusalyim is right though, This is all political pussyfooting, there is no effort from the Pentagon to institute the draft again Charlie Rangle is just playing the political game, hoping to raise anti-war sentiment and anti Republican sentiment..ask yourself WHAT is being said BY whom, TO what end. We don't need the draft, we don't want the draft, we want a good volunteer army.

And so we really dont have to worry. Because it is all just political pot stirring. Propaganda for political gain.

Still isnt it nice to know we have such Nice ,Good, Kids that would do their part however they see fit?

For all the mothers worrying..

Agape,

Utopian_Raindrops

LyinEyes

(((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))) to you all........... I mean that with all my heart.

God , we really do need God's Kingdom don't we...............ok don't kick my ass for that one..... just trying to lighten the mood............Lol.............

FrankyFourVests

Yeru is right. This is nothing more than politcal manouvering.

pr_capone

I dont know if my situation applies to any of you but I am a 22 year old male. Prime candidate to go if it were not for the fact that I am the only living son of my father who is now dead (please no sympathy, he was an ass). They cannot draft the only living son of a father, I cannot remember if it the rule is that the father has to be deceased or if it is just an only child thing.

I thinks its worth looking up.

DakotaRed

Drafted soldiers SUCK as soldiers

Wow, Yeru, things sure have changed in 30 years. Back during Vietnam, the draftees were amogst the best we had in Vietnam.

I also see this as political wrangling from one politician trying to further his anti-military agenda, nothing more. Last I heard, it was a Democrat speaking it, if you can believe that.

On another note, speaking from long ago and not wanting to add to anybodies concerns, the draft was a good thing before. It got many away from home for the first time and gave them discipline they didn't have. Of course, today's military is a lot more high tech than before, but even with all the technology, if it comes to another all out war, the infantry will still have to go in and finish it up.

I believe an all volunteer Army is the best, but can also agree with a draft if more people are needed. I really hope it never comes to that, but we enjoy many of the freedoms we have due to men being drafted and sent off to fight during WW2. I really have mixed emotions about another draft and actually hope it never comes to that, but will remind all that we do owe each other for our freedoms and if it does come to it, more will be required to keep them.

After my 2 tours in Vietnam, I had hoped to never see another war, but that hope faded long ago. Unless things have changed even more than I know, being drafted does not make one automatically infantry either, your test scores upon entry will determine what you do. I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but if checked, I seem to remember that draftees weren't the largest numbers killed in Vietnam, enlistees were. Even if drafted, that is no guaruntee of combat duty.

In all, I hope and pray it doesn't return, but if it does, will again remind all that we enjoy our freedoms from past draftees and their sacrifices as well as their willingness to fight if sent to.

Lew W (who still has his original draft notice)

Robdar

I would not be surprised to see the draft reinstated. Men have had to register when they turn 18 for years now. What other reason would there be for doing it other than to reinstate the draft.

Robyn

pr_capone

I believe that the registration process was never stopped. If I am right every male has had to register for decades now.

Bring the draft back? I fear for our sons..

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