My 23 year old friend and the draft - he's freaking.

[keopeli]

Yesterday, I informed my 23 year old male friend that I had applied to be on the Draft Board. I've been telling him for almost two years that the draft was being revived and would be ready to go by March 2005. He never believed me. "This country won't do that," he would say, unknowingly repeating the Republican talking point on the issue. When I gave him the facts, he dismissed this as me being paranoid.

When I told him of my application, his face flushed and he started getting upset? "What? How? There is no draft. How can you apply for a draft board when there is no draft?" He obviously and suddenly began to show signs of real fear.

"I told you long ago the draft was happening right now under your nose and you didn't believe me," I said. "I, on the other hand, am informed on the issue and am not waiting for the media or the Repubs to tell me to think otherwise."

Then, in an attempt to put the blame on me, he said, "I thought you were giving up your persistent political awareness after the last election?" "Yes," I replied, "I have. But I also said that I will instead focus on what I can do locally that will have a real impact. By being on the draft board, I can contribute to my community by providing a sound mind to help people in my neighborhood."

He sat in silence, staring at the ground. His mind raced with the reality that he could very soon be drafted. A palor came over his face. He was speechless.

I tell this story for two reasons:

1. Everyone should be acting on reality and doing what they can to protect the people they love.
2. Everyone should be FULLY aware that the draft is being established so that it can begin being enforced. The process is almost complete. If you don't believe me, just apply for membership on your local draft board (an action not possible just two years ago, since they didn't exist).

Be ready, friends. The Culture War, which is really a massive civil war that has yet to inflict any major casualties but promises to do so in the near future, is upon us. Actions taken now can save lives later.

[Warpy]

1. I'm a little surprised

that the "special skills" draft (with skills undefined) hasn't already been written and brought before Congress. I would imagine that it's in the Armed Services Committee and being drawn up right now.

First they came for the doctors and nurses
Next they came for the computer programmers
And then they came for....

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. Good post, keo.

DRAFT THE FUCKING FREEPERS!

I'm fortunate I decided not to procreate to send more sausage into the grinder.

Even my 73 year old mom asked me several months ago if she should sign up to help man a draft board. I told her "Hell yeah."

They can steal our elections, but we can steal their draft boards and control whose numbers get called first.

FSC

[diamond14]

3. true...if anyone cared about their families/loved ones..they'd be in DC

next week....otherwise, as I have noticed in most pro-peace demonstrations...the potential draftees just don't care enough to get up off their asses....

and THAT is the major reason why the draft will be implemented....I am not the only one who noticed that the draftees don't care...bush* minions have noticed too...the draftees will be EASY to take this time...there is simply no opposition from them at all....

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Well I have told many of my unbelieving friends

I will help you pack

By the way my hubby cannot applied, retired miltiary, and now police, and I cannot for the same bloody reason... military.

(Even if foreign)

Oh and my local pro war boosters, I just smile at them... especially the draft age ones

[leesa]

56. I didn't know that. Is it because you know too much??

[portal]

5. Selective service draft boards have been around for 50 years now

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/l/bldrafthistory.htm

"For more than 50 years, Selective Service and the registration requirement for America's young men have served as a backup system to provide manpower to the U.S. Armed Forces.

President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 which created the country's first peacetime draft and formally established the Selective Service System as an independent Federal agency. If a draft were held today, local boards would better represent the communities they serve.

The changes in the new draft law made in 1971 included the provision that membership on the boards was required to be as representative as possible of the racial and national origin of registrants in the area served by the board."


Also, good luck getting on a draft board:

http://www.sss.gov/localboardmembers/bminquiry.asp

Local Board members are volunteers appointed by the President. They play an important community role closely connected with our nation's defense. If a military draft becomes necessary, approximately 2,000 Local Boards throughout America would decide which young men in each community receive deferments, postponements, or exemptions from military service based on federal guidelines.

This form is for people interested in becoming a Local Board Member with Selective Service. To register with Selective Service, you should go to the on-line registration page.

If you are interested in receiving information on becoming a Board Member for the Selective Service System (SSS), please complete this form. When you submit the following information to the Selective Service System, you will receive an application for board membership, a business reply envelope, and a Board Member Information Booklet that gives details on Board Member responsibilities. After you have submitted your application, a Selective Service employee will contact you to schedule a personal interview.

Qualifications for becoming a Local Board Member:

Must be 18 years old or older
Must be a citizen of the United States
Men must have registered with the Selective Service,
except those born from March 29, 1957 through December 31, 1959.
Must not be an employee of any law enforcement organization
Must not be an active or retired member of the Armed Forces
Must not have been convicted of any criminal offense.

[hang a left]

7. Yes they have but.....

They haven't filled board positions since Viet Nam. Wake up.

[portal]

8. Yes they have. The local boards are always active.

Where do you get this info anyway? You can go to a number of web sites and they will tell you the history of them, who was on, when,

Good lord.

[Sterling]

67. Check this out, you are wrong.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1143780

Aberdeen: Local draft board members needed


http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/10625...

The Selective Service System is looking for men and women to serve as members of local boards that are currently in a standby mode. A prospective member must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old, registered with the Selective Service (if male), not employed in law enforcement, not an active or retired Armed Forces member and not convicted in any criminal offense. snip

"Local board members are uncompensated volunteers who play an important community role closely connected with our nation's defense," says a news release.

If a military draft becomes necessary, approximately 2,000 local and appeal boards throughout the nation would decide which young men in each community receive deferments, postponements or exemptions from military service, based on federal guidelines and community standards.

Anyone interested should contact Sonny Magnuson at [phone] or Wayne Asscherick at [phone] or visit www.sss.gov and click on "Board Member Application."

[portal]

10. Of course they have! The boards are always filled.

My uncle was on the board from 1985 to 1995 in Minnesota but he had litte if anything to do other than meet once a year with the other 4 members.

http://www.sss.gov/fslocal.htm

http://www.mayoff.com/3-01selective_service.html

[portal]

12. http://www.sss.gov/annual7.htm 1996 Draft board info!

This is an excellent example of Selective Service activity way back in 1996!

http://www.sss.gov/annual7.htm

These draft boards have ALWAYS been filled, they just never got any press!

[hang a left]

69. Here is what was said by SSS (believe it if you want)

The Selective Service also maintained that the timing of ads to fill draft board positions was coincidental, part of a process of filling expired board positions that had been underway for several years:
About 10,000 to 12,000 people serve 20-year terms as unpaid board members. Schuback said because the current board system was set up in 1979, and the bulk of volunteers stayed the full 20 years, many of the appointments expired beginning in 1999.

That means hiring replacements has been going on for several years. Confusion arose in recent weeks when someone posted the hiring notice on www.defendamerica.mil, a Pentagon Web site about the war on terror, even though the Selective Service System is not a part of the Defense Department.

"Serve Your Community and the Nation — Become a Selective Service System Local Board Member," it said.

Several newspapers around the world wrote stories, leading to questions about whether the government was planning to restart drafting enlistees. The stories appeared as news media wrote increasingly about the Pentagon's extensive mobilization of National Guard and Reserve troops for duty in Iraq.

"It was a case of bad timing because of the war in Iraq and news about deployments," Pentagon spokesman Maj. Michael Shavers said of the Web posting. "It created a tempest in a teacup."

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/draft.asp

[mtnester]

54. So, if you have to have been registered with Selective Service

that means no women on draft boards?

No mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, allowed?

[theboss]

6. Is he aware that he signed up for Selective Service at 18?

For the record, I still don't think there is going to be a draft again....unless Canada invades Michigan of course.

[noamnety]

25. For the record

If Canada invades Michigan, we'll just asked to be annexed.

[ktowntennesseedem]

9. Very good post, thanks!

Before the election, my mom went on and on about how he would never bring back a draft, and she couldn't believe I thought there would be one. Both my parents, my grandmother, sister and brother-in-law, are big-time Rethugs, fanatic religious right supporters. Can't wait to see the look on her face when I get to say I told you so.

[portal]

11. read my posts above.

There will not be a draft. Nobody wants a draft. The more we talk about a draft, the more we will lose credibility in March of this year.

[Cronus Protagonist]

19. hahaha "we"?

hahaha. Sorry, you made tea come out my nose. :)

I think you should wait until you HAVE credibility before making such wild statements.





http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Telly Savalas]

48. What's wrong with the arguments portal made and the links provided?

What's so funny about "we"? Just because that poster disagrees with you on the issue of the likelihood of a draft, he's a freeper troll? It's not a litmus test, you know. There are several other posters with beefier post counts than him who also don't think there's gonna be a draft. Personally, I'm going to assume the guy is on the level until he actually proves otherwise.

So rather than laughing at him, why don't you post some evidence that a draft is inevitable.

[Tacos al Carbon]

49. Absolutely

I, for one, don't believe for a second that there will be a draft. On the other hand, I've been saying for many years (long before Bush or this war) that a draft would be good for the country, largely for social, non-military reasons.

[Cronus Protagonist]

55. I never said "freeper troll"

Apparently you need to read my post again.





http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[leesa]

58. I believe he has been proven wrong many times over. You simply

haven't been here long enough to know. Do I detect the smell of urine in Republican diapers?

[leesa]

57. You are living in a dream world.

"the more we will lose credibility in March of this year." What does that statement mean, oh deluded one?

[signmike]

13. What I don't understand about it is it's unpaid

they're asking for volunteers -- and limiting out retired military, (including any vets, I wonder?) and law enforcement -- do they only want people who are so looking forward to grabbing up all the teenagers that they want the ones who know absolutely nothing about what's coming, nor any legal implications that they'll do for FREE??

I've been out of work for three years now and I'd go do the job, but I'd have to be paid. Geeze, the Census paid pretty well, with all they spend on the war, what's the ding dang deal?

[northzax]

14. of course it's unpaid

they meet once a year for lunch. What, you're expecting 100 grand for it?

[burpsalot]

15. So what was his final response?

What did he say? I'm not trying to be a butthole or anything but how do you know "his mind raced?" What did he actually say?

On a side note: What's it like reading minds? I've always wondered. I have some psychic friends and I've always been jealous of the gift that they have.

[northzax]

16. and why is your 23 year old friend so worried?

the current draft laws specify that A1 priority goes to men in the year they turn 20. That's about a million million men this year. Then, those between 18 and 25 would be picked, based on a random drawing of age-year groups to determine the next priority. There are seven other groups here, 19, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. In order for your friend to be drafted this year, assuming there is a full call up in March, the army would have to burn through the first million men (remember, no deferments longer than a semester. we'd have to lose more soldiers in a one year period than we have in every war we've ever founght combined.) There would then be a 1/7 chance his year would be picked to be drafted in 05. Remember, if he makes it to '06, (given the million+deaths needed in a nine monthe period that seems reasonable) the class that is 19 this year would get priority, putting another million people between him and the draft boards. In order for your friend to have a 50% chance of getting drafted in the next 24 months, before he becomes ineligible, we would need to suffer losses of 5.5 million soldiers. 5.5 million. That's 30 times the number killed in WWII, and 5500 times the number killed in Iraq. The entire US military would have to be killed twice over. in the next two years. Doesn't seem all that liekly, does it?

[LoZoccolo]

17. Shhhhhhhh!

It's good that this guy is freaked out! Makes him really fucken think about what he's putting other people through. Let him stare at the ground and shit! Ba ha ha ha ha!

[AllegroRondo]

22. They don't have to be killed

just injured to the point where they cannot serve. That is much more likely.

[northzax]

23. five and a half million people?

in 18 months? what, are we planning a land invasion of Russia in the wintertime?

[AllegroRondo]

32. I hope not

its not like we have Hitler leading this country.

[forgethell]

24. A "billion" is

1000 million. How many is a "million million'?

That's 1,000,000,000,000 men. There aren't even that many people in the entire world, let alone draft-age men in the United States.

PS, the answer is a "trillion" in the US and the scientific community, and a "billion" in other countries.

;-)

PPS There will be no draft.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[forgethell]

18. There will be no draft.

I stated it before, and I will state it again. There will be no draft. The Republicans are not so stupid as to give 2006, 2008, and all eternity away to the Democrats. Stop fantasizing. We need realistic policies if we wish to return to power.

I've also stated before and will do again now. If a draft is installed before January 1, 2005, I will publically apologize and humiliate myself in this forum.

There will be no draft.

[Cronus Protagonist]

20. So I guess you think there won't be bipartisan support?

Wait until the next attack on Congress. They'll all be squealing for the draft, Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike. Mark my words.

The anthrax attacks proved it works. And when something works, expect it to be used again and again.





http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Sterling]

51. There will most certainly be two party backing to a draft.

You are right the post you responded to had it wrong.

[OneTwentyoNine]

21. LOL,Jan 1 2005??

[forgethell]

33. Sorry, Jan 1, 2006.

Damn this changeover thing, anyway.

[diamond14]

26. many parents will be THRILLED to get their kid disciplined and educated

AND almost 50% of Americans BELIEVE in bush* wars...they watch faux news, listen to bushites, hear pat robinson and jerry falwell...


so, don't be surprised if your parents WANT you to sign up for military service and are THRILLED that bush* will force you into it, because you aren't doing it by yourself...


It was just like that for the Vietnam Draft...many parents took their sons to sign up, thinking that they would get better jobs in the military, avoid front line stuff, and primarily, because at the beginning, most American SUPPORTED the Vietnam war...we were just trying to win hearts and minds, and bring democracy to a pathetic third-world country.....many Americans will still tell you that the Vietnam War was a noble cause....

[forgethell]

35. As I'm 56 and

already served in the ARmy, I don't think my parents will want me to sign up. Anyway, there will be no draft.

[retread]

27. Just like Social Security is the "third rail" ?

*

[Mountainman]

30. If Dems support it there will be a draft, that is the cover we gave the

repubs with the IWR.
Ditto for Social Security reform.

Our Dems leaders have nothing to lose by being apposed to the war, draft and SS reform but they will cave just as they did during the last four years.

[forgethell]

39. Well, as the only

people who are pressing a draft right now are Democrats, you may be right, If we can get the Republicans to fall into our clever trap.

;-)

[St. Jarvitude]

37. "Stop fantasizing" ??

You speak as if we all can't wait for the draft to get here!! Like we're little five year old boys on our birthdays, waiting for our new bikes :eyes:

Some of us - who will be directly impacted by a draft by, you know, BEING DRAFTED - don't share that sentiment for sure, and I'm fairly sure that it's a negligible (if not nonexistent) minority here who would be happy if a draft came along.

[forgethell]

40. By "fantasizing", I mean

dreaming that the Repukes are stupid enough to shoot themselves in the foot by re-instating the draft. Never happen.

[Sterling]

52. It will be large factions of both parties. If you think not

You must not have paid attention to our bi partisan IWR, patriot act........

[forgethell]

61. Well, we'll see, but

IMO there will be no draft.

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[forgethell]

64. True, but

I stand by my opinions until I realize they are wrong. I tend to do this aggressively. So I tend to offend a lot of people. I don't care about that when I am right, but if I am wrong, I will try to make amends.

Thanks for the advice, though.

:) :)

[Sterling]

66. Check this out, you are clearly talking out your ass.

But thanks for talking down to everyone anyway, have a nice weekend.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1143780

Aberdeen: Local draft board members needed


http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/10625...

The Selective Service System is looking for men and women to serve as members of local boards that are currently in a standby mode. A prospective member must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old, registered with the Selective Service (if male), not employed in law enforcement, not an active or retired Armed Forces member and not convicted in any criminal offense. snip

"Local board members are uncompensated volunteers who play an important community role closely connected with our nation's defense," says a news release.

If a military draft becomes necessary, approximately 2,000 local and appeal boards throughout the nation would decide which young men in each community receive deferments, postponements or exemptions from military service, based on federal guidelines and community standards.

Anyone interested should contact Sonny Magnuson at [phone] or Wayne Asscherick at [phone] or visit www.sss.gov and click on "Board Member Application."

[forgethell]

68. First the law,

then I'll start worrying about it.

but you have a nice weekend, too.

Bye now, I'm off to see the Lippizaner (sp?) Stallions.

;-)

[keopeli]

46. Thanks, forgethell, but I disagree.

The Repubs can invade a country without cause and get themselves reelected. I don't put anything past them. Also, I am not placing a time limit on the draft happening. I hope it does NOT happen, but whether it happens before Jan 1 06 or after makes no difference to me. I think it's odd that you say you'll apologize until Jan 1 06. Are you saying that after this date, there may very well be a draft? And, how do you know there will not be a draft this year? It sounds like you assume so because you believe it would be a political blunder. Frankly, that's very weak grounds in our current political environment, and certainly not a fact-based reason. I offer no proof there will be a draft. But, if it does happen (and signs suggest it is possible if not probable), I will be ready while you will be surprised and 'humbled'.

I respect your right to your opinion, but I'm far more comfortable with my own approach (preparedness) to yours (denial).

Respectfully,

Keo

[forgethell]

53. Well,

the Repukes connected better with the American people on a number of levels, possibly including fraud. At any rate, a number of people think there was "cause" to invade. We're talking perception here, which is all that really matters.

As for the date Jan 1, 2006. Well, I made a bet with another DU'er. That was the time limit set for the bet. I simply don't care to have to make two separate apologies. Besides, one date that far in the future is enough to commit memory to.

But, no, I don't think it will occur in *'s term at all. If Jan 1 comes and goes without a draft, and this is still an issue, I'll extend the time limit. happy now?

I guess my reading of the political climate is different from yours. when projecting into the future, interprretations of facts are as important as the facts themselves. Look, for example, at all the people who thought Kerry was "electable". I think Dean would have been either enough better, or much, much worse. I'm not sure which.

You and I are both offering opinions. Yours could very well be the correct one. But, as of now, I am confident in mine. As you say, you can offer no proof that there will be a draft, and the only people I see talking about it are Democrats.

We'll see. Cheers

[CarpeVeritas]

50. i don't think there will be a draft...

think "Operation Northwoods" and remember the patriotic fervor after 9/11...

all we need is a "legitimate" reason for invading venezuela- i'd imagine that poppy smirk has been working out the angles.

[Mountainman]

28. I hope they do start the draft so that everyone has to pay for this war

If we are going to be so pro neo-con then we need to send our dads, husbands, wives, moms and children to the slaughter. There is no other way America will take the horrors of war seriously. It has to hit home.

I am most sorry that more innocent lives will be lost but we can march and march yet no one will listen. The sooner more Americans feel the pain the sooner they will demand an end to unjust war.

[Xithras]

29. Have you been interviewed yet?

I applied a short while ago and am just waiting for my personal interview at this point. I'm kind of wondering what's involved with the interview and what kinds of things they'll be looking for.

FYI, my interest in the draft board stems from a genuine desire to make sure that the draft is instituted fairly and equally if it comes up. The area I'm in is split pretty equally between hispanics and whites, and yet our last draft board was primarily occupied by old white men. I want to make sure that the draft, if initiated, is instituted fairly and without bias. I also want to make sure that those who genuinely deserve waivers get them, while those with money who simply want to buy their way out cannot.

[keopeli]

44. No, I haven't, but I feel as you do about fairness.

[buddysmellgood]

31. Don't get ahead of yourself. They have to stage another terrorist attack

with Iranian fingerprints before they can ask for the draft. Another attack means conditions have changed, forget what I (dubya) said before.
No one really believes neocons will allow a Shia government to take control and sell oil to Europe...right? That would value oil in Euros and we simple won't allow that.

[Cronus Protagonist]

34. Yup. It's so obvious

However, it will be a "complete surprise" to the media and everyone on Congress.

Count on it.





http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

36. Did your 23 yr. old friend vote for Bush/support the Iraq invasion?

[keopeli]

43. No. In fact, we marched against it.

[rocktop15]

38. Fuck the draft.

If those fucking hawks try to draft me, they're gonna have a helluva battle on their hands. Let em try and start up a draft---theres a GREAT way for anti-war sentiment to really kick in. I'm 19 (will turn 20 in June.) I am a sophomore at UTC and don't plan to go die for oil anytime soon.

[seabeyond]

41. how do you go about that

and truly, is this everywhere. really can be a part of a draft board. find this interesting. and thanks for sharing about your son and his experience with this

[keopeli]

42. Thanks for the many comments. Here are a few more

First, I have no evidence that the draft is being reinstated. I also had no evidence that Iraq had WMD, but it was obvious they did not and I said so way back in 02. Some of you like to just believe what you're told, which is fine. I choose to live in reality. The reality is that the draft is a likelihood. Note:

In late 2003, the Bush administration quietly began a public campaign to bring the draft boards back to life. They informed the Selective Service to make all preparations necessary to institute the draft and report back on March 31, 2005.

http://www.thememoryhole.org/mil/draft-boards.htm

The 108th US Congress entertained two controversial bills to re-instate the draft. They were defeated (it was an election year, after all).

Draft Boards and the Selective Service have been maintained on paper since Jimmy Carter started the process in the late 70s. However, the military has made no real effort to "man the system" since the early days of the Reagan Administration in 81...that is, until 2003.

The military is hurting for numbers, and the reserve and national guard are spent, as are all those unfortunate enough to be caught up in the stop-loss clause.

Most experts admit we'll be in Iraq for a long time and we'll need more manpower.

The likelihood of Bush* invading another country, given his track record, is very high (in my opinion).

So, if you want to believe that there will be no draft, that's your choice. As for me, I plan to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
--
Someone asked what my friend's response was. After about 2 minutes of scowls, flushed face, fragmented sentences, sweat, and personal attacks on me for my application (rooted in emotion, not rationale), he suddenly changed the topic and did not return. I let it die as well. Incidentally, for the person asking how I can 'read his mind', I make no claim to be a soothsayer. However, when a person's demeanor dratically changes and he starts sweating, his face turns flush, his posture changes, he starts verbal attacks, and he can't form a simple sentence, I feel justified in guessing that he became upset.
--
I have not interviewed yet. I don't know if I'll be chosen.
--
One qualifier that a previous post about eligibility requirements failed to list is that you can not have a traffic citation (moving violation) in excess of $400.
--
Yes, the boards have existed since the 70s at least. That doesn't mean they were active. There certainly was no push to fully man all of the boards and programs. In my mind, that is a significant change
--

I guess we'll all know more after March 31 when the SS report is due to be issued (though they probably will classify the report).

To all of you who insist there will be no draft, thanks for your comments. You may believe what you will. The fact is that none of us knows (unless you're a part of Bush*'s inner circle). As for me, I would rather be prepared than caught off guard. To add one more thought, it's hard for me to understand why anyone would be so sure there won't be a draft. Bush* has an affinity for doing things regardless of public opinion. Bush* has a history of lying. Bush* has a history of springing things on people. Bush* has a history of secrecy regarding informing americans. Bush* has a history of invading countries without cause. Bush* no longer can stand for re-election, meaning he has no need to capitulate to the will of the voters. The military is in dire straights when it comes to manpower.

With all of these facts on the table, I simply cannot understand how a reasonable person would dismiss entirely the concept of a draft, given the preparations that Bush* has already made to do so, and the current situation with out military and world affairs. I, too, would like to believe there is no way it can happen. But, I also wanted to believe there was no way someone could STEAL a US election, or that democracy in the US would end in my lifetime, or we would invade a country without cause killing over 100,000 innocent civilians in the process, yet these things have come to pass.

I will continue to be proactive in protecting my community, and I would highly recommend everyone else do the same thing.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and comments.

Citizen-At-Large

PS - If you're interested, here is the link to apply to be on the Draft Board.

http://www.sss.gov/fslocal.htm

[keopeli]

45. And, by the way, my 22 year old nephew DID vote for Bush*

I told him that, if he voted against Bush*, I would help him get out of the draft. Since he decided to vote FOR Bush*, I told him that I wished him God's speed and hoped he didn't die.

I have several friends who have joined the military to MAKE MONEY! I have told each of them that I respect their decision and I pray that they don't die. I always end my response with the word "die", and they are always speechless...every time. They look at me like I'm a loony.

Maybe I am a loony, but I still hope they don't die. I know two people who already have died in Iraq. I don't want to know any more.

[Technowitch]

47. Interesting notion for civil disobedience here...

Get on the draft board, and then refuse to certify anyone for selection. :-)

Anyway, I about guarantee that the overwhelming majority of those advocating a return to the draft either are exempt or simply refuse to believe they'd be picked.

[TankLV]

65. No - get on the draft board and certify ONLY REPUKES!

Sorry, but I am deadly serious on this one!

[Langley85]

59. HELL NO WE WON'T GO

If the government attempts to reestablish a draft, I only hope they will be faced with rioting and refusal one hundred thousand times worse than Vietnam. If Bush thinks he is going to force us to go fight his oil war, the American people need to stand with one voice and say NO, WE WILL NOT GO AND YOU CANNOT MAKE US.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.