An Activist's Conundrum

[Atman]

The Viet Nam war draft ended just prior to my 18th birthday, so I never had to register. However, even as a teenager, I was an activist of sorts. I covered one entire wall of my bedroom in corkboard, and used to post newspaper stories about Nixon and the war.

Anyway, my firstborn son turns 18 next week. My wife reminded me today that I have to take him to register for the draft, and that really struck hard. Holy shit...three years ago I'd have thought nothing of it. I suggested instead that I take him to apply for a passport, and that it might be a good idea for all of us to have one handy. I got that "you're a fvcking whack-job" look.

My wife admits to blissful ignorance, although she certainly knows what is going on, to a much lesser extent than I do. I admit, I "filter" the news that I hear about the current world situation, because she says it freaks her out to hear me tell her about the day's real headlines, not the ones she hears sandwiched between Katy Couric's makeup tips and the Cooking With A Gay Guy segment on the morning news.

Anyway, I am not sure where I am going with this. Just reflecting. It is as if I have to go hand my son over to Smirky McWarhardon to go dig up some more oil for him. I am so bummed. If only Canada weren't so freaking COLD!

[LiberalVoice]

1. I can understand...

I turned 18 just after Dubya was "Elected" president...I have had to worry about going to war for sometime now and I have several friends that have gone to Iraq and afghanistan and others that are currently signing up for Aramy and Air Force.

I worry alot.

[rockheadedmama]

2. "An Activist's Conundrum"

There is a country I have been thinking a great deal about lately. They have been rated #1 in healthcare; they like good wine; their women dress well...I think the neo-cons changed their name to "Freedom" but I always just call it "France"

[Atman]

4. France, eh?

I have a sister in England...but that'd be kinda like moving to the US, just with bad food and yellow teeth. I also have an expatriot friend living in Spain who has offered his couch, but I doubt the whole family would fit. He made a recommendation a while back, but I don't recall what he said about France. It seems like they'd be pretty hostile to Americans, even more so than usual. Maybe if I just bring lots of "Bush Sucks" shirts with me, they'll be more welcoming!

[newyawker99]

5. Hi rockheadedmama!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ewagner]

3. We went through the same decision

three years ago........... My son thought about it for a long time and came to a couple of interesting conclusions.

The first of these was that it wasn't likely that he would ever actually be drafted and feared consequences for college scholarships, grants and loans if he was not registered. Therefore registration was done.

The second conclusion was based on the fact that many of his friends had joined the National Guard right out of high school as a means of financing their college education. He felt that he could not refuse to serve if called while his friends were serving and putting their lives on the line.

another point surpirsed me. He said that even in the worst case scenario, it would only be a small portion of his life and he would look at it as a bump in the road to where he wanted to be and not an absolute catastrophe.

He exhibited some rather mature thinking. He dislikes the Bush* administration as much as I do and did participate in anti-war rallies on his college campus.

[Bandit]

6. If only Canada weren't so freaking COLD!

Think Global Warming :think: and besides Canada is a Huge Country.:wow: Some of it is very cold and some not so cold at all.