Next semester I will discuss the draft with my students

[bluestateguy]

It's high time these kids (I am a college instructor) become aware of the very real possibility that they or their peers could be drafted in the next year or two. The younger generation needs to realize that they cannot necessarily count on watching world events unfold on television from the comfort of their homes, rather they may be asked, or even compelled to share in the sacrifice. I plan to spend one lecture next semester talking a little bit about the history of the US military draft, evidence that the Bush Administration may be planning to bring back the draft after the 2004 elections and raise a number of questions about whether or not people should be obligated to fight in wars they oppose. Likewise, I will ask if armchair cheerleaders for war of military age (chickenhawks) have an obligation to serve. The militray draft is one of those issues that gets the attention of the younger generation. You won't have any kids falling asleep in a class lecture and discussion on that issue. I urge all teachers here at DU to consider raising this issue before your students.

[Torrey Pines]

1. Charlie Rangle is right on this issue.

The draft has a moderating and inhibiting effect on internationally ambitious presidents and generals.

[AndyTiedye]

13. The Draft Would Be Giving PNAC a Blank Check

There may have been a moderating effect in the old Republic,
when we had a free press and our votes were actually counted,
but not anymore.

People will demonstrate against it, but the press will not report it.
We will vote for anti-war candidates, but Diebold counts the votes.

Rangel is giving Bush* bipartisan "cover" for what he wants to do.
This is A Very Bad Thing.

[Bertha Venation]

2. Good for you. Great plan.

I hope you get some good debate going in your classroom.

Do you think there could be any repercussions for a public school teacher (any grade where the students are minors) who follows a similar path?

[wryter2000]

3. Great idea

People need to realize that war isn't about glory. It's about death and misery, and it could even be theirs or someone close to them.

I've been astounded by the reaction of some of the pro-war types I talk to. Once things got messy, they wanted to get out. Didn't they realize that was what it was going to be like?

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

4. Good luck.

Sounds like a great idea.

[Breezy du Nord]

5. eep

My mom is always real worried my brother'll get the draft. If bush gets reelected, well...my brother's an able bodied young man, he could. I have a friend who's brother is in Tikrit and I'd really hate to be as worried as she is. :scared:

As for me, I think I'm too young and I can only see in one eye. Does that disqualify you? Or not? I'm not quite sure...

[Bertha Venation]

7. if your handle reflects your gender, I think you're safe

The U.S. military isn't sophisticated enough to require the draft of women as well as men.

Okay, I know there's a contradiction in there somewhere. Can someone divine what I mean and put it more clearly?

[ochazuke]

6. Requirements of Empire

The Shrub will need to harvest thousands of our youth to die on foreign soil to make it safe for the non-competitive bids.

Simple supply and demand.

[cliss]

8. Good idea, BSG.

The sooner you get them used to the idea of a draft, the better off (and more prepared) they will be for what seems to be inevitable. I've tried to stay on top of this story, and some threads have urgently posted the latest on re-opening of draft offices, employment notices for personnel.

I would say the odds of us re-instating the draft is 100%. I've read that by next December, we will be up and running. The Bush Machine knows it can't continue on with its plans of hegemony (see PNAC) without people to carry them out. We already know that current reservists have expressed that they will not be re-enlisting (50% say they won't go back). Without people, you have no war.

I have also read that they're planning to conscript women, like it or not. The enlistment age will be 18 to 26, and they will pick the younger ones first. I don't know anything about the numbers, but they will most probably be quite large.

Also, many worried posters have shared "secrets" about getting out of the draft. They have mentioned 'conscientious objectors', or religious reasons. They like the idea of bad knees, bad vision, dizziness, psychotic behavior, moving to Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, etc.

My advice is: DO NOT COUNT on this administration to fall for your excuses. Did any of that work in Nazi Germany? If you are called, you go. If you have bad eyesight, they will find work for you that does not require aiming and shooting. If your knees are bad, they will put you to work in the kitchen. If you are a conscientious objector, they will throw you in jail.

Another good thread on this subject is in 'Economic Issues'; there's a thread by GoreN4. He says that we will have a draft whether we get a Democratic president next year or a Republican one.

So it seems inevitable. Good for you, BSG.

[Skittles]

9. I am curious

if females will be part of the equation.

[CalebHayes]

10. I'm scared... 5 years until I am eligible for the draft.

Where will we be in 5 years? God save me from JEB.

[cliss]

11. My suggestion:

get a head start by planning early, before this happens. And keep in mind that they will probably have a lottery, like they had in VietNam. Not EVERY person aged 18 to 26 will get drafted. But I suspect a lot more than 30 years ago. So just because you're of draft age doesn't mean you will go.

However, it doesn't hurt to start looking at countries that could be likely places to go to. I've read that New Zealand and Australia is always looking for people, as well as Canada. I think Sweden and Denmark do some limited immigration.

You could study some of these countries ahead of time, find out as much as you can about them. Take a vacation there, and maybe spend some time there. I'm sending my 18-year old son to an organic farm on New Zealand next summer so he can spend 3 months there and become familiar with the country.

Don't bother flaming me about patriotism. This is not a war about defence. This is a war for oil and corporate profits.

[Bertha Venation]

14. no flame, but a hypothetical question

The current war isn't the only one we'll ever have. Unfortunately we may one day become embroiled in a moral conflict* and with the way things are in this world it will mean sending forces.

Imagine a moral conflict on the scale of WW2 shows up. Would you advocate that the able-bodied of draft age enlist/allow themselves to be drafted? Or would you advocate that they escape to another country no matter the nature of the conflict?

* Note I didn't say moral war. No such thing.

(edited to take an edge off)

[CalebHayes]

16. I'm in WA so Canada would not be too bad.

[Breezy du Nord]

18. My dad's moving us there if Bush is reelected

That, or New Zealand. I kinda hope Canada, it's a little closer to home. (I'm from minnesota, btw)

[JohnKleeb]

21. You two are lucky

I am right near DC, near the Potomac river. Got no place to flee, Canada would be nice but I fear an auchulss like move by Bush, what I mean is, like he wouldnt invade Canada but absorb it somehow in the US ala Austria. Maybe Europe would be nice, I don't know. I never expected this to happen and thats what makes me wonder.

[nyrnyr1994]

20. And I just had a dream about getting a passport too...

Odd, and another dream about war too last night.

[JohnKleeb]

22. hopefully not a prophecy

[nyrnyr1994]

26. I get worried when my "subconscious chatter" increases...

No lie on 9/10/01 I had this really weird dream, I saw deserts, rockets firing off. I'm still skeptical about most of my dreams but they seem too real most of the time.

[JohnKleeb]

27. I may have had a premonition that summer

I had this dream and my dad supposely went away on business which is odd, he isnt a business person, and he was on a plane that was bound to crash and there was nothing to do about it.

[iluvchicago86]

12. You tell em

I wish my teachers would raise the issue. It's a pressing one, and is in desperate need of adressing.

[Ernesto]

24. You raise the issue!

Be respectfull, but do it in front of the class. As Viet vet, I hammered my (repuke) history prof about Watergate with no mercy. He still gave me an A.

[JohnKleeb]

15. good for you

I am worried about the possiblity.

[Breezy du Nord]

17. Would you get it?

apparently us girls are too weak to be drafted with the boys. I'm not sure if that makes me angry or happy. Probably both, lol.

[JohnKleeb]

19. I been hearing stuff about girls being drafted as nurses and shit

I know little. I could well get it yes, I am not sure if that heart problem disqualifies me for good. I am scared by it all. I guess if I was drafted, I would go, I would be scared though. Good thing my eyes arent good, that disqualifies me from the AF, and my teeth err my bite from the Marines. Sigh these times, these times.

[Breezy du Nord]

23. A nurse!? How sexist is that?

I couldn't be a nurse, I haven't enough patience, lol. :P

[JohnKleeb]

25. Thats what I hear, like medical stuff

Would you rather have a rifle and have to fire it at another :(. Hell I have a dislike of guns in general and am sorta afraid of them. I would request medic honest but you may need medical training and that I have none. I guess I would have to accept my fate, I dont know, no where to flee, if anyone would hide me, I would appreciate it.

[Ernesto]

28. Excellent BSG!

I'm an ol fart Viet vet that jawbones any & all draft age kids & their parents..... Time to wake up America!.... BTFW The God Damned Marine Corps (my alma mater) has been bugging the shit out of my nephew lately. I've been thinking about paying that f$$king recruiter a little visit. I'm sure he would know the meaning of the military term "ass chewing".