If they bring back the draft

[CheshireVal]

I'd be out of here so fast you wouldn't even see me leave and I'm not at all ashamed to say it. We'd probably go to Australia, where my husband is from.

 

[Hercules10]

My husband always says if they bring back the draft, which they aren't going to without a total revamping, we are moving to Mexico, lol.

Might want to tell him that Mexico operates under a conscription military service.

 

[sha_lyn]

The Military does not want a draft. The vast majority of our government does not want a draft. There is one lone crazy Dem senator who wants to bring back the draft, claiming it would draft the kids of politicians then the war would be over.

No I would not move. In fact DH and I are encouraging our 17 1/2 son to enlist once he finishes highschool.
I actually know a 16 boy who's family has sent him to boarding school in Canada "so he won't get drafted by Bush". The mom (she is a former neighbor of a friend) actually made some crazy comment in front of my husband a few weeks ago about the military (calling them all baby killers or something like that). DH went off on her and asked her just how many babies did she think he had killed. The only other person in the room (who is the brother of the hostess of the party we were at) spoke up and said "I hate all republicans, I would kill them all if I had the chance". DH went off on him too.

 

[taximomfor4]

Absolutely, I would be tempted to protect my child. But no, I would not go to Canada. I have reaped the benefits of living in this country, and if called to service, myself and/or my children would owe that service. Agree with the war or not, in for a penny - in for a pound...we have been lucky to live here and have all the good that goes with. Bad must be included as well. Plus, if I run and keep my children out, other people's children would still be going and how is that fair? But oh, would I be sooooooo worried!

 

[PrincessTiff]

I don't see it happening. I do see recruiting stepping up in the next few years. I am nervous about the situation with Russia/Iran. That scares the holy heck out of me.

Alright i've been a bit out of the loop these past few weeks, what is this Russia/Iran situation of which you speak? Does it have anything to do with the recent poisonings or is this a whole different ballgame??

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't know why some of the replies here are so mean spirited.

I guess because a lot of us can understand teaching our children to turn their backs on their country.

 

[2Xited4Disney]

Hey if our President can dodge the draft I am sure I have enough intelligence to avoid it too.

 

[va32h]

To the OP - no need to pack your bags.

First off, I seriously doubt there will be a draft. Ever.

But even if there is, your 18 year old son would be the last to go.

The draft lottery begins with those who turn 20 the year the draft begins, then goes all the way up to 25 before coming back down to the teenagers.

So we'd have to run through every able-bodied man between the ages of 20 and 25 before your son would even be placed in the lottery.

That is so unlikely to happen, that it is not rationally worth worrying about.

 

[chris1gill]

I'd be out of here so fast you wouldn't even see me leave and I'm not at all ashamed to say it. We'd probably go to Australia, where my husband is from.

I was just going to say that our children are going to be going to high school in Australia & hopefully they will choose to stay there for college.... We have been with them more than a few times now, and have been quite satisfied that we would be happy to settle there.... DH has to work on getting his work visa, but I'm just going with the children as their parent of a tuition paying student...

 

[crazyforgoofy]

It's an easy thing to blast someone who says she'd take her child to Canada rather than let him be drafted. You can beat her over the head with being unpatriotic or selfish or that she 'hates the troops' or that she's teaching her children to "turn their backs on their country".

I'm guessing that if this country is really threatened and the entire country is called to sacrifice equally she wouldn't be posting. And even if she would so what, she's entitled to her feelings.

At this point in time with servicemen and women dying for no good reason in a the quagmire that is now Iraq her post is understandable in my opinion.

 

[sha_lyn]

Hey if our President can dodge the draft I am sure I have enough intelligence to avoid it too.

He served in the Guard. clinton OTOH left the country

 

[Cool-Beans]

The military doesn't want a draft. A few of the far-left Democrats do, but the military doesn't.

In the event that the military was calling for young men, no, I wouldn't move to Canada.

If the situation was all that dire and all the young men ran away, who the hell would protect North America?

 

[Jynohn]

It's an easy thing to blast someone who says she'd take her child to Canada rather than let him be drafted. You can beat her over the head with being unpatriotic or selfish or that she 'hates the troops' or that she's teaching her children to "turn their backs on their country".

I'm guessing that if this country is really threatened and the entire country is called to sacrifice equally she wouldn't be posting. And even if she would so what, she's entitled to her feelings.

At this point in time with servicemen and women dying for no good reason in a the quagmire that is now Iraq her post is understandable in my opinion.

We are not even remotely close to being in a draft situation, so to post about something so hypothetical is not only inflammatory, but extremely insulting to those of us who would or HAVE made the sacrifice. Of course she has the right to her feelings. But she asked a question, and we answered...

 

[rayelias]

I agree. There is no way the draft is coming back. Methinks it might be a touch of .

A very high, vocal, and well seen leader in the Democratic Party, Charlie Rangle (D-NY) has, on several instances, said he was going to spearhead this very issue. He very much wants to reinstate the draft.

For those of you who are ready to flee the US if this happens, I wonder if you realize that in MANY countries around the world, there is a mandatory draft (military service) - war or not. In the US, it's volunteer, except in extreme circumstances, thanks to the bravest, smartest men and women who choose to protect our country and its citizens - even the ones that who don't think the US is worth fighting for.

 

[smartestnumber5]

Well I don't think I have much to worry about.

1) I'm female
2) I'm bisexual and totally willing to demonstrate that in the middle of the draft room if need be.
3) I might have a chance at consciencious objector status.
4) What if I got myself knocked up? They wouldn't send pregnant women to war, right? (You know, because while my life would totally be worth risking, the embryos life is sacred.)

But if those things didn't work out, I would definitely leave the country. If I couldn't do that, I'd let them throw me in jail. If they literally physically forced me to go, there's always suicide.

I do have a 20 year old brother and my mother has talked about how she'd take him to Canada (if they could get in) in a heartbeat if he were drafted (for a war like this). I don't see this as teaching him "to turn his back on his country." I see it as saying "When your country tries to force you to risk your life for a war that you reasonably believe to be unnecessary, unwinnable, and unjust and thus to engage in what you personally see as murder, it has clearly turned its back on you."

I have a number of veterens in my family who oppose the current war and who, I'm sure, would be absolutely devestated if my brother were to be drafted. I think I'll ask them when I see them for Christmas how they'd feel about him going to Canada. I'm pretty sure my dad would be on board.

 

[Jennasis]

Wow...I can't believe how angry some people are over this topic. It's a hypothetical people (and one that is quite unlikely to occur). I don't have children, but I have young neices and nephews. I don't think their parents would leave the country to avoid the draft.

My husband and I are both beyond the age of drafting (if they chose to include women which they shoudl if it ever happened again). The draft is a bad idea no matter how you cut it. Who in their right minds wants to have frightened, bitter, angry, or poorly/quickly trained soldiers on their team who were forced into service???

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I'd be out of here so fast you wouldn't even see me leave and I'm not at all ashamed to say it. We'd probably go to Australia, where my husband is from.

We'd be off and living in France, my mother-in-law would be thrilled, she'd finally have all the grandkids in the same country as her. We need to get the kids registered with the French government though so they can eventually get French passports too.

 

[momof2inPA]

DH is on the draft board, and he's a pacifist. Anyone else know someone on a draft board?

 

[CheshireVal]

We are not even remotely close to being in a draft situation, so to post about something so hypothetical is not only inflammatory, but extremely insulting to those of us who would or HAVE made the sacrifice. Of course she has the right to her feelings. But she asked a question, and we answered...

How is saying "No way do I want to fight in the army against my will" insulting to those who have chosen to do so?

It would be like me saying "I would never want to be a doctor." Is that insulting to doctors?

 

[Mono~rail]

Anyone who isn't prepared to do what is needed for their country needs to move to another country. It doesn't seem right to live in a country and reap the benefits of living in that country while at the same time wanting to leave if push came to shove and their service was needed. Basically, if someone is toying with the idea of moving to Canada, Mexico, Australia, or any other country because of a draft then they need to go on ahead and move there now.

Vietnam and the 70's get brought up most often with the draft, but there was also a draft during WWII. The young men and women who lived during WWII and served our country -both at home and on the front- have been called the "greatest generation." Even women were signing up to do their part!

My great aunt went to nursing school and went into the Army as an officer. She served in WWII (in the Pacific and Europe), Korea, and Vietnam. She had a brother who enlisted too without being drafted, and he served in Europe (trained as a paratrooper). He jumped on D-Day! He had excellent night vision, and he used to watch at night for snipers! General Patton wrote about him -the sergeant with the excellent night vision.

My grandfather was drafted into the Navy during WWII, and my dad was born while he was gone!

My mom had three brothers who were all drafted to Vietnam. They joined the Marines. All three came home safely -yes, the suffered injuries while there, but they came home.

My dad was in the Nat'l Guard during Vietnam. His unit was called up, but they ended up not going for whatever reason.

My dh was in the Navy, and he is a veteran of the Gulf War.