If they bring back the draft

[GeorgeG]

Nobody in their right mind wants to see a loved one go off to war, any war. But, there are some things that fall under our duties as an American citizens and serving in our armed forces is one of them.

I served in Vietnam with no regrets and my grandson is currently a United States Marine and will probably deploy to Iraq around February. He says it's his job and I'm very, very proud of him. Do I worry? Absolutely! But I'd rather worry than be shamed by him running away.

I think running to Canada is probably the right decision for you. It sounds like you don't deserve to live here.

 

[CheshireVal]

I think running to Canada is probably the right decision for you. It sounds like you don't deserve to live here.

 

[Jillpie]

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. Trust me when I say that the active duty military does not want a draft. I can say that with almost 100% conviction. It's hard enough going to war with people that are mentally and physically prepared and actually volunteered to go. Hell would be going with people who have no clue and aren't at all ready to go.

I also know that you are doing the mother protecting thing and trying to follow your instincts but do you really think that teaching your son to run from something that is difficult and he doesn't believe in is the right thing to do? I'm not trying to be the least bit ugly about this as some have been, just genuinely curious.

Wow Tina, after everything you've been thru in the past year, I commend you for your self control in this post. I have no idea if I could've done the same .

 

[irishbosoxfan]

My DH is military-Army to be specific-and he VOLUNTEERED for deployment.

He had volunteered twice and wasn't allowed to go because he was needed stateside to train troops that were going over.

Where he is at now which is a deployable unit and because of his MOS and rank he would be selected to be attached to a brigade for 3 years--He didn't want to be gone for 3 straight years so he volunteered for 1.

My husband comes from a military family as do I and he sees it as an honor to serve his country during peace and wartime.

He will be leaving in April for his tour and I am scared ****less. But I am so proud of him and all that he has done--Granted I wish he would continue to stay on American soil training soldiers but for him this is his moment,the one that shows his mettle as an American Soldier and he will do himself,his family and his country proud.

 

[Disney4Drew]

I'm very proud to live in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!

Our only son, US Army, would no doubt disown us if we ever pulled such a cowardly stunt!

God Bless our brave courageous military and their families for their sacrifices!

DITTO!!! I support our country 100%.

 

[dogsmom]

First, thank you for your responses. I want you to know that no one appreciates the sacrifices our military men have made more than me. My whole family served in the Navy. When I meet someone who has served our country or is presently serving I always make sure I thank them. If they are returning from overseas, I welcome them home. This is the God's honest truth. Vietnam was devastating to our country. I personally know several young men who were killed in that action . And I'm sorry for their sacrifice because I feel that it was in vain.
If we were attacked I would absolutely support everyone in my family picking up a gun and defending our country. If our close allies, such as Canada or England were attacked I would again support them. But I'm not going to support a war that was started on misinformation and is in a country where nobody wants us . My children have been raised to know that war and killing are wrong. We never had toy guns (even water pistols) in our house and they were not allowed to play with them at anyone else's. Killing and war are not games.
I thank the poster who reminded me of conscientious objector status. I had forgotten about this. I will definitely be looking into this option.
I am a mother. My son and my daughter are the two most important people in the world to me. And I'm sure everyone's children are. I absolutely refuse to let them die for a cause that is totally without merit or substance.

 

[Jynohn]

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?

It's not at all the same. I don't think any of us have a problem with someone saying, "no way do I want to fight against my will." I have no desire to fight either, therefore I have never enlisted. I am grateful to the men and women who do serve for giving me that option. But if my country ever NEEDED my service, I would stand proudly and do whatever was required of me.

The problem lies when someone who enjoys all the freedoms and opportunities that this country affords them, essentially says that if they were called to serve, they would leave. THAT is extremely insulting to those who do make the sacrifice. I'm surprised you don't see the difference.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Serving in the armed forces during active combat must be extremely difficult for anyone who does not truly believe in the cause. How can they live with themselves if they truly believe they are committing murder?! If your country is directly attacked you can think of your fight back as "self-defense", and that makes it a little easier to justify. But Iraq as self-defense is a stretch! I can understand why people resist a draft in cases like Vietnam and Iraq. WW2 was a little different - Japan attacked the US directly at Pearl Harbour, and it was pretty clear that the US needed to fight back. Iraq isn't in direct retaliation for 9/11 (which I would have understood more) - it's a fight against a potential threat, not an actual threat. IMO anyway - I suppose others feel differently.

I don't live in the US, so no point speculating about what I would do in this scenario. But I really do understand and sympathize with those who feel that going to fight this particular war would be like committing murder to them, and to save their sanity they would have to leave the US before the draft. I could not kill innocent children in a foreign land for a cause I didn't believe in, no matter how patriotic I was.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Wow Tina, after everything you've been thru in the past year, I commend you for your self control in this post. I have no idea if I could've done the same .

Thank you Jill but really I understand where the OP is coming from about protecting her children. I have heard it from several other people. I understand that many many people are against the war in Iraq or just scared about what can happen being drafted. My only other thought is that many people seem to forget that there is more than just one war going on. We are still in Afghanstain and they need the service men and women there also. This is the war where we were attacked and that still needs to be remembered.

 

[dogsmom]

It's not at all the same. I don't think any of us have a problem with someone saying, "no way do I want to fight against my will." I have no desire to fight either, therefore I have never enlisted. I am grateful to the men and women who do serve for giving me that option. But if my country ever NEEDED my service, I would stand proudly and do whatever was required of me.

The problem lies when someone who enjoys all the freedoms and opportunities that this country affords them, essentially says that if they were called to serve, they would leave. THAT is extremely insulting to those who do make the sacrifice. I'm surprised you don't see the difference.

It is not a question of not being willing to serve, but of willing to serve mindlessly. Doesn't anyone question the validity of what we are doing in Iraq? Are you really willing to do anything the President tells you because it's you're duty?

 

[Poohgirl]

I have many brave family members currently serving around the world and I am very proud of them. However, the thought of a draft to me as a mom is terrifying. I have an 8 year old whose obsessed with becoming a soldier and "protecting America". If this continued, as his mother I would love to see him realize his dream. But, I will admit that in a weird way my natural instinct as a mom is very relieved that neither of my sons will ever be able to serve because of medical issues. Its an awful double edge sword.

 

[Jynohn]

I absolutely refuse to let them die for a cause that is totally without merit or substance.

It is your opinion that it's a cause without merit or substance. I suggest that many of our troops who are there now, recently returned, or soon deploying may feel differently. As someone else mentioned, the point is not worth arguing anyway, since the choice will ultimately be up to your children, who will be at the age of consent and won't need your permission.

 

[CheshireVal]

It's not at all the same. I don't think any of us have a problem with someone saying, "no way do I want to fight against my will." I have no desire to fight either, therefore I have never enlisted. I am grateful to the men and women who do serve for giving me that option. But if my country ever NEEDED my service, I would stand proudly and do whatever was required of me.

The problem lies when someone who enjoys all the freedoms and opportunities that this country affords them, essentially says that if they were called to serve, they would leave. THAT is extremely insulting to those who do make the sacrifice. I'm surprised you don't see the difference.

If our country were attacked and our freedom as Americans were ever really threatened, I think a lot of people's responses would be different. I'm sure more of us would be supportive of the draft under those circumstances.

However, for a pointless war such as Iraq or Vietnam for that matter, I don't see that as my country NEEDING my service. And I would leave if someone I love were in the position of possibly being drafted.

 

[Dina]

I wasn't being mean. I am saying that this isn't the 70's. You can't just up and decide to move to Canada, anymore. Just like people can't move willy-nilly to the USA.

I totally understand what you are saying, but many of those replies were said with a mean spirit. I understand how everyone is saying it's wrong to teach their child to turn their back, or its cowardly. Hey, I totally understand that. Many of my family members have served in WWII, Vietnam, Panama and Desert Storm-- I have nothing but respect and gratitude for them. I would so like to say, like many of you, no way would I go to Canada (if it's possible or not), but it's one of those things I don't think I can say in all certainty unless I had been in the situation of my child being drafted and their not wanting to go. I understand why it's cowardly, I understand that it's unfair to the other soldiers fighting so valiantly overseas. But, I've never watched my child frightened that they were going to be drafted-- how do you know in all certaintly what you will do? I don't. There are some questions I feel like I can't answer or judge someone for unless I had been in their shoes-- for me, this is one of them. I'm sure I'm getting flamed, but so be it. I would fight for my country, but not help my son if he desperately didn't want to (not saying they wouldn't-- they're preschoolers, I have no idea what they would do)-- anyway, I just don't know.

 

[LukenDC]

I'm not eligible for the draft due to my age (33) and sexual orientation ( refuse to hide a central part of my being). I am also strongly opposed to Bush's Iraq adventure and would not serve in that war. That said, if I were to be drafted, I would not flee the country. I would request assignment to Afghanistan or some other area of need.

 

[LuvDuke]

Would you consider moving to Canada? I have a son who will be 18 in just over a year. I am so against this war in Iraq that if they brought the draft back I would consider heading across the border to Canada. I have no problem defending our borders if we are attacked and would even fight myself. But having been a teenager and college student during the Vietnam war, I see us heading in the same direction. I don't want to see anyones' son
or daughter sent off to fight a useless war.

I wouldn't worry about if I were you. Rumor has it all the "we'll put a boot in your ***" tough guys and soldiers in the 101st keyboard division are going to volunteer to go to Iraq AND volunteer to pay for it.

Better stand out of the way because it's going to be a stampede to the recruiting station.

 

[Bob Slydell]

That's it!! I'm moving to Europe!!!

No, really, I am (well, maybe). Not for draft reasons, however.

If the military's so desperate that they'll draft my fat *** into service, we're in some BIG trouble.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I certainly have my problems with the way things in Iraq have been run. I am not completely gung-ho for it. It's become a big mess over there

And yet if my country needed me that badly, yes I would serve. I guess it may have something to do with the fact that I was raised in an Army home. But I have a feeling that my love for this country would outweigh my doubts. Maybe that's crazy, and if that's the case then color me crazy.

But I truly think this is all a moot point. It makes for a good discussion but I truly don't see the draft coming back anytime soon.

 

[LuvDuke]

That's it!! I'm moving to Europe!!!

No, really, I am (well, maybe). Not for draft reasons, however.

If the military's so desperate that they'll draft my fat *** into service, we're in some BIG trouble.

My DH is a WWII veteran and he'd go if called. But as he says: "They'll be better off drafting pregnant women and children first".

 

[What the Heck]

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?

It's not the same. The OP isn't about just "no way do I want to fight int he army" but it's talking about a draft.

The only 2 or 3 people in the country who talk about a draft revolve around Charlie Rangel. He can't even get the party leadership to think about it or even discuss it seriously (outside of the DC party's). Why even bring up "if there is a draft"? It's got as much validity as "well what happens if my child goes out into the middle of a corn field and gets abducted by alients - hypothetically what would you do?" and expect a serious answer (and actually get some). That is stirring the pot.