If they bring back the draft

[Bob Slydell]

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".

They could send my 18 month old. If his ability to dismantle our house is any indication, he could destroy a country so bad Haliburton couldn't put it back together.

 

[smartestnumber5]

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.

What is your definition of "needed"? Do you mean that whatever the government tells the military to do is "needed"? Invading half of Europe and exterminating 11 million people is what the Nazi government of Germany told the military to do. But surely we wouldn't say of Germans who were forced into military service in Nazi Germany that since they didn't choose to leave the country before the war started (and hence reaped the benefits) they owed it their country to participate in the Holocaust. (Note, I'm not comparing the war in Iraq to the Holocaust. I'm just trying to show that the definition of what is "needed" can't be "whatever the government says it needs".)

But if "needed" means anything other than "what the government says is needed" then it isn't unarguably true that the war in Iraq is needed. In fact, it seems that every single person on this thread who said they would consider leaving the country if drafted has moral problems with this particular war. No one has come on and said "I have no moral problems with the war. I just don't want to fight; I'd rather play playstation all day and eat McDonalds and hey I hear it's too hot over there anyway." And no one has come on and said "I would have moral problems with any war, thus I would never fight" (though actually, such a person might have a chance at consciencious objector status anyway--obviously the government itself doesn't think that simply by virtue of living here one must be willing to kill). Thus no one has said that if their service was needed they would still refuse to serve (in fact, some have said just the opposite).

 

[LuvDuke]

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.

I believe "stirring the pot" was Charlie Rangel's intent.

And, apparently, you've done a heckuva job, Charlie.

 

[LuvDuke]

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.

Just as a funny story, my uncle was drafted into the Army during WWII and he was NOT happy to go. He ended up in China/Burma/India, where the Army sent him to the hospital and had him circumsized!

Talk about being a reluctant warrior.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Just as a funny story, my uncle was drafted into the Army during WWII and he was NOT happy to go. He ended up in China/Burma/India, where the Army sent him to the hospital and had him circumsized!

Talk about being a reluctant warrior.

Oh My

 

[ToriLammy]

.

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.

Hopefully all the able-bodied men and women if they ever reinstitute the draft.

 

[shrubber]

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.

IF ??????? !!!!

"If our country were attacked and our freedom..were ever threatened"

I really hope that your not serious

 

[Snowysmom]

As the mom of draft eligible young men, I would not want to see the draft return. If it did return, I would want it to include young men and young women. That would only be fair. From the reading I have been doing, the military does not want a draft. They want to have people in the service who want to be there and are highly trained. I have a great deal of respect for the men and women in the armed forces. They have a tough job and they do it very well. I also have my belief that the Iraq War is not about fighting for our freedom or for defense of our country. I believe that if the time did come when we had to fight to defend our country from attack that many, many people would be lining up to fight. People do love the freedoms we have and are willing to fight to protect our country. Just as an aside, I am rather surprised at the nastiness that this thread has generated. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opionions without being insulted. The OP was just expressing how she felt.

 

[hornedfrog]

Believe me...IF there were a draft for this particular war and either of my children recieved a draft notice (and didn't want to go), we would do everything possible (even leaving the country) to keep them from serving. This war has absolutely nothing to do with national security or freedom. My kids would not be forced into harm's way over oil and greed.

 

[SamRoc]

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

Your right, its amazing what lengths Bill Clinton took to avoid the draft

 

[Disney Doll]

No I would not leave the country.

There are many things that go on in this country that I do not agree with, and many of them can put people in harm's way.

That being said, it is my country, and here I will stay.

 

[Acklander]

Would I move to Canada if the draft was reinstated? No, I like where I live just fine, and besides I already did my time in the Army a zillion years ago so there would be no need for me to move to Canada. I do have a 22 year old son, but I'm not sure if they would take him if the draft was opened up. He had a bad knee from a football injury. If he was drafted I would support either way - in the military, or in Canada.

 

[disneymom3]

I'm sure I won't be able to properly express my thoughts in this answer but I'll give it a shot.

First, I have a son who is 20 years old and yes... every time I hear word of the draft I literally get sick to my stomach.. HOWEVER

We live in a country where we are fortunate to even be able to discuss this topic. All through our history, fathers, sons, uncles,brothers have given their lives so that we can live in a truly free country. Of course, not all of them agreed with the battle they were fighting but they fought for their country in spite of that. For their sacrifices I am truly thankful. I am very proud of all that serve in our military. While they serve,my son is able to attend college and live his life due to their dedication. I don't want my son to go to war but the mothers who have lost sons didn't want to make their sacrifice either.

So to answer your question.. No.. I would not move to avoid the draft. I would just pray even harder and longer than I do now.

I think you stated this beautifully and I agree with you completely. No, I would never move and if my sons were drafted I would pray hard everyday as I do for the men and women fighting the war now.

 

[lookingforward]

I have not read every post but here is my take as a mother of two teenage boys AND wife to a retired USMC officer who served 26 years of honorable service (with me tagging along for ten of those years)....

I do not want the draft because a volunteer force is much more motivated. That said, IF they had to reinstate the draft I believe it should be across the board...NOT just for kids who can't afford college or who can't dream up a waiver. During Vietnam...(which my husband served in) most of the kids were those who were from limited means. As soon as our congressmen and women's kids are serving and President Bush's family signs their eligible aged kids up to serve then mine will serve if called too.

I am not against a military career or service either. But if you are going to mandate service than it should be for EVERYONE physically and mentally capable.

 

[kirbsam]

its funny how we forget our history. a man named hitler once wanted a little land, so the spineless europeons let him have it, if he promised to play nice. no threat to the us, right? fast forward to now, a man named saddam wanted a little land, kuwait, i think. we stopped him. now he has a few years to rethink things, get an arsenal, commit genocide in his own country, threaten others, use chemical weapons, destroy them, retain the capacity to make them when the time is right. no threat to us, right? people may not think this war is about us, but global security is our business. how long before saddam had nukes? 5 years? then what? i understand that preemptive strikes are not popular in this country, but remember that clinton tried to get osama before 911. and if he was successful, maybe 911 wold not have happened. faulty intelligence in iraq? sure. but getting rid of saddam was a good thing. and i believe it makes us and the world a better, safer place. and who knows the unspeakable horrors that it prevented. this war stinks, make no mistake, but saddam in power was and is far worse.

 

[GeorgeHamilton]

If there is a draft, one thing is for certain, the "gay in the military" issue will be solved. Heck, all the states in one fell swoop will say "gay marraige, why not? Just as long as they are in the draft lottery and will be made to serve if picked.

 

[MosMom]

We wouldn't move to Canada (even though we could) but I might cut his foot off or poke him in one eye.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

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.

In the most respectful way possible, I would suggest avoiding the rush and leaving now.

 

[Thizz]

As a Muslim, I am thoroughly opposed to violence, and my long history as a muslim would prevent my service. With that being said, If I weren't, and I was called to the drafting office, I'd either pull a Malcolm X, or start up the draft card burning again.

 

[Longsx3]

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 wonder if your son would want to go to Canada with you??