I support a draft
REP. CHARLES RANGEL published Why I want the draft:
"If this war is the threat to our national security that the Bush administration insists it is, then the President should issue a call for all Americans to sacrifice for the nation's defense. If there must be a sacrifice, then the burden must be shared fairly."
I agree with Rep. Rangel. Yet, I disagree with some of the other things, such as that the military is for poor people.
In fact, the military is attracting top people.
See The Ivy Soldier BY SETH GITELL. See Who Are the Recruits? The Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Enlistment, 2003–2005:
"Recruits have a higher percentage of high school graduates and representation from Southern and rural areas. No evidence indicates exploitation of racial minorities (either by race or by race-weighted ZIP code areas). Finally, the distribution of household income of recruits is noticeably higher than that of the entire youth population.
Demographic evidence discredits the argument that a draft is necessary to enforce representation from racial and socioeconomic groups. Additionally, three of the four branches of the armed forces met their recruiting goals in fiscal year 2005, and Army reenlistments are the highest in the past five years."
Nevertheless, I have supported a draft for years. Everyone should serve. Everyone should get a taste of the real world that comes from wearing a uniform and understanding what this nation stands for.
Yes, I support a draft. I do not support Rep. Rangel's reasons!
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3 comments:
SC:
You have finally lost your mind!
I cannot believe that the father of three sons would even consider such a view! In the past month alone I have seen a family in our parish bury their young son. What a high price to pay for a needless war. Just last week, one of my best friends in college and in the Army, Lt. Col. Eric Kruger, was killed in Iraq. He leaves behind four children ranging in age from 12 years to 16 months. Eric was a professional solidier, who willingly volunteered; he knew the risks.
As a veteran of the United States Army, I oppose any effort to create a draft. As a father who has a 22 year old son, I don't want to see young boys being forced to put themselves in the line of fire in some political war. Read the facts at how this war was concocted by Rumsfeld and Chaney: Against All Enemies, Clark and State of Denial, Woodward.
The truth of the matter is that the rich don't serve. If the sons and daughters of rich congressmen were being killed in this war no one would be pushing for a draft. In fact, they would be looking are a quicker way to exit. Rangel, is misguided in his belief that his proposal will spark a debate about the war. There are too many war mongors like Rumsfeld who never served a day in combat who would jump on the chance of sending your three sons into the combat zone as mere pawns as mere "assets" in war.
There are ways our youth can experience the "real world." By the way - war is not the real world - IT'S HELL. If we want increased numbers in national service, why not urge them to volunteer in programs like Learn and Serve, Citizen Corps or even faith-based organizations. There are certainly safer and SANER options for teaching our youth "real world" lessons through national service.
SC:
You have finally lost your mind!
I cannot believe that the father of three sons would even consider such a view! In the past month alone I have seen a family in our parish bury their young son. What a high price to pay for a needless war. Just last week, one of my best friends in college and in the Army, Lt. Col. Eric Kruger, was killed in Iraq. He leaves behind four children ranging in age from 12 years to 16 months. Eric was a professional solidier, who willingly volunteered; he knew the risks.
As a veteran of the United States Army, I oppose any effort to create a draft. As a father who has a 22 year old son, I don't want to see young boys being forced to put themselves in the line of fire in some political war. Read the facts at how this war was concocted by Rumsfeld and Chaney: Against All Enemies, Clark and State of Denial, Woodward.
The truth of the matter is that the rich don't serve. If the sons and daughters of rich congressmen were being killed in this war no one would be pushing for a draft. In fact, they would be looking are a quicker way to exit. Rangel, is misguided in his belief that his proposal will spark a debate about the war. There are too many war mongors like Rumsfeld who never served a day in combat who would jump on the chance of sending your three sons into the combat zone as mere pawns as mere "assets" in war.
There are ways our youth can experience the "real world." By the way - war is not the real world - IT'S HELL. If we want increased numbers in national service, why not urge them to volunteer in programs like Learn and Serve, Citizen Corps or even faith-based organizations. There are certainly safer and SANER options for teaching our youth "real world" lessons through national service.
I am so sorry that you were brain washed. You have completely lost the ability to look at the war and our government in any other way. Life is not about killing other people in order to preserve freedom. War is not an inherent human trait. It is propagated by human dysfunctions like oppression, irrational needs for power, and the devaluing of human life. Perhaps you should encourage your children to get an education beyond high school before you encourage them to gain their smarts by dodging bullets somewhere in the Middle East. I don’t know how or what the fuck the military is telling their soldier in regards to why they are still fighting the corrupt “war on freedom”, but my hunch is telling me that it is all founded on lies. Did you know that this war isn’t really about freedom? It’s about energy comodification and a long unsettled need for money and power. So as you are sitting down with your child to encourage them to join the freedom fight…do you think any politician at capital hill is doing the same thing with their children? The answer is no, they know that this war is founded on money and lies and is being paid for by exploiting anyone who is looking for a way out of a desperate situation. With that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure what disadvantaged racial groups are the targets for military recruitment.
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