The Draft

[Limeoutsider]

Twin bills S 89 and HR 163 are currently pending in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The two bills, together called "The Universal National Service Act of 2003," if passed, would require all those between 18 and 26 years of age "perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes." This includes all young men, as well as young women, and college students would no longer be exempt. Check out the article for more information, and then

 

[the_Baron]

i'm not a big fan of drafts, but if for no other reason than molding Generations "X" and "Y" into contributing societal members, instead of the festering pussholes of misinformation and negativity that they are - i support it!

 

[Limeoutsider]

I dont think that its right that we can treat 18-whatever age badly because their teenagers, but then turn around and send them to die.

 

[Swimmingbird]

Not all of us are negative or give out misinformation. And those who do can hardly be blamed. The world is a dark and troubled place, like a hot Mississippi summer day, the humidity or despair our generation faces makes our sweat collect every spect of filth that this world has to offer. Not to mention it's a proven medical fact that our generations have gone through major evolutionary changes in the way our brains work and create emotions, mostly due to polution and over population.

Ah, just kidding, sarcasm bug was biting me. I'm against the draft, but if my generation is forced to fight, I'll die right there next to 'em, and not in some crazy peace-nik protest. I'll fight whoever shoots at us, which is an increasing number of people if I'm to believe everything I hear. Don't worry to much about our generation, whatever happens, happens. We'll be alright.

 

[the_Baron]

i like that response!

 

[Swimmingbird]

Hah, might have been better if I didn't misspell a few words, time to work on my typing skills again.

I sometimes have conflicting views on my generation, I usually get along with just about anyone, but I'll have to try to steer the conversation away from negative thoughts or subjects mostly. I suppose we are a negative bunch as a whole. One good thing about them is that a lot of the girls let me tickle them, so it's not all bad. Well, that's it for me on ta-ta-talking about my generation.

 

[leafstk]

I agree with Lime. The draft is just wrong, especially since it looks like a majority of the population in the U.S. does not support the war in Iraq. Remember the Nam? They should just get the hell outta there.

 

[the_Baron]

Blame Canada

 

[Swimmingbird]

I'll tell you another thing about Canada, their beer sucks too

*gets jumped by a bunch of Canadians at a hockey game*

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

"And other purposes" is what worries me. I was in J.R.O.T.C in highschool by my own choice. Believe it or not, my initial reason for wanting to join was because of the uniform. I like getting dressed up, and having a professional looking uniform on, with medals, and ribbons and honors, that just made it more appealing.

I somehow naturally fit in there, and when I decided to leave after my junior year, I was even offered a position to run for Company Commander for the following year. In retrospect, maybe I should have taken it. It would have made me an officer, and people would have had to salute me and call me sir. The farthest I got was Master Sergeant. Thats the highest possible non-commissioned rank. I left because my classes were demanding more from me and I just didn't have enough time to make room for both. Passing high school was more important to me. My grades were slipping all around and ROTC was taking up too much of my mental energies. And besides, some people treated me with the respect of an officer anyways, so it was all good.

Not to make light of it all, and I know that it was just J.R.O.T.C and that REAL military service is totally different. My point is though, if you haven't stopped reading, that I would have been somewhat prepared for active military service. But I graduated in 2001, and alot of my self-conditioning and the conditioning of the program has worn off. I'm 21 years old, going to be 22 in August.

In all seriousness, the thought of being sent to the front lines to die for some God-forsaken cause really disturbs me. What more am I than a meat shield to protect more important assets? I believe there is no price for a human life, and its a shame war is a thing that takes it by the thousands.

I believe in duty and service for the greater good. But I don't know that I'd want to take another person's life. If forced to, me or him, of course I'd shoot. But its like someone else taking my morals away from me and flushing them down the toilet. I don't appriciate that, and as an american it disgraces me.

Though I know God, family, and country would forgive me, I'm not so sure I could forgive myself. Its not so much the war, its how it changes people. Sure, death and carnage are a horrible extreme, but the aftermath is just as bad.

 

[Swimmingbird]

I thought the highest non-commissioned rank was Command Sgt. Major, though I could be off my rocker before I even got on it. I had a lot of fun in J.R.O.T.C. as well, it was a little strange, I was only in for one year, but I was usually selected to lead the higher ranking students in marching or in paint-ball games we'd have on the week ends.

I think my biggest qualm about fighting in Iraq would be that I don't really trust the American government at this point and time to be making morally correct judgements. I don't hate America, but I'm not fond of the Bush administration. About the war, as a civilian, it's really hard to get the facts. Propaganda'za flying. I'll still fight if they tell me to for the sack of comradery of the American army, but not if we attack Europe or something crazy along those lines. That would be a funny Bush campagnain. "By 2004 Iraq and Afghanistan, by 2008 the world!"

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

No no, you are right. Com. Sgt. Major is the highest rank of non-commissioned officer, but I didn't mention it because its only normally held by the actual Com. Sgt. Major of the battalion. Its not normally given through promotion. The norm is for a Mst. Sgt. to take the officer's test to become a 2nd lieutenant.

As for me, I was the S-2 (material officer) for Alpha company as well as 1st squad leader.

It was actually fun. I also gave uniform inspections here and there when allowed. I had to be careful though to not stare at the female cadets for any extended ammount of time so as to avoid a breakdown in discipline and of rank, which would have been commited on their part, since I sure as hell wasn't going to put my postition and rank in jeoprody.

As for the war, I ultimately believe that whether whats happening is right or wrong, the world will be affected by it and events will be set into motion either way.

 

[JoBelle]

I actually think in today's climate that a draft will be a necessary evil. There are more than a few countries in the world that have NoooOOooooo problem rousing their people to take up arms against the US among others while our young people (and old) settle back on their heels waiting for the next "civil protest" or video game release to be scheduled. Hell, lately it seems our so-called "friends of America" are a reason for the US to keep a strong military. 😉

I have been thinking lately about this type of thing. What do the anti-war, anti-military, anti-government, anti-anything-that-reeks-of-a-conservative-bent... just what do they think would improve the world? I was a raging liberal for many years then I woke up with a kid and realized that sometimes you just cannot be good to everyone. It doesn't work. There are just too many people in this world that will knock you down. Sometimes you have to prepare yourself for the dismal and unfortunate facts of life. Sometimes you have to do things like impose guidelines or demands (like a draft). Without them, you have nothing but a country full of people with no sense of being accountable to anyone besides their own. Talk about segregation! Check out any college campus nowadays and you'll see it. Lots of talk in the world about racism based on color when most predjudice is based on someone's being dependent on daddy's pocketbook or whether tey approve of killing babies in utero. You can make anybody sound bad if your try. This country is a whirlwind of overly inflated egos and dramatized senses of purpose with absolutely nothing to show on the practical side. If it continues on this path with no demands on the members of society that can't be avoided, then it's going to crumble sure as rain.

Ugh...nevermind. I'm pisseed at the world today....someone has stolen my cat. My Burmese baby. And between the tears over that, among other things...I'd like to move to a little island and never come back. BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Jo

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

To sum up what you said in one word- complacency.

We cannot afford any more of it. Be we should also not overstock in troop count, especially if it would be that that many numbers aren't even necessary to maintain law, order, and "peace".

And I'm sorry about your cat. I hope the person who took it will have a guilty conscience and a change of heart, and give it back!

 

[leafstk]

Blame Canada

LOL, the classic rant 😉 😀 Hey, we're easy targets 😎

 

[leafstk]

I'll tell you another thing about Canada, their beer sucks too

*gets jumped by a bunch of Canadians at a hockey game*

Why you little!!! 😛 LMAO You bet you'd get jumped, LOL 😉 Hey, what's that classic beer commercial referring to US beer? Oh yes, "If I wanted water, I'd ask for water!!" 😀 😎

 

[maverick83]

There's alot I have to say about this issue...most of it, I am not going to post here, in the interest of avoiding conflict. I'm sure I would be called unamerican...hell, I'm pretty sure I am unamerican. I just get tired of the "Like it or leave it" attitude. I prefer the thought of changing it. My input on the topic basically comes down to: Land Of The Free, my ass. Sorry if that didn't make much sense. Like I said, I had to mentally edit it to avoid conflict. There are some things you just can't say in public....come to think of it, Freedom of Speech, my ass.