In the USA, there used to be the draft. The draft was used from World War II until 1973. Also in the Civil War, if I am wrong in these figures, please tell me.
My Great Debate is why someone should be compelled to join the armed forces, even if the country that they live in is being invaded. It is laudable that someone is willing to “die for their country”. Personally, I am willing to die for my wife. If we had any children, I would die to defend them too. If I was of draft age during the Vietnam War, I would of ran to Canada. In a second, a heartbeat. No way would I get killed in Vietnam. Muhammed Ali said it best and I am paraphrasing, “Those Vietcong never did anything to me.”
Maybe the politics that you espouse is not the politics of your country but of the country that your country is fighting. I am sure if it was 2003 and the USA was fighting Nazi Germany, the Aryan Nations people would not fight Germany. I am sure that if the USA fought a war against the USSR in 1951, Juluis Rosenberg would refuse to fight them, because of similiar ideological bent. The USA has freedom of speech, but maybe not freedom of thought.
My question is, what was the morality of the draft? Should not people decide if they want to join the armed forces to fight battles overseas, or maybe close to home? Should freedom of speech or conscience be extended to those who have opposite views of the USA? Would it have been more immoral for a young healthy man to refuse America’s wartime call in 1942 than 1972 because maybe the 1942 war was more moral and just? Is not the support of a war or a situation in American/world politics should be weighed by those who volunteer their time to fight in it?
What about poor kids like Jessica Lynch who join the Army only to raise money to attend college? Is this agood policy? Instead of draft, give goodies. Of course they did this 50 years ago.
Enuff ramblin’ , debate on.
GRADY