Posted on 10/07/2004 5:10:49 PM PDT by Flavius
ASHLAND — Opposed to the Iraq war, some Ashland and Talent teens and their parents are getting their ducks in a row, fearing a revival of the military draft.
They are creating conscientious objector files and searching out safe-haven countries, all in case what they consider likely or even inevitable comes to pass, regardless of who is elected president.
Nationwide rumors of a renewed draft, dormant since the end of the Vietnam War, have reached fever pitch with a hotly contested presidential election and the Selective Service System’s stepped-up efforts to recruit volunteers for the 1,980 draft boards around the country. That attempt at readiness appeared to propel speculation that was already traveling fast.
The U.S. House moved quickly Tuesday to quell draft fears by killing a long-dormant Democrat-sponsored bill that would have required two years of mandatory military service. The House vote was 402-2, with only two Democrats voting for the measure.
Republicans charged that Democrats created the bill to stir up fear and distrust of the Bush administration, while Democrats countered that Tuesday’s quick vote avoids a substantive discussion of how the military will accomplish its goals in Iraq and elsewhere with a volunteer force that is stretched too thin.
Advertisement Click here to view the RCC Business and Community Education schedule of classes. Although she expressed her opinion for this article before Tuesday’s House vote, Beckie Elgin, mother of three teens, was clearly worried about the possibility.
"I’m very concerned and scared about it and so are my kids," said Elgin. "The lives of our children are more valuable than any reasons we’re at war.
"... I’ll do whatever I have to do to not to let this happen. If it takes hiding them, I will."
For the last five months, Ashland-based Peace House, the Quaker church and a committee of "worried, anxious parents" have set up a draft counseling network, said Ashland activist Wendy Harris, mother of four boys ages 13 to 21.
"About 20 people came to the first meeting where we all shared our fears about the draft coming back," she said. "The issue is resonating in the community."
Many peace activists, conscientious objectors and military veterans from the Vietnam War era have joined the effort, creating a volunteer staff that will conduct training on draft resistance, Harris added.
One veteran of the 1970s draft-resistance movement, Dr. Robin Rose of Ashland, said she’s advising teen patients who have a "particular appreciation for world peace" on the need to establish their status as conscientious objectors early on, because "you just can’t show up and say you’re a CO like in the old days."
Rose said she sees this as part of her "holistic health perspective to help patients not participate in military action, because it’s bad for their health."
Rose said a well-documented file for conscientious objectors could include letters from ministers, doctors and others attesting that the draft-age person has a long, deeply held belief in peace that precludes participating in military conflict and committing violence against other humans.
Ashland High School nurse Susan Bizeau, mother of an 18-year-old boy, said they found guidance on the Web — even from the Selective Service’s own Web site — on how to apply for conscientious objector status to avoid the draft.
Bizeau’s son has joined the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a longtime interfaith peace group. She also said her son practices Tibetan Buddhism, whose followers vow not to kill.
While Bizeau’s son didn’t want to register with Selective Service as required by law when he turned 18, he did to get access to college financial aid, she said.
Many parents have filed forms with Ashland High School requesting their child’s name not be reported to the Selective Service during their junior year as required by President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, said Principal Jeff Schlecht, who mails the "opt-out forms" quarterly with the school’s newsletter to parents.
Schlecht also enforces a policy barring military recruiters on campus except in counseling offices and only if a student requests an appointment.
Army recruiter Sgt. 1st Class James Kaetzel of Medford said schools provide a list of all students and that becomes the database for volunteer recruiting.
Krista Johnson, mother of two teen boys, said she’s "alert, but not joining in the hysteria" because stories on National Public Radio have reported Congress will not revive the draft. She has not started conscientious objector files for her sons.
But others see what they think is a clear slide toward mandatory military service.
"Anytime you’re attacked on your own soil, it’s a different ball game," Bizeau said. "If there aren’t enough soldiers to fight and if the National Guard isn’t allowed to come home after one and two tours, it’s only logical the draft will be used."
Harris agreed: "Both Bush and Kerry say ‘no draft,’ but they’re also not elected yet. If there’s another terror attack or if we go to war in Iran or North Korea, there won’t be enough troops."
Harris said she is researching countries that wouldn’t extradite draft evaders and so far has come up with Nigeria, New Guinea and the Seychelles Islands.
"My sons are very dedicated to peace," said Harris. "Most kids can’t grasp what’s happening, but we should all have a plan. I’m in wait-and-see mode now, but I wouldn’t rule out leaving the country. It’s just not my first choice to live on a Third World island for the duration."
John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at jdarling@jeffnet.org
The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.
pucking fussies.
"Nigeria, New Guinea and the Seychelles Islands. "
Maybe they deserve to live there if they don't want to contribute to the safety of this counrty.
Plus, they could get drafted in those countries, too!
Huh? Excuse me, but did I miss something here?
Since when did the Democrats support the military enough to require mandatory service from its citizens? Intersesting also, that the two votes FOR this measure were Democrat also...
And they call themselves, patriots? I guess the real Americans will step in for them. They are probably the ones who moan and groan because "the government they hate so much" doesn't do enough for them. Let them be gone and stay gone.
BESLAN.
must read before posting, must read before posting...
Awhile back there was a story about some moron who convinced a friend to shoot him so he could avoid the draft. I'm torn between thinking the moron let someone shoot him so he wouldn't get shot at. And thinking the guy should sue the DNC for convincing him that he was getting drafted.
must read before posting.... must read before posting...
Should send a copy to the 5 Widows for Kerry.... guess they must agree.
I wondered what happened to my post.
hehe, guess I need to go back to lurking :)
Why in the heck didn't Bush stand up and say over and over at his rallys "I am NOT going to allow Charlie Rangel and the Democrats reinstate the Draft."
Sometimes not engaging in "military action" can be "bad for your health." I live WAY TOO close to Ashland--it is like Boulder CO and Ann Arbor. Full of people who do not realize there is no PEACE in appeasment!
And She's worried about a draft???? Don't they still practice cannibalism in a couple of those countries?
Just leave now, putzes.
And be sure and get new citizenship wherever you wind up, cause you ain't coming back here!
War and trouble seem to just follow people who run away from them. History of the house and family where Lee and Grant met at Appommatox Courthouse - the man who lived there had lived in the place where the Civil War started, but moved his family to a house in Appommatox Courthouse, VA so they would be safe "far away from the war".
Opposed to the Iraq war, some Ashland and Talent teens and their parents are getting their ducks in a row, fearing a revival of the military draft.
Waaaaah, waaaaaaaaah. Please Mr.President, I don't wanna go, oh waaaaaaaah.
Ever seen the list of (urgently) recommended vaccinations that are involved with visiting one of those garden spots?
"Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies..."
Keeping my mouth shut for fear of being banned..&^$%$#%%%%^^
I have to laugh at these idiots. With the PC state of the military today why not just have the kid get a Confederate Battle flag tattoo the day they turn 18. Then when they turn 27 they could have it removed. The military will not allow you to enlist if you have offensive tattoos. I doubt they would accept anyone that was drafted that had them. It would open up a class off lawsuits from those that were turned down for enlistment due to having them.
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