Despite post-Sept. 11 patriotism, many college students would evade draft

realcities.com ^ | June 20, 2002 | Cassio Furtado

[Conservative Chicagoan]

	Posted on Thu, Jun. 20, 2002
	Despite post-Sept. 11 patriotism, many college students would evade draft By Cassio Furtado Knight Ridder Newspapers WASHINGTON - Thirty-seven percent of American college students would try to evade the draft if one were called today, according to a nationwide poll released Thursday. The survey by Republican pollster Frank Luntz, which comes nine months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks prompted a surge in American patriotism, also shows that 79 percent of students do not think Western culture is superior to Arab culture. Asked whether they would accept being drafted into military service, another 35 percent said they would be willing to serve anywhere in the world, while 21 percent said they would serve only if stationed in the United States. Males were more willing to heed their country's call. Only 26 percent of men said they would "likely try to evade the draft," but 48 percent of women said they would. Luntz said there was a direct correlation between religion and willingness to serve in the military. "Those who attend church are much more likely to serve," Luntz said at a breakfast conference. He cited no data to support that. He also said students who were better informed about the U.S.-led war on terrorism were more supportive of the military. Many college students opposed the draft during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and `70s. Even in the first months after Sept. 11, there were signs that such sentiments remained popular on campuses. In October, a student poll at the University of Houston found that while 90 percent of the university's students supported military intervention in Afghanistan to topple the Taliban regime, only 20 percent would support a draft. In Luntz's poll, 60 percent of students agreed that developing an understanding of the values and history of other cultures and nations is a better way to prevent terrorism than investing in strong military and defense capabilities. In contrast, 79 percent supported removing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from power, including 58 percent of those who said they probably would evade a draft. Claude E. Welch, Jr., a professor of political science at the State University of New York at Buffalo, said the poll showed that many students were starting to understand the complexity of the conflict the United States was facing, even though colleges often did not require students to study other cultures in depth. "Understanding other cultures is something all of them should undertake," he said. College students are unfamiliar with many top federal officials, the telephone survey also showed. Only 19 percent knew that Condoleezza Rice is President Bush's national security adviser, and only 32 percent knew that Donald H. Rumsfeld is secretary of defense; one student awarded that Cabinet post to British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, on the other hand, was recognized by 55 percent. The poll of 634 students from 96 four-year colleges was sponsored by Americans for Victory Over Terrorism, a project of Empower.org, a conservative group led by William Bennett, who was a top government official in the Reagan and George Bush administrations. "College students ... need to know many things better: the virtues of American democracy, the role we play in the world and the names of players in that role," said Bennett. "This shows that we - parents, teachers, professors, and leaders - have a great deal of work to do." --- ONLINE The poll is available on the Web at www.avot.org --- (c) 2002, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

---

© 2001 krwashington and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.realcities.com

[Conservative Chicagoan]

This is what happens when we turn our young people over to leftists.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

This is what happens when people don't search before posting.

Depsite post-Sept. 11 patriotism, many college students would evade draft

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Depsite = Despite

[A Navy Vet]

"...only 32 percent knew that Donald H. Rumsfeld is secretary of defense; one student awarded that Cabinet post to British Prime Minister Tony Blair."

In a time of war and with Rummy's mug all over the media, this is just shameful. But then watching Leno's moronic "JayWalking" interviewees, guess I should be getting use to it.

[Fithal the Wise]

When asked why they would evade, many replied "I want my MTV"

[Commander8]

This may surprise some of you, but I oppose the draft. I just happen to believe that the uniform should be a symbol of patriotism not one of servitude, however if called I will answer the call, for the same reason why I pay income tax(as much as I would like to see the 16th Amendment repealed), render unto Ceasar.

[goodnesswins]

I'm for the draft....IF...it's for both MEN & WOMEN of age.

[Pyro7480]

Indeed. The education system has dumbed them down, indoctrinated them, or they just don't care. These are just sad statistics for my peers, but I'm not surprised one bit.

[Grut]

This is what happens when we turn our young people over to leftists.

This is what happens when we establish a track record like Vietnam with draftees; people have this irrational urge not to have their lives pissed away by incompetents.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Moot story, since there ain't going to BE a draft. We need motivated, trainable people in the military, not a bunch of whiny, sniveling sad-sack draftees (who leave the Service just as they are learning how to do their jobs, anyway).

Plus, the training base for a huge draftee Army has been carefully dismantled, and would take from 2 to 3 years to re-establish. (At least- I am postulating a crash program, with unlimited resources thrown at it).

This war will be fought by the Special Operations units, the Marines, and a lot of pilots and air support folks- not some dope-smoking hippies from Berkeley.

[eeman]

I readily agree with your statements. If we were to reinstitute the draft, the military would not value either the time nor the lives of the conscripted individuals. As a result, conscripts could be placed in even more precarious situations than otherwise occurrs in a volunteer system.

We would find ourselves deploying troops on even more meaningless peacekeeping exercises such as Bosnia. Additionally, there would be pressure to use these personnel as free labor in various domestic roles, just as the National Guard has been used for airport security. I am also sure that if we reinstituted the draft, there would be a provision so that draftees could spend their conscripted time performing domestic or social duties, such as manning the phones at the Democratic National Committee headquarters or working for the Rainbow Coalition.

If the military desires more personnel, they should be like any other organization-- go to the labor market and raise their wages or somehow make the job more attractive.

[poetknowit]

I cannot become a member of the U.S. Military because:

* I'm female and don't have to register
*I'm a student of the divinity; or a, minister, rabbi, priest, guru, mullah,
*I am a Sikh and I must wear an 18 foot turban which no helmet can cover
*I'm a peaceful Hindu or Buddist and I may have to go to Pakistan or India as there may be a war there
*I am a Muslim and I have to wear a beard so that gas masks cannot be of any use
*I have the "Right" to reproduce and I will not be able to participate in the breeding process if I am away from my mate (or mates depending on my religion)
*I am an illegal alien and not registered, if questioned, I will go home to "my country"
*I shall run away to France, Israel, Ireland and etc. nations with no extradition laws
*I am very gay, even if you didn't ask me: I told them
*I have a long criminal record
*I am an unfortunate person dependent on drugs (they gave me Ritalin since the 3rd grade and now I am a mess
*Bill Klinton is my role-model
*I know people in high places in government, Hollywood and in Harvard and Berkeley
*My rich uncle has a large ranch in Canada
*I can buy deferments on the right street corner to match my; Green cards, false passport, flight school license, driver's license, fake badges and so forth.

So all-in-all, I do not think the draft - if there is a new one - applies to poor little me , especially since I have so many new "Rights" that draftees in the past didn't have.

If all else fails and I am very talented, I can become a movie or TV star or a professioal athlete. After all, the troops need bread and circus entertainment, don't they? Shucks and gosh, that Patriotic enough, isn't it?

Go ahead, flak away; I'll be in the Excuse Bunker. With soooo many more. Bye the bye, IF EVERYONE ELSE MY AGE AND GENDER GOES , SO WILL I!

[john in missouri]

"Those who attend church are much more likely to serve," Luntz said at a breakfast conference.

Interesting.

[Jumper]

Easy solution; Federal monies are responsible for all the so called Public and Private Institutions of Higher Education, e.g., our Universities and Colleges - due to these schools acceptance of Federal Funds for "Social Programs".

Just cut funding from schools which do not register their students, schools which do not instill a sense of common responsibility incumbent upon individuals that will have devastating consequences for their schools and student-friends if they evade a draft.

Like it or not, college education today is not possible without the federal funds, except in the case of Hillsdale College which has a better record at compling with Fed Programs without taking money than most of those who do get the cash from a "Grateful Nation"....

Yep, cut the funds of schools for each and every student who evades, this should help change some of the "social" indoctrination when the Prof's realize that they can't get paid if they promote dissension against the government which gives the handouts that enable them to "educate" our youth....

[sharkdiver]

48 percent of women said that they would evade the draft. What further proof do you need that the feminazis or full of sh*t. Women should never be allowed to train nor serve with combat units. It is a precious waste of taxpayer money to equip females, train them to use combat arms and then when the sh*t hits the fan or they get pregneant they get to be moved to the rear. All of this is bad for moral and to unit cohesion. People who have never been in the military nor trained to go into battle have any understanding of the bond that grows between members of the military who train day in and day out to take the fight to our enemies.

[Conservative Chicagoan]

BUMP

[Conservative Chicagoan]

BUMP

[Conservative Chicagoan]

Well if you believe in God then you are more likely to understand how evil and dengerous the Muslims are.

[Conservative Chicagoan]

...And America will be defeated if everyone takes this atitude.