Posted on 08/04/2002 3:08:09 PM PDT by The Duke
Lately, even as I hear the war drums incessantly beating with regard to Iraq, I've heard numerous radio ads reminding all "young men" that registration for "selective service" is "the law".
Could it possibly be that a ressurection of the draft is being contemplated? And if so will this draft be "selective" in the sense that it won't "select" the children of our national leaders(?) (as apparently was the case with Vietnam?)
My own three boys are a few years from being eligable for such a draft, and I've shared with them my belief that the integrity of our leadership (Democrat and Republican alike) is highly suspect. I've also shared with them that the eight years prior to the current administration was proof that one can dodge the draft and even get elected President.
I would like to know what other Freepers think of the prospect of resurrecting the draft?
According to whose judgment though? Yours? The government I dont trust?
I probably will tell my now toddlers exactly that. That way, they can say the right things to challenge them.
I wish my parents had coached me so, as I'd have been a lot further on by this time.
Should I teach my children that priests have integrity, too?
So if the parents tell their kids that its not only okay to kill blacks and jews, its their duty, thats okay? How about if they convince their kids that the cops are a bunch of killers and if confronted fight to the death because the cops will just execute you on the spot any way (eg.Gordon Liddy).
There you go again, propping up empty, specious strawmen.
Yeah, instead we should all lie to our kids by telling them how much their government cares about them and always looks out for the best interests of the country. Right? Or maybe how virtuous our representatives our, or maybe how the world is really a great place, with only a few misguided individuals that occassionally cause problems (like Osama bin Laden) and that if we could only take care of these few misguided people, the world would become a paradise.
Is that the sort of message you'd like parents to give their children? Hmm? In today's world, the line between cynicism and realism is razor thin. The leadership of this country *is* highly suspect...unless you live with your head in the sand or have donned very thick rose colored glasses.
Tuor
Give me liberty or give me death.
The draft is immoral. And probably inefficient.
And it's much better than being a statist toady, too..
There will no doubt be room for some very strange exceptions, or at the very least some extremely peculiar language from the Surpremes.
Welcome home and welcome to FR! By the way, you have a lot of company here. Many of us served but are the better for it. I suspect you came through your time with a more realistic view of the world.
I have a suggestion: Put something of relevance on your FR personal profile. You will be pleased by the response over time.
Yes. 99% do.
By your logic, you should also tell your children that 50% of parents will divorce, that many parents neglect their children, and that there's more child sexual abuse by parents than by priests.
Make them afraid of you, too.
Unless (perish the thought) they are a lot like Clinton - a lot of talk to get others to fight but they won't even chance becomming a REMF like Gore. Of course Clinton is going in the Israeli army. He despises the American military. Aren't they lucky to get Clinton.
I spent so little time talking to my boys about government, I can't even remember what was said.
Instead, I taught them to take care of themselves, to respect other people, to give an employer a full days' work, to honor God by going to Mass every week, and by doing something for their community, on a regular basis.
They were both in the Army, and both are in law enforcement. They know as much about the dregs of society as anybody on this board, yet are more optimistic about the future than most on this board.
Teach kids to be cynical, they'll be cynical. Teach them to hate, they'll hate.
Teach them to respect and give people the benefit of the doubt, they'll develop a glass-half-full view of life.
Your's must have also been a don't do as I do, do as I say approach.
Still, it's very disconcerting to see Republicans falling into the same trap that kept them from a Congressional majority all through the '60s and '70s. The pundits who say politics stops at the water's edge haven't been near the west coast water recently. America's involvement in foreign wars, be it Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia or Afghanistan, is an entirely appropriate topic in a political campaign. When the lives of our younger generation are put at risk, you know there's going to be some heated discussion.
Curiously, one of Colorado's Republican Congressional candidates (hoping to replace Bob Shaffer, who's abiding by his term-limits pledge) spoke in favor or the draft and hardly anybody noticed until a local reporter picked up on her comments. Now that the story has taken legs, with mention in the Rocky Mountain News, you can bet it will become a major issue in the fall campaign -- if Musgrave survives the primary.
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