When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
The draft is being proposed by a black NY rep as more fair than using the Reserves.
During the Vientam war back in the '70s, youngsters fought to end the draft. Being the children of the baby boom, their numbers were significant enough to be heard. They tore up their draft cards and chanted 'hell, no! we won't go!'
I've heard a few peace activists wonder why there is so little interest in the anti-war movement on campuses now , and surely this is why. Our leaders have substituted the Reserves for the draft; an agressive marketing campaign over the past couple of decades has made it largely unnecessary to use the draft.
Reality makes a mockery of the notion of a volunteer army, however.
People with low expectations or limited resources are being persuaded they will get a college degree or a useful trade, or both, by giving up a few weekends to an exercise class. Meanwhile, the colleges are filled with kids who believe everyone else is out for himself, and that they themselves ought to be, so they are stifling any hint of altruism and going after their own apple. In families who can manage the expenses of college, very few sign up for the Reserves.
The result is that those fighting are not Yalies, but jailies -- people with little expectation of making it otherwise.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Not Yalies, but jailies
The draft is being proposed by a black NY rep as more fair than using the Reserves.
Representative Charles B. Rangel, Democrat of New York, introduced legislation to reinstate the draft, saying the move is necessary to achieve a full sharing of the sacrifice which will be required of the American people if the president chooses to invade Iraq and pursues military options elsewhere. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld emphatically opposed the idea. -- NY Times, 1-8-03
During the Vientam war back in the '70s, youngsters fought to end the draft. Being the children of the baby boom, their numbers were significant enough to be heard. They tore up their draft cards and chanted 'hell, no! we won't go!'
I've heard a few peace activists wonder why there is so little interest in the anti-war movement on campuses now , and surely this is why. Our leaders have substituted the Reserves for the draft; an agressive marketing campaign over the past couple of decades has made it largely unnecessary to use the draft.
Reality makes a mockery of the notion of a volunteer army, however.
People with low expectations or limited resources are being persuaded they will get a college degree or a useful trade, or both, by giving up a few weekends to an exercise class. Meanwhile, the colleges are filled with kids who believe everyone else is out for himself, and that they themselves ought to be, so they are stifling any hint of altruism and going after their own apple. In families who can manage the expenses of college, very few sign up for the Reserves.
The result is that those fighting are not Yalies, but jailies -- people with little expectation of making it otherwise.
Palema
5:04 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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