In this week’s AP American please find a response that I wrote to a fellow American who does not agree with a possible future draft and basically wants everyone else to pay for his freedom. The e-mail is not meant to argue the merits of the draft, but simply to respond to his e-mail that I thought was disrespectful and did not contain much common sense.
Dear David,
I came across the e-mail that you had written to members of the of the US military concerning the draft, and how America would be communist to even think about re-instituting it. You say that the only people to agree with a draft would be the “dishonest Republicans”. You also state that you would never turn your kids over to the government. Before I attempt to respond to your remarks and thoughts I would like to give you some background pertaining to myself. I have served my country for more than 25 years as an active duty soldier and as a reservist as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces. I have three sons that are 23, 16 and 14 years of age. So you see, I not only have served my country as a soldier, but I too am also a father.
Conscription is a very serious and controversial issue. It was an institution that we as a people tolerated, and our government implemented throughout America’s history until the Vietnam War. It was in that era that we went to an all-volunteer service. In order to understand that decision and decipher the reasons behind that decision we must revisit that time period. First, Vietnam was a very unpopular war with the American people. There were many reasons for that but I feel the number one reason was the media coverage. This was the first time in American history that the “war” was shown nightly in our living rooms. We all got a chance to see the ugliness and ambiguity of war.
The 60’s and 70’s were the catalyst for many of the emotional bricks that make up America’s mindset today. So many things happened to America. We had “The Bay of Pigs”, the peace movement, Vietnam, the students killed at Kent State and the Civil Rights movement. We had a President assassinated along with other charismatic leaders that died much to soon in this time period. Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther king, Malcolm X and Medgar Evers to name just a few. We had a President resign office, as President Nixon did during the Watergate scandal. All these events changed the face of America forever. For the first time in America’s history the people seriously questioned our government. Their faith in government was diminished So you see a lot of politicians were fighting for their political lives. Could this be why conscription was terminated? Was it terminated for political expediency and not for the good of the country? I’m sure we could argue this point all day. I am convinced however, that just as doing away with the draft was political, not re-instating it is also political. Let’s face the truth. Because of the form of government that we both choose to live under; everything is political.
We have a lot of problems in this country. We have the highest prison population of any industrialized country per capita with 714 people out of every 100,000 being incarcerated. Suicide is increasing among our teens more than any other age group. Over 40 million people still don’t have adequate health insurance. Moral decay is an epidemic within our society. What can we do? What will save America? I don’t know the answer. But I do know that when the founding core of any institution is eliminated drastic results will occur. Any institution or system where faith has eroded will not stand. Look at America. We have become a country of ethic groups and individuals. We cannot even utter the word “American” without putting a description in front of it. Has America lost its founding core? I’m talking about “love of country.” Patriotism. The one thing that gave our fore fathers the strength and courage to stand up to tyranny and forge a new country. When we serve our country, even as draftees, we are not slaves as you stated in your e-mail. When slaves are put to work they will never reap the benefits of the product that they produce for their master. But we as Americans, volunteers or draftees, will reap the benefits of service to our country by being paid in liberty.
You may say that not everyone can have liberty here in America. Well, Some are discriminated against and equality is not always realized, but the potential for non-discrimination and equality is greater here than anywhere else on this earth my friend. You also stated “we just turn our children over to the government.” David, millions of Americans do this on a daily basis when they send their kids to a public school. Think about that. The same government that you will “not” turn your children over to in reference to the military, you gladly let educate them. Listen, I see both sides of the debate. If someone does not want to be in the military then I can see how they would be a liability and not an asset. But I also see that there are many young people who are drifting in this country. Turning to drugs and gangs in an attempt to find an identity. Never having to take responsibility for their actions, and never knowing how to be responsible. I’ve seen many young people get “turned around” in the service of their country. David, you can have your view. I respect it. Just make sure that you look at the whole picture.
As far as the words written by the Congressman you failed to identify that “agrees with your view; we can always find someone to agree with us on anything. His words and statistics support a “political” viewpoint that may or may not be good for this country. Would he still write this if the draft was popular and those written words would get him defeated in the next election? Only he knows. But this is what I know. Nothing in this world is free. There is a price tag on everything. Remember this the next time you let someone else pay for the freedoms that you enjoy and have. This is our house. We should all take part in its upkeep. Respectfully, A fellow American.
