Reenacting the Draft and a “Free” Country
Conscription. To compel into service. Also known as, “the
draft”.
It may seem a relic of wars past and administrations gone by.
Something that happened for WWI and Vietnam — not in the 21st
century. Something that is a slap in the face to the 13th Amendment
(that’s the one banning slavery and involuntary servitude) and a
challenge to the spirit of what living in a free country is all
about.
Something that will never happen again, right?
Don’t kid yourself.
Last year two bills were introduced and are now in congressional
committees, (H.R. 163 of the House of Representatives and S. 89 of
the Senate) both known as the Universal National Service Act of
2003.
The purpose of the UNSA is, “to provide for the common defense
by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including
women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian
service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland
security and for other purposes.”
Just what exactly does “other purposes” entail? Empire upkeep
and expansion? Is it that we never intend to leave Iraq, or any
other corner of the world that would give us a tactical advantage,
and that we need a never-ending flow of new conscripts to enforce
our might?
The existence of the UNSA isn’t exactly coffee table
conversation (yet), so here are the greatest hits from the document
itself.
“It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and
every other person residing in the United States, who is between
the ages of 18 and 26, to perform a period of national service as
prescribed in this Act…”
That pretty much covers the great majority of those of you
reading this. Okay, so how does a young conscript under this Act
fulfill this national service? Either two years of military service
or two years “in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the
president, promotes the national defense, including national or
community service and homeland security.”
Ah, Motherland!
I’m all about people getting involved and helping out with the
community in charitable capacities. But the thing about
volunteering is it’s supposed to be voluntary.
And that whole, “as determined by the president,” thing is a tad
worrisome. Imagine if some nut job somehow gets into office and
uses this power to further an agenda that has as much to do about
protecting our freedom as the Iraqi war did with weapons of mass
destruction.
Think about that.
But take heart! There are ways of getting out of this mandatory
two-year sentence -uh…I mean service. Enlisting in the armed
services, enrolling as a cadet in a military school or being
accepted for officer training are all great ways to get out of
conscription. Sorry. Going to college is no longer an acceptable
deferment option.
But at least conscientious objectors who, for religious or other
beliefs, refuse to fight are kindly placed in non-combat military
situations, and some even allowed to transfer to the civilian
service program. Unless your objections and beliefs are against
involuntary servitude. That doesn’t count. Ask Thoreau.
I have never felt better about being 27 than I do now. But I
have a younger brother and sister whom this would affect and if I
should ever have children…
But breathe easy, comrade! The UNSA isn’t likely to pass this
year, as Bush would be more a fool than those Bushism calendars
make him out to be if he were to reinstate the draft right before
an election. But this fiscal year, $26 million is being devoted to
gearing up the Selective Service System to be ready in 2005
(www.sss.gov).
So, how old will you be next year?
Shannon is a senior majoring in technical journalism. Her weekly
columns proved to be too much for readers so Shannon’s column will
run every other Tuesday. Management apologizes for any
inconvenience.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.