You are NOT on the DirtyGreek.Org homepage. Please CLICK HERE to go there.
If you'll take a look at this report: SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN FY 2004, you may see that there seems to be some interesting plans for the next fiscal year. Wonder why?"The SSS Strategic Goals identified in the Agency’s Plan for FY 2001- 2006 are:
- INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF THE
MANPOWER DELIVERY SYSTEMS
- ENHANCE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE
- IMPROVE OVERALL REGISTRATION COMPLIANCE AND
SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC
- ENHANCE THE SYSTEM WHICH GUARANTEES THAT EACH
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR IS PROPERLY CLASSIFIED,
PLACED, AND MONITORED |
Well, if you read this article at Indy Media, this one at Salon, and this one at Statesman journal (`entry_id`,`time`,`title`,`body`,`topic`,`description`,`delicious`) , you'll see why.| "The community draft boards that became notorious for sending reluctant young men off to Vietnam have languished sinced the early 1970s, their membership ebbing and their purpose all but lost when the draft was ended. But a few weeks ago, on an obscure federal Web site devoted to the war on terrorism, the Bush administration quietly began a public campaign to bring the draft boards back to life. Especially for those who were of age to fight in the Vietnam, it is an ominous flashback of a message. Even floating the idea of a draft in the months before an election would be politically explosive, and the Pentagon last week was adamant that the push to staff up the draft boards is not a portent of things to come. Increasingly, however, military experts and even some influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan proves accurate, the U.S. may have no choice but to consider a draft to fully staff the nation's military in a time of global instability. |
Now, I don't think I need to tell anyone how Strategic Plan for FY 2001- 2006 are:
opposed I am to the idea of a draft. A "free country" should inherently contain no laws that force its people to do anything they don't want to, especially when it comes to situations like war. This is not just something that one either likes or doesn't like, in my opinion. I DESPISE war, and it is one of my major problems with society. It is, of course, inescapable under a system like capitalism, which by default assumes infinite growth in order to continue.
Friends, if you are some day called up to "defend your country" against your will, don't forget that you have many choices at your disposal.
1.) Conscientious Objection - According to the SSS itself, "A conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles." This is an actual legal arrangement that can, supposedly, get you discharged from the military.
2.) Burn your orders and/or just ignore them, and risk arrest like many of our parents did during Vietnam. Of course, with the current administration, the punishments will likely be more severe now. However, this is no reason to work for a killing machine if you don't feel you can.
3.) Leave the country. Unfortunately, according to the Indy Media article above, you may not be able to hide in College or Canada.| "Dodging the draft will be more difficult than those from the Vietnam era remember. College and Canada will not be options. In December 2001, Canada and the US signed a "Smart Border Declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Manley, and US Homeland Security Director, Gov. Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their cur-rent semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year. |
Not only that, but this is a much more cowardly way of getting out of the draft than the first two, and I wouldn't recommend it, because there's no telling what sort of "terrorism" you could be charged with in the current environment.
Here are some resources to help you out:
The Center on Conscience & War provides a lot of publications and advice to Objectors.
The Selective Service website alo explains what a CO is, and how you can be registered as one if you qualify.
No matter what, friends, don't let anyone make you head to the military unless you feel it's right. I know they won't take me.
|
