Mandatory Military Service

Other countries do it. Some people think we should. I am not one of those people, although -strangely- my parents are. What do you think? Why or why not?

 

I am of an age when the draft was still in effect in the US. I got drafted in 1966 and got out 2 years later. Fortunately I came home without blood on my hands or heart. I'm totally opposed to the draft into the military. The idea of 2 years of mandatory service to the country does not bother me though. There are a lot of people who could learn useful skills in a variety of fields. I look around southern Illinois at the work done by the CCC Civilian Conservation Corp and I'm totally impressed. They did work that has lasted generations and will endure for years more. Buildings, stonework, arts, all kind of people friendly skills were taught.
If service to the country were like that sure, why not. The Military....some people like it so let em go...but not me and not my kids I hope.

 

A mandatory military service would seem to imply that we owe our country something just because we're born on its crown land. I don't believe that to be the case. My city and country ask me to contribute by paying taxes, so I do. I benefit from universal health care, city maintained bicycle paths, public parks, etc.

I don't see how I benefit from the military nor do I feel that I owe my country anything, especially not my life, freedom, and/or morality (if I were forced to kill for it).

I could live in any country, I won't serve for one just because I was born in it. If forced to I'd simply go live somewhere else. Life is free.

 

I agree with Yaraparios' take on things but not necessarily for the same reasons. The last good war America was in was WWII. The day after the raid on Pearl Harbor 1,000,000 American men volunteered for duty.

I'm not sure about the Korean War but all the wars after have been illegal wars. I say illegal because America did not Declare war on the countries we sent troops to.

When we went to Iraq initially I was all for it. Find Saddam, put him on trial, find him guilty then take him outside and shoot him. Same deal with Bin Laden. Now over the last what, 10 years and we are still there. Used to be when a country won a war they got the spoils. If that had of been the case we would be paying 4 bits a gallon instead of $4 a gallon. Pump every drop of oil out of the ground in Iraq and give Iraq didley squat for it and then leave. Pull out all our troops, clear out our bases and then destroy them so the Iraqis could not use left behind infrastructure.

The war in Iraq has become Americas second Viet Nam War. Our people are getting killed for nothing. They aren't fighting for my freedom or yours. Our freedom was fought for and won by all who served in WWII.

 

I cant think of a single thing from the Army that has helped or benefited me in life. My best memory is winning a 'Most improved' bowling trophy.

 

my dad and my brothers all did military service, all the men do 2 years, didn't seem to do them any harm, or though i'm not sure about the youngest brother, he's nuts anyway.

 

My military service didn't do me any harm. It helped that I didn't have to carry a gun. But it was not the smartest decision I ever made. I do not think that anyone should be forced into military service.

On the other hand I could support mandatory community service of some sort. Being required to do something that you do not really want to is a valuable growth opportunity. And community service is valuable in itself.

 

damn, you went blowing while in the Army/.. fauk... I never got to go bowling..

 

Dude, I love the blowing typo. That most likely would've gotten him out of military service.

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

Yeap, we had bowling leagues. Nice bowling ally right on post at Ft. Jackson. We were the worst team until, a guy from Cincinnati joined who was a youth professional bowler or something and we turned our team average around and got 'Most Improved'. The colonial gave us a trophy at the end of leagues and I gave it to my CO and he put it in a trophy cabinet.

 

eh im fine with it

 

to me, it's just plain slavery. so no, i don't agree with it.

 

A few years ago, I would have agreed wholeheartedly that every male should be mandated at least two years of military service. Now, that we've gained nothing by being involved in so many fiascos around the world, I wouldn't ask another to put himself in possible peril at the whim of a left-wing idealist as many of our politicians sadly are. Unfortunately, the time may have past when we could defend our nation from evil without having it invaded.

The training I went through in the Army taught me to be more self-reliant and to be someone others could depend on -- to complete the mission regardless of hardship or obstacle and without excuse. That training is one reason that I'm still alive and has helped me enormously in life since that time.

Other military experiences made me realize that the really important things in life can't be bought with money or bartered with goods. Every day, I try to be worthy of the sacrifices others made -- with hope and doubt that my own service will make the service of others unnecessary.



"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

 

A military draft would most likely mean the general public would be paying attention to what the government was doing and that is probably the only reason we're not seeing one now and likely won't for the foreseeable future. The very powerful show little interest in cleaning up their act and our inattention and apathy furnish the cover needed. Whether or not we can be made conscripts does not change the ownership we as citizens have in the exploits performed by our government and military.

 

Here's something to think about.

When I was 18, during Viet Nam and the Draft, I had a high school art teacher who stated that young men who had no vested interest, owned nothing (no property), had not lived their lives yet, and/ or had never been laid, should be the very last people to be allowed into the military.

The first people to be placed into the military should be men that are 35 or older only, and who have a vested interest. Those with something at stake. In other words something to lose, like owned land, and owned house, an owned farm, a real business that they themselves owned or operated. An actual read stake in the country. And have a Family as well.

The point that he was making is that if this were the case, then we would never be at war. Ever.

 

Mandatory reserve service would not bother me: In a country that's not morally backwards and run by a prison/war industry.

So in the US, I would do anything to avoid service, even reserve service. However, if the US was to put into place the policies that I think it should, I would not be opposed to also requiring service.

In this way, we could require very few to be active (and still do that by volunteer) but have a tremendous trained indigenous fighting force. We'd go from a rifle behind every blade of grass (what kept us from having a fight on home soil in WWII) to having a DAMN well trained, high quality rifle or 3 behind every blade of grass.

Not to mention, it would actually help the weapons industry, while promoting safe gun handling and solving gun violence problems, like in other countries that require service and each citizen to have their service weapon at home. It would be millions upon millions of weapons orders for the US, massive manufacturing boom, and if we had the right requirements, ONLY us manufactured weapons would be used-would be great for us.

But I can't even think of supporting that idea until we're not fighting immoral wars against our own citizens, and the citizens of all sorts of countries around the world, not to mention forcing other governments to wage wars on their own citizens.

Also, it would force political involvement by anyone who cared about their own future. You couldn't fight meaningless wars on false pretenses if every american was in the same situation as those being sent to die for people to get rich, there would be public outcry, and a military coup if those in power wouldn't budge.

 

Spending any time at all in a military changes who you are. You can never be your original self, ever again.

What man has the right to warp who you are?
Also:
slavery.
Prison.
Involuntary capture.
Forced labor.
Brainwashing

Just a FREE Thought. :sunny:

 

I support a 2 year Mandatory Pacifist Service. If every country had one, no more war!

 

"…and I'd rather have my Country die for me."

Grace Slick

 

It doesn't have to be the current US military. There's no question that's evil. But hypothetically, if the military was totally restructured, it could be acceptable.