During the Vietnam War, as you know, the draft was heavily relied upon to enlist soldiers. The first drawing for the draft in Vietnam was first held on December 1, 1969 and the last was in March of 1975. As you may know, there was a list of exemptions or deferments that one might use to get out of service if they were drafted, such as: conscientious objector, currently enrolled in school, etc.
While people have not been drafted in recent memory, the draft still exists, just as you know because many of you had to sign up for "selective service" when you turned 18. As you likely are aware, tensions are quite high right now all over the world (Syria, terrorism, Isis, North Korea). It's not that inconceivable that the draft could be used again in the future.
For this blog, think about and respond to one of the following questions:
1) If the draft was reenacted, how would you feel? Do you think this would be a good idea, or not?
2) Imagine that you received a letter for selected service and were expected to be immediately available for military service. Would you proud to serve your country, frightened, a deserter, etc?
If I received a letter for selected service and was expected to be immediately available for service, I would initially feel very shocked. This is because I would be pulled away from my current society and goals and be given a whole new different purpose, whether I liked it or not. I certainly would obide by the laws and wouldn't desert, but I honestly would feel quite distasteful at first. I wouldn't really know if I would come to appreciate the opportunity or not (as it depends what tasks are assigned to me) but I certainly know my initial reaction.
ReplyDeleteIf I received a letter telling me that I was drafted, I would be completely frightened because war is very detrimental. I would be scared, but because it is our "duty" to serve the country, I should be proud and honored to fight for our country. But overall, I would be completely terrified because war is unpredictable.
ReplyDelete2) I'd be extremely worried and becoming a deserter is a very real possibility (would have to take into account consequences etc.) To just be forced into essentially dropping your future to train and fight isn't something to laugh at. Especially for those who may not have the will to be able to take another life. Two years is a long time. A lot can change. You might change. Trying to come back to your original path may be extremely difficult. Selective service is just to sudden and too big in order for me to not be worried.
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ReplyDeleteIf I received a letter for selected service and was expected to serve immediately, I would be hit with several different emotions. First, I would not be "a deserter", as this is a crime and I don't believe it is the right way to deal with it, even if I didn't want to go. A big variable for me would be the reason we are at war and therefore the reason I am being drafted. It would be a lot easier for me to accept and play my role in the war if I believed the reason for the war was legitimate. Yet, if I believed the reason was not valid, I would be hesitant. In any case, I signed up, so I would serve and do my best to be proud of that fact. I would most certainly be filled with fear, especially depending on the situation and degree of war.
I would probably be pretty mad if we had a draft and would do just about everything to not fight. If I got out of it by being a student, that would be my first choice. If I couldn't do that, I'm sure I would be able to get out of it somehow by offering computer services (maybe by registering for the Navy and hacking or something like that). If they didn't give me any other option, I would probably shoot myself in the foot because I'm 100% sure I would be indefinitely more useful behind a computer than on the ground, and them not letting me serve the country that way would be extremely stupid.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic comment
DeleteI like your comment Graham. I am the same way, I think I would be pretty angry about the draft. I don't know if women are drafted, but I think we should be able to pick our field and where we would best fit in because I know that I couldn't go out. I'd be shot immediately and well that would suck.
DeleteI would not be in favor of the draft being reinstated as I believe it creates tension in the country. Sending people to war who may not want to is in itself a flawed philosophy. However if completely necessary it must be done and if I were to be drafted I would serve. I would be incredibly frightened but I hope that I could put those feelings aside in order to serve my country.
ReplyDeleteIf the draft was reenacted, I would feel a little upset about the situation because I know that when in place, the wives and girlfriends had this constant worry about their husband or boyfriend and not knowing what they are doing and if they are okay and vice versa. Picture having a child and then all of sudden your husband was then drafted and you're left raising your kid by yourself, making money, and not knowing if you're husband will come out alive. I mean I definitely think that if this was the only solution into getting men into war then we have to come up with a system in order to protect our country. I think it is a scary feeling and quite a shock not knowing how to react and adjust your whole life to this. It scares me knowing that you could lose some one your so close with and not having any power to change that or preventing it from happening.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to receive a letter that I had been selected for the draft, I would be horrified. I would absolutely be scared out of my wits to be sent off somewhere in order to fight in a war. Even if it was for our country, I would definitely be against it and not want to fight. I think that military servicemen and women are extremely honorable and I am so happy that people fight to protect our country, but it is not for me. The only form of service that I would even possibly consider would be non combative. Honestly, if I were to be drafted I would probably do everything in my power to get out of it.
ReplyDeleteI think that I would most definitely be frightened to receive a letter or know someone who receives a letter for selected service. A letter would mean putting one's entire life on pause to serve the country. It could mean injury, death, or mental instability. I think if I were to receive the letter, I would not be proud; I would be angry. I would be disappointed and disturbed that our country believes it necessary to embark on such an intense war in order to resolve its conflicts.
ReplyDeleteIf the draft was reenacted I would be more surprised then anything else. In today's age the US military has enough allies, technological advances, and pure size that a draft would be a worst case scenario, almost like a fall back plan. If it were reinstated I would definitely be scared, but it also depends on the conflict the US is involved in. In a war like Vietnam, for some which seemed like a fight with out a clear cause, I would clearly be opposed to risking my life and others for a political fight. But in a case like North Korea or the Middle East where basic human rights are being stripped from entire populations, then that is different and my opinions would change. I would still be nervous and scared, but would go more willingly if I were drafted.
ReplyDeleteIf I received a letter for selected service and was expected to be immediately available for military service, I would be scared. I would be scared of both the enemy and the government. I am not good in situations where I don't know what's happening, and that is war. I am not good with making snap decisions, and that is combat. I would also no longer trust the government to do right by me. Right now, Veteran's Affairs is a mess, but it doesn't affect me so I don't think about it often. I would be afraid of the government that would demand I risk my life for something I may not believe in, and I would be afraid of the government that would discard me afterword. I would be too afraid to desert, because I would have no future to come back to. I doubt the government would let it slide, and colleges and businesses would surely take it into account when considering me. Right now, I have a future. I would be afraid of the government that would take that away.
ReplyDelete1.) In my opinion, the draft is a very complicated issue. In one sense, if a draft was re enacted, I would accept it as I know it is usually necessary for the security of our country. In this situation, I would also hope the a conflict is justified. This being said, I do not think a draft takes into account what will ultimately benefit our country. As a developed country, we are constantly relying on new generations to make changes, and in my opinion a draft stifles the contributions that a specific generation can bring. In order to fully thrive as a country I believe each person must do what is best for them, and a draft makes this impossible.
ReplyDeleteIf I received a letter for selected service I would fear for my life. Over the years I have imagined many things I would like to do when I am older and have come up with many goals I would like to achieve. I would be very nervous because now, I wouldn't be able to envision my future due to the fact that I wouldn't know what would be ahead of me.
ReplyDeleteIf I received a letter saying that I was being drafted I would definitely be frightened and terrified. However inn some cases the draft is a good and necessary tool.The draft is good in some cases where we need people to fight our country and it is hard during a time of war to get people to do that willingly, so it provides us with the necessary man power. If the draft was reenacted I believe that few people would be pleased about this, just like few people wanted to be drafted during the Vietnam war.
ReplyDeleteIn any conceivable future I would think that the draft would be a bad idea. In today's world there is no need for a large conventional army and there is no need to fight any large scale wars in the world currently. I would also be upset because I do not believe that the war would be a justified one, because the USA does not have a good track record for when to involve ourselves and which side to choose(other than WWII, Nazis are bad). I also come from enough money and prestige that I could avoid the draft were a draft enacted. However, if many many things changed and I was somehow forced to join the military I would be very upset and possibly flee to Canada or some other country without a draft. I would not have a moral issue with that because in our current world I cannot think of a way that the US military could have a positive impact through a large scale war. Even if something like WWII happened and there was a war that we were clearly on the correct side of and needed to be fought then I would likely try to join the military before being drafted so I could choose how I wanted to serve the cause
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DeleteIf the draft were to be reenacted, I would not be psyched. I think the draft is a good idea but only in the case that the US military genuinely needs more soilders, and if going to war is the best option. I don't think it would be fair if just the men had to serve, and there would be a lot of protest to make it equal for both men and women to get drafted. If received a letter in the mail saying I had to go to war, I would definitely be frightened. I would not be prepared, and I would try my best to get myself out of doing it; but if I truly believed that going to war was the best option, and would benefit our world as a whole, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.
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ReplyDelete2) Imagine that you received a letter for selected service and were expected to be immediately available for military service. Would you proud to serve your country, frightened, a deserter, etc?
If I received a letter expecting me to join the military, my gut reaction would be absolute terror. It would cause me to not get the education I want and therefore not the future I have planned. It would bring my life down a path I would never have wanted for myself. I also do not have a good personality to join the military... I tend to be more of a "softy," where I hate being surrounded by sadness and death and could definitely not withstand military training. However, from another prospective, I would be a little proud of my country amidst my fear of fighting for it. This is because if they had drafted me, this would mean that they finally added women to the draft, thus bringing the USA closer to equality between men and women. I am not quite sure if I would desert, because I would not know just how terrifying it was unless I experienced it. It would probably cross my mind, but I would most likely end up going into the military anyways.
Personally I would be opposed to reinstating the draft as the US has the largest standing military in the world . Sending people into war who are opposed to the war not only decreases public support for the war. I know that personally, I don't qualify for service even if drafted and therefore wouldn't have to serve. But if I had to I would probably choose an option that used my skills and wasn't just the army.
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ReplyDeleteEverything in life happens for a reason, therefore, if I were to be drafted into the military, i would be accepting, but nothing more. I do not picture myself fighting others in war, and because of that, I wouldn't know what to think of it. If I were to be drafted, I would fight for my country without hesitation; however, I wouldn't have the same drive as others. I have no interest in shooting others that I don't know, therefore, I believe I would make a better nurse or other side job. I would prefer my love for America shine through saving others, rather than shooting them. Of course, if I was forced to be on the battlefield, I would fight for my life, but I have high hopes of being given another job to help others or fix problems. My skills would be more utilized in this position, and would make me feel helpful, like my work means something and is benefiting the country. Regardless of where my position is in the war, overall as long as I’m happy and feel like I'm helping rather than harming others, I will be content with the situation of being drafted, as long as I am not forced to carry a weapon and use it.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to receive a letter for selected service and was expected to be immediately available for military service I would be terrified. I would be scared because I wouldn't like the immediate change. Due to the fact that the US is not active in drafting people our age are not as encouraged to enlist as those who are our age in other countries. In school we have read many novels over the brutality of war and the life long impacts it has on soldiers. This has given me an overall negative outlook on war. I would not like to be forced to fight in a war that I may not agree with what I'm fighting for. Although I would like to say I would be proud to fight and honor the country but rather I am the type to look up to them and respect those who fight but am not courageous enough to fight along side with them
2.) If I was selected for selected service I would be both mad and frightened. Even though it is an American's civil duty to serve their country and my farther, grandfathers and uncle were in the army I would still find away to avoid the draft. For starters I have seen what war can do to an individual and the struggles they live with after the war. But i have also seen the advantages to those who don't see battle but were in the navy. PTSD is very common with men and women that go to war and seen some sort of action and based on statistics, a lot of people drafted join the front lines where they have depleted numbers. Also, i'm against killing of any kind and i'm terrified to kill anything that has feelings and I would freeze and be a liability.
ReplyDelete-Brendan Cramphorn
The idea of reenacting the draft for war is a very frightening thought. Unless people have a similar life plan for their future intact already, clearly being drafted for war would not be a pleasing experience. However, as far as I can see, we would not have an alternative. There would be people who volunteered themselves, but that would not nearly produce sufficient numbers. If our country gets to that place, we will be in a completely different mindset. As we discussed briefly before, the topic is drastically avoided where we stand today. Consequently, there would be quite a panic. If I were to be drafted, I would obviously be heartbroken because it would change (if not end) my life forever. However, I believe that I would follow through with my duties because everyone else in my position would be feeling the same way, and not everyone can escape. So why should I be allowed to above the others?
ReplyDelete1. With the current affairs of the military there is one major reason I think the draft would not be a good idea- agreement. In times like WWII, nearly everyone agreed Americans were the "good guys" and they were going to war as good people for a good cause. Whether it reflects your opinion or not, many people today both completely agree with the US' stance and many do not side with it at all. While plenty of people would still be drafted and be happy to serve their country and it's goals, many people would be unfit for serving in modern conflicts. Many people don't agree with the US' tendency to "enforce democracy", possible ulterior motives or just using violence to the modern degree as an answer to certain conflicts. Even those who are patriotic and would be happy to serve their country in other ways may not agree with controversial wars in places such as the Middle East today and this would cause an enormous rift between cooperating drafted people and non-cooperating. Back in Vietnam while many people who were drafted didn't wish to be, they were still serving the country they loved and as far as they were concerned were fighting for a good cause against communism and such. Warfare is not as "black and white" to many Americans today.
ReplyDelete2. Proud and frightened. I believe my performance and skills in the average military position would be catastrophically low. I'd be incredibly worried I'd be doing more harm than good in our military and overall just be a waste of resources. Despite this, if I somehow managed to have a positive impact I would be very proud to serve the country I love- even if still constantly afraid. Plus, in today's America I think 18 is a worryingly low age for selective service. Me along with I think many other people would feel like some of the highest-potential years in their life in both enjoyment and future impact would be ruined. In past wars returning to the US without a college degree wasn't enormously horrible but today your career for the rest of your life could be turned upside down if you were drafted. With this, I think the age of drafting being 18 nowadays is an incredible downer to me and many other people. It's especially bad due to how veterans don't get, in my opinion, enough support and care as they should in America which makes the idea of a draft even worse.
If the draft was reenacted in the next few years I would not be surprised but a bit confused. I feel as though in the times we live in today, with the amount of volunteers we have going into the armed forces, a draft is not necessary. America has one of the biggest, if not the biggest, armies in the world completely comprised of volunteer servers. If I received a letter for selected service I would be absolutely terrified. I understand that with the army comes training and education that is very useful but I do not ever want to have to personally go overseas to fight and risk my life. War is a horrific place and I do not want to find myself there ever. If I had to be forced into the army I would hope that my position would be at a base where I could be safe but know that not everyone has that option. I understand that our country has to be protected, but with the vast number of volunteer service men and women there are today I feel as though a draft would be useless overall and (hopefully) not likely to happen any time in the near future.
ReplyDelete1. I honestly think having a draft in case of emergencies would no be a bad thing. Many countries including Israel, which I visited have a draft and they have one of the strongest armies in the world. I think that with military machinery becoming more advanced and with the terrorist threat on the rise being more prepared and in control of our future as a country would be the smart thing to do. Even if people do not want to be directly part of the combat they could clean, cook, help with technology etc there are many jobs in the army and I think a draft would help make us more prepared in case of an extreme emergency. It could even be just everyone does a year of service or something relatively short, but even that would be effective,
ReplyDelete2.) If I received a letter, drafting me into the military, I would be conflicted. If I believed that the cause of the fighting was just, I would be proud to serve my country. On the other hand, if I believed that the cause was not just, then I would be angered and maybe try to desert. However, no matter what the cause, I would be frightened. War in any circumstances can be scary. The idea of putting your life on the line for some uncontrollable cause is not always appealing, especially when you can not think for yourself.
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ReplyDeleteThere is no denying that to e drafted would be terifiying. That said, I feel that the environment around me, a society which has come to the point that it needs to recruit young men and women for wat, would urge me to be proud. In such times, individuals are sent to forign lands terrified of what their future holds, yet proud to serve their country and the people they leave behind them. If the draft were once agiain instituted, I think that a mentality would be built up around it by the country, to make those selected proud, rather than stricktly scared of what lied ahead of them.
If I received a letter saying I was drafted I would be very scared. I think there are a lot of variables for other emotions I would feel because we do not actually know what war this would be or what country we would be fighting against. If the war was over something I thought was important and believed in I think I would be a little less scared but most likely still very terrified. The idea of going off to war and knowing that I may never come home again would frighten me. I do not think I have lived long enough or accomplished I want to do with my life yet in order to make that sacrifice willingly. I am also against killing other people and think I would have a very hard time trying to make myself end another humans life.
ReplyDeleteIf I were drafted I would be proud to serve my country. I would be terrified, but I believe it is very important to respect institutions like the draft. They are what define our country and our people. I think if we were to have a draft today it would completely change the direction our country is heading in. I think the way we treat veterans would change, the way we treat women would change. Education in our country would also change, and probably for the worse. In the past, students who were going to college would be exempt from the draft. Today so many students go to college this just wouldn't make sense. Only the poorest young adults in our country would be drafted. Overall, I hope we never have to have another draft in this country, but I know I probably will not get my wish.
ReplyDeleteI think that if the draft was enacted I would be very nervous that it would cause a huge rift in our country. Many people do not think that war is the right measure to deal with our problems, so many would probably not feel happy about being drafted. I also feel like so many people are focused on going to college and furthering their education now that if people around the age of 20 were drafted it would cause huge conflicts with schooling. If I were drafted, I would be really scared. I don't think I would desert, but I don't know how I would be able to contribute in the army. I would be really scared and terrified of dying. I would want to honor my country, but I think sometimes my fear would outweigh my ability to perform well in the army.
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ReplyDeleteIf I were to receive a letter informing me that I had been drafted, I would be angry and terrified. While I understand that the purpose of wars is to protect your home country, any war that might begin soon are not wars I would support. I would feel as though I was being forced to fight for something I didn't believe in, forced to do things I feel are wrong to protect something that my government has decided is right. I would be scared, of the emotional repercussions, and the destruction to my mental well being that would be inevitable. I would fear leaving the war without a college degree or work experience, or suffering from a debilitating case of PTSD. Even more I would fear not leaving the war at all. I pray that the United States does not go to war and does not reenact the draft.
If the draft was reenacted, I would feel that it is the people's duty to comply even though they might not want to. Every person should feel a sense of responsibility to support the United States government. If the draft was reenacted, it means that more people are necessary to fight so I wouldn't retaliate. We live in a very prestigious country and its up to both men and women to defend it. I don't believe that just men should have to sign up for the draft, women are equally capable of fighting. I would certainly be frightened if the draft was ever needed in the future but since it's the law, people need to comply.
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DeleteIf I just suddenly got drafted, I'd be pretty angry. I don't really want to go to war but at that point you don't really have much of a choice. If I could get out of it by being a student, I definitely would. That being said, if I thought I was undoubtedly going to get drafted I'd absolutely go and enlist. Realistically, I could do a whole lot more for the military by operating some sort of technology than I could shooting a gun and if you enlist you can at least choose the branch.
ReplyDeleteIf I received a letter in the mail for selected service and was expected to be immediately available, I would be terrified. It would be something so unknown and different than my daily life which is something that is really terrifying to think about. It has the potential to change everything and redirect my life. Most of us have plans and dreams for the future and if I was drafted it would change everything. I have worked very hard to get where I am today and the draft would ruin this in some ways. It is also a big responsibility and has the potential to be very dangerous. We would have to leave our families and everything we know which is what is most frightening about the process. Once I got passed being so scared, I would be proud to be making a difference and helping my country. I would know that what I am doing mattered and something I can be proud of.
ReplyDeleteI think the draft is a bad idea and it ruins the future for many young adults who have their own goals to follow. It takes away from the freedom that our country is supposed to represent. If I were to be drafted I would be terrified. War is horrible and I would either end up dead or I would come home and never be able to be the same. I wouldn't be scared of my ability to perform well or my ability to serve my country, but I would be scared about what it would mean for my future and my mental health.
ReplyDelete1. It would really depend on the context in which the draft was enacted. If it was done for yet another example of asymmetrical warfare (probably more likely than the alternative) I would probably not agree with it and not think it was a good idea due to the social problems and backlash that it would cause within the nation, a consequence that simply does not seem worth increasing overall manpower to fight an enemy who isn't even close to being technologically, strategically, or numerically superior to the USAF even in peacetime.
ReplyDeleteThat said, if the enemy facing the US was roughly equal or superior to the American military in one or more of the above mentioned fields, I could see the draft being fully justified as a matter of national security affecting all citizens, hence making it not only necessary but essential.
If I were to be drafted I would be very uncertain and scared. I would not know what to expect, and therefore not be able to focus on my future. I think the war can change a lot of people and their mindsets. The experiences of war would live on with me forever and I do not know if I would be prepared for that. Right now the draft seems unnecessary and very problematic. However, if it was a necessity and I needed to be drafted, I would try to serve my country as best as I can.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to receive a letter from the draft, I would be terrified and shocked. Though I may feel like it at first, I would not be a deserter because it is against the law and wouldn't be fair to the people who do serve. My life and future would be put on hold until the war was over and I hopefully make it out alive. However, not knowing how long the war could last for or if you will make it out alive would frighten me. I would constantly be thinking that I wouldn't see my family again or I will come back without a limb. It is a scary thought but it is important to fight for your country to protect it.
ReplyDeleteI would be very frightened if the draft were to be reinstated. I would be extremely scared to put my life at risk in order to win a war. I would also fear for the safety and well being of my siblings and family members. However, if I was selected for active duty I would not be a deserter. I would hope that the war would be justified and I would try to represent my country in the best way possible.
ReplyDelete1. Sometimes in life we have to do things that we had not planned to do. Any responsibility is indeed a responsibility. As an American citizen I may be be drafted into the military and this would be because my country needs my assistance. If this does occur then I as an American must serve my country and carry this out. Regardless of wether or not I want to go fight in a war that does not effect me.
ReplyDelete2. I would definitely be frightened because I obviously do not want to lose my life at war. But as I said, sometimes you just got to do your job. Wether you like it or not your country needs you. You should be willing to help out your country because you have enjoyed the freedom up until this ripe age of 18. Now, it is your turn to help maintain this freedom in this country because our country has decided that the draft is necessary.
If I was going to be drafted I would be very afraid. It would be unexpected and shocking to have to leave my normal life. It would be sad to leave my friends and family. I also do not know much about war but I do know there are many risks involved and you never know if you will be killed or not. Even if you make it home, there are harmful psychological effects of the war too.
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