The Draft, Recruitment and Conscientious Objection
There has been talk recently, with the increase in U.S. war activity, about the possibility of reinstating the draft. Having family or friends in the armed forces is how most of us come in contact with war in a personal way. During the Viet Nam war, I worried and prayed every day for my two older brothers, one whose number never came up but who did less well in college because he figured he’d be drafted anyway and the other who became a conscientious objector. It helped that he was involved in Lutheran youth groups and knew a lot of ministers.
Some have called this an urban legend but two bills proposed in recent years to reinstate the draft include women and make it harder to evade. Though the house bill, H.R 163, introduced by Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), was just defeated in the pre-election frenzy, S. 89, introduced by Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC), may or may not be voted on soon and who knows what will happen after the election? Rangel’s and Hollings’ rationales for the draft included that it would prevent war if all had to contribute their sons and daughters equally. Also, minorities and others less privileged are disproportionately represented in the military we have now.
This logic is limited, however. Besides curbing freedom of choice, the draft would still reflect a stratified army because the better educated would do better on test scores and get safer placements. Having an easy source of soldiers might also make it easier to send troops when and wherever the powers that be decide to. For some, gender equality on the battlefield is the final frontier of eliminating sexism. I think that eliminating war through nonviolence, including education, dialogue and negotiation is the way women will lead to a peaceful future.
Some say the draft would not be reinstated without vigorous debate. The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, in their Summer News, 2004, says the Selective Service system has been poised to reinstate a draft for 24 years. However, with the increase in wars, the subject is worth a second look.
Every young man in the U.S. upon turning 18, is required by law to register with the Selective Service. If you don’t register, there are consequences, including potential fines, jail time, loss of citizenship and more. Other strategies include waiting a few years. Check with the CCCO for more details (see below).*
If a parent or young adult is concerned about a potential draft down the road and wants to become a conscientious objector, it is a good idea to begin now to get a portfolio together. You need a record showing that you do not believe in war. Your file can include a statement about your beliefs, a record of books read on resistance, organizations you are affiliated with and events participated in, as well as letters of support from teachers, friends, and clergy who know you and about your beliefs.*
The military mentality pervades our culture in families, schools and workplaces, etc., through attitudes about compliance, discipline and the ability to question authority. It seems harder than ever to question the executive regime in the U.S. today. The ability to question and dialogue is fundamental for a democratic society. Even more importantly, we need to ask, "What are peaceful, nonviolent cultural behaviors that lead to peaceful interactions at home and abroad?"
Bush's education bill, No Child Left Behind, ironically puts children in harms way by requiring school districts to provide lists of students with contact information to recruiters, unless the parents have filed forms requesting that their child's information not be shared. The ease of obtaining relevant forms varies. Some schools have chosen a policy whereby a child's information is not shared with recruiters unless the parents request that it be shared. Parents can lobby their schools to resist the influence of recruiters. Below is a form letter from the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO) for a parent or student to submit to their high school to request their name not be provided.
*For more details, contact the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, based in Oakland, CA, 510-465-1617 and Philadelphia, PA, 215-563-8787; http://www.objector.org/ccco/whoweare.html; email
info@objector.org;
Parent Letter:
Dear Administrator of ______________________ High School:
I, ________________________________, am writing on behalf of my child, _____________________, to request that you do not make my child’s name, address or telephone listing available for military recruitment purposes as is provided for under Paragraph 2, Subsection (a) of Section 9528 of Public Law 107-110. I look forward to your prompt response to this letter.
Sincerely, (sign with signature, your name typed or printed, and the date)
Student Letter:
Dear Administrator of ______________________ High School:
I, ________________________________, am writing to request that you do not make my name, address or telephone listing available for military recruitment purposes as is provided for under Paragraph 2, Subsection (a) of Section 9528 of Public Law 107-110. I look forward to your prompt response to this letter.
Sincerely, (sign with signature, your name typed or printed, and the date)
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by EPI Board Member, Marilyn Jackson, 10/04