by Patricia Burke

Created on: November 02, 2010

No, I do not believe that the draft should be reinstated. I do not think that anyone should be made to fight when they do not  want to fight. Everyone is not alike. Often times it is not just because of religious reasons that a person does not want to go to war. Sometimes you have individuals that would probably go crazy if they had to see some of the stuff that our soldiers have to endure.

We have plenty of people perfectly willing to go voluntarily to join the service. Even during war times. Men and women both want in the service. Sometimes it is because of the education that you can pursue  while serving in the service. And that is great. I think it is wonderful that our servicemen and women can pursue their education while serving their country.

I am old enough to remember when we had the draft in the United States. I had a friend who had to go and he came back a totally different person. He was never the same. It messed him up mentally. You would not have known it was the same man. I also had a brother-in-law that served in Vietnam and about a year after he came home, he hung himself. Who knows what evils they have to see. It is too much for a person to have to see a friend blown to bits.

I think I believe that there was a time when our government tried to do the right thing. We have always been a country that was willing to help another country. And sometimes the draft, I suppose was a necessary thing during times of war.  I do not believe that there were near as many people that wanted to go to the service years ago as they are now. Plus back then you did not have women that wanted equal opportunity in order to join the service.

I think also that there could be two ways to look at the question; if we wanted to think about seeing all those soldiers in larger countries marching and training their boys at a younger age, we might be inclined to change our minds. I saw a film clip of a country years ago. I cannot remember who it was, but they had thousands marching in unison, training. What do you think they were training all those very young boys to do? I honestly do not think we would have a chance against a country like that. And in that way, I would be for the draft, in order to be prepared. I do not believe our men are near as prepared when they are just in the reserves. Not to mention, there is power in numbers and I think we are going to be out numbered by far. When you think about other larger countries training children it is a bit scary. I sure do not want to train children, but in a way, I would like to be confident that we had a very large number of men in each area of service.

So, I suppose I have talked myself into being in the middle. I honestly do not want the draft back. I cannot honestly say that it would not be a good thing at some point and time to have a lot of men and women trained and ready to go were we to have another war.

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