posted on September 20, 2001 04:29:55 AM
I am wondering about the stories I've been hearing regarding the possibility of bringing back the draft, especially if this war we're talking about drags on for years.
My oldest son is Army infantry stationed in Germany. He was recommended for Special Forces, but hasn't made the change yet. I'm terrified for him. Every mother's instinct in me is screaming for me to go get him and keep him safe, and I can't do that. He voluntarily joined the Army knowing that war was always a possibility.
My second oldest son is going to be 18 in just 6 months. I'm terrified for him, too.
I have two other sons, just 12 and 10 years old. I don't have any daughters. On my worst days now, I wonder if I'll have to sacrifice all of my children.
I hope, if they do bring back the draft, that they include women and disallow any college deferrals. I know that this sounds like sour grapes, but the way I feel now is if my children have to go to war, then your children should, too. Male or female. Rich or poor.
During the Vietnam war, so many boys died because their parents didn't have the influence required to herd them into the National Guard or the Reserves and couldn't afford to send them to college. If you were poor and you couldn't keep your son safe with you, you sent him to Canada.
If you had daughters, you were home free.
But, lets set aside all of the reasons women weren't and currently aren't allowed in most combat situations.
How would they bring back the draft and not ensure women are subject to it? In looking at the strides the women's equality movement has taken since the Vietnam war, could our government really tell millions of mothers like myself that ANYONE'S daughter will be protected at the expense of my sons?
I know I'm not coming across as a nice person here, but as a mother of 4 sons, I am not feeling particularly nice.
posted on September 20, 2001 04:41:36 AM
I think the lifeboat rule applied only because women and children were looked at as needing to be protected. Women have been saying for years that they don't need to be protected and that they can do a job as well as any man can. I have believed that all along and have done what I could to promote equality for women. Are we really going to back pedal now, and say that women aren't equal? That they still need to be protected, while men are sacrificed in their place?
posted on September 20, 2001 04:43:44 AM
I understand completely Robin. I don't want any of them to have to go to war. But if we have decided that women are equal and can serve just the same as men, then let them serve! Registering only men (boys) for the draft is definitely discrimination. But how many women who have been screaming for equality will also scream about being drafted?
posted on September 20, 2001 04:55:39 AM
I wonder about that, too, bearmom. How many women, when push comes to shove and they're looking at risking their lives for their country the same way men have been forced to do, will stand up and scream that they shouldn't be drafted simply because they're women?
I don't want a war. I don't want any more blood shed. I don't want any one to have to bury their child. I now understand the sacrifice so many mothers have made for this country. I didn't really understand it, before.
posted on September 20, 2001 05:12:29 AM
I understand what you're saying, Microbe. And I personally admire it. But the women we are talking about are the ones that get insulted when a gentleman opens the door for them.
posted on September 20, 2001 05:28:01 AM
The lifeboat rule was instituted during a time when women were, umm, smaller. It was not chivalry but practicality. The boats can only carry so much weight, and with smaller cargo, i.e. women and children, more lives would be saved.
posted on September 20, 2001 06:25:43 AM
Face it there are plenty of men that should never be put in combat. That is why in the old testament the Jews were told to send the frail and fearful man home rather than keep him in the army where he would dishearten his brothers. A very practical and kind policy.
posted on September 20, 2001 08:13:04 AM
I think it's bad enough that the nature of the world requires that we sometimes send our young men to kill or die that we don't need to also send our young women to die just to be 'fair' to parents.
posted on September 20, 2001 08:21:15 AM
You don't want women drafted, and it has nothing to do with being fair or equality or anything else. It's only a matter of practicality, you don't want to jeopardize your childbearing population.
Have a population of 100 men and 100 women. Send the 100 men off to war, keep the 100 women safe. 2 men come back, you can have 100 babies a year.
Have a population of 100 men and 100 women. Send 50 men off to war, and 50 women off to war. One of each comes back. You can have 51 babies a year.
posted on September 20, 2001 08:23:34 AM
"In looking at the strides the women's equality movement has taken since the Vietnam war..."
Yep we're making 80 cents on the dollar instead of 70. The woman's movement has given the powers that be the license to give us equal shaft. The goodies still remain harder to attain.
I wouldn't worry - I think women will get drafted. I think the govt. and society is still largely misogynistic - if they can get young women killed legally, they'll do it.
Please don't think that I think that the above is only men's faults. Sometimes I think women are our own worst enemy.
posted on September 20, 2001 03:46:11 PM
If the draft were brought back, what would the age limit be?
I saw a thread here that mentioned the maximum enlistment age as 34, advanced one year for every year of previous service. Would it be the same for a draft?
My husband is 34, and I'm hoping that makes him too old, just in case something did happen. It's a long story, but right now he's having to take care of me due to an injury that's severely limited my ability to walk -- I literally am having to depend on him for practically everything right now.
According to this, (if I'm reading it correctly) only people from ages 20-25 can be drafted, followed by 18 and 19 year-olds if necessary. Whether that's set in stone or not, I dunno.
Edited to add ...
I just noticed a new statement on this website, addressing the current issues. It says (among other things) that "There is no consideration of...(reinstating the draft)...at this time, and from my conversations with the Pentagon, it's not something they anticipate." ... young men are reminded that they are required by existing Federal law to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Late registrations are accepted, but not if a man is 26 years old or older.
posted on September 20, 2001 05:24:21 PM
Speaking as a women who was in the military,
I don't think there were a whole lot of us who really wanted to go to the front line. This was discussed in the barracks many a night.
But on the other hand there weren't any of the men who were that keen on the front line either.
The older I get the more I realize how many issues don't fit into the go, no go mindset that the military thrives on.
My nephew turns 16 monday. I absolutly adore this boy ,he is funny, kind , thoughtful, inteligent and a royal pain in the ass.
If this "war" drags on for 8 years like I heard it predicted he is definatly going to be in the line of fire for the draft.
None of us want these children to go. I fear we are going to have to steel ourselves up for the worst.
I just can't imagine what the furture holds...I don't even want to imagine.
posted on September 20, 2001 05:24:23 PM
I am all for "Women's Rights", equal pay etc. But, in my own experience as a 42 year old woman, I can't imagine women in battle. Women bicker, they hold grudges, they back-bite and gossip, and from my experiences when working with other women, they tend to struggle with the "team player" attitude.
Can you also imagine groups of women, during their "child bearing years", dealing with their monthly cycles and the extra sanitary items etc. that would be necessary?
And no, of course all women do not fit the description I've given here. For the most part however, I just don't believe women and men are wired the same. We are different, no matter how hard the Women's Libbers try to convince us otherwise.
posted on September 20, 2001 09:30:30 PM
HELL, YES......... My kids are already in, and hubby & I are too old to draft. BUT, we are locked & loaded and ready if need be....
