What would you do if you were drafted?

[bossel]

Hitler's undoing was that he was TOO confident. He thought he couldn't loose and got way too ambitious with what he thought he could conquer.

It's not that easy. Hitler was some kind of genius in manipulating people, while he was a complete dork in other regards. It all depends, really.

 

[Bob in Iowa]

It has been very interesting reading the responses in this thread. The "what would you do" question is one that I had to answer in late 1970, when I received a notice from the draft board reclassifying me as 1-A (suitable for service). Prior to that, I had a student deferment, and for a short period of time, a 1-Y (unsuitable for medical reasons), which had been an administrative error by the draft board (I got lucky for a few months). There had been a lottery drawing, based upon date of birth, the year before, and I had a low number, which meant that as soon as I was reclassified 1-A, it would be just a matter of a day or so before I would receive my draft notice.

I had friends who had gone to Viet Nam; some returned, and some did not. Those who returned urged me not to go, even though at the time I still felt a willingness serve. My views on the justification of the US involvement in the war had changed in the previous two years from a viewpoint of having bought into the government propaganda, to a realization/suspicion that we had been duped.

What choice would I make when the letter came? This thought was on my mind constantly, for several months. Having abandoned any feelings of serving for patriotic reasons, my reasoning became more pragmatic than anything else. I did not want to have to flee the country or live underground. Also, I did not want to play the games of feigning ailment, mental instability, or homosexuality. On the otherhand, I did not want to be in a position to have to kill or be killed in an unjust war.

I opted to volunteer for duty in the Air Force, as did many others at the time for the same reasons. So, when the letter came, I went immediately to the Air Force recruiter, and volunteered. I got lucky, and was selected for training as an electronic technician supporting weather reconnaisance missions, and I had excellent duty assignments for the entire time that I was in uniform.

I was extremely lucky. Had I not joined the Air Force, I would probably not have gone to Japan in 1973, and I would have not met the wonderful Japanese lady to whom I have been married for the past 30 years. You never know what would have happened by taking a different fork in the road of life, but the path that I chose has been a very happy one.

--Bob

 

[Brooker]

Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[SkippyDaStudent85]

This is what I like to call "moving to Canada"

 

[Miss_apollo7]

It's not that easy. Hitler was some kind of genius in manipulating people, while he was a complete dork in other regards. It all depends, really.

Yes, Hitler was good at manipulating people, and he must have had some good leadership skills as well as oratory skills since he took over Germany that way he did.
Of course, Hitler was also a dork.

 

[SkippyDaStudent85]

The hair style alone screams "Beat me up!"

 

[Miss_apollo7]

The hair style alone screams "Beat me up!"

LOL!!! YOu mean Hitler???

 

[SkippyDaStudent85]

LOL!!! YOu mean Hitler???

*smiles innocently and nods*

 

[Bob in Iowa]

This is what I like to call "moving to Canada"

Skippy, I hope that you are never faced with having to make that decision.

 

[Japanimaniac]

Though I would never dream of joining the military under normal circumstances, I would, of course, serve. Even if I didn't agree with the conflict itself. Everyone is looking for that one thing they can do to bring about some good, and to me, serving your country sounds like a pretty good way to do that.

Then again, I'll probably never be drafted. Isn't having survived cancer one of those things that puts you at the very bottom of the list?

 

[Brooker]

Everyone is looking for that one thing they can do to bring about some good, and to me, serving your country sounds like a pretty good way to do that.

Would you still think it was good if your country was Germany and your leader was Hitler? If "no" then there has to be a point where serving your country is NOT good. Then the question is, "Where is that point?"

 

[Windy]

As I am deeply opposed to war, I would kill the people attempting to draft me

 

[Glenn]

That begs the question: why are you opposed to war? Obviously it's not because of the killing.

 

[Japanimaniac]

Would you still think it was good if your country was Germany and your leader was Hitler?

Obviously, in this day and age, that's a big "NO". But had I been a german in the times of Hitler, and I held the same personality, moral values, and beliefs that I hold today, I would more than likely serve. I might not agree with the thinking or actions of the country's leader, but I would still jump at the chance to potentially better my country's situation, because I would be unaware of the outcome and consequences.

When I say "do good", I mean to make the lives of my family and my home better, not the world. The USA is undoubtedly safer without Sadam around, but as for the world...that is yet to be seen.

 

[Brooker]

I might not agree with the thinking or actions of the country's leader, but I would still jump at the chance to potentially better my country's situation, because I would be unaware of the outcome and consequences.

Sounds like you'd be the kind of soldier every general wants - one who follows orders without question and doesn't think for himself. You wouldn't care about the outsome and the consequences?

Well, more power to ya, but I personally don't think I could do that. I've always questioned authority and make a point of deciding for myself what I think is right and wrong. If Hitler told me to gas people, I wouldn't follow the order just because he was my leader and he told me to.

When I say "do good", I mean to make the lives of my family and my home better, not the world.

I DO care about the welfare of the entire world. Of course I also want what's best for my country, but I think you can do that without screwing over the rest of the world.

The USA is undoubtedly safer without Sadam around, but as for the world...that is yet to be seen

Saddam posed a threat to his own people, but not to America. However the U.S. oil interests are safer. Is that worth it? I whole heartedly believe the world and America are at a much greater risk now than they were when Saddam was in power. Saddam was a bad guy, but lets not kid ourselves into thinking we've made anything safer.

 

[Japanimaniac]

Sounds like you'd be the kind of soldier every general wants - one who follows orders without question and doesn't think for himself.

You're probably right on that count. I'll admit that I prefer taking orders over giving or questioning them.

 

[Brooker]

You're probably right on that count. I'll admit that I prefer taking orders over giving or questioning them.

Fair enough.

 

[Shooter452]

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt.

I do not think that conscription works very well these days. Even if it does provide a mass of personnel, their length of service tends to be short (most nations conscript for only two years unless in time of total war of national survival). By the time the personnel are trained and ready for combat, they are nearly ready for discharge. The only way around that is to send conscripts into battle without proper training--which gets lots of conscripts killed.

And conscripts are less-than-willing participants in the military game. Wars these days are come-as-you-are, so conscription is not only not very helpful, it is also politically unpopular. Republics and democracies are sensitive to unpopular issues. Even monarchies can become sensitive to violently unpopular issues. Speak to the last Czar of all Russia about that.

Of course, if you do not conscript, the issue of military force falls into the hands of professional soldiers. One of the great dangers to a republic is a large, standing, professional military. The danger comes from the political influence such a force can exert. In the last days of the Roman Republic, it was the professional legionaries who put many men into the position of Imperitor.

A republic is only safe when soldiers are taken from the citizens at large. Farmers and factory workers will not support a military coup just because they are in uniform. Refer to the French military putsch in Algeria in 1961. The pro's of the French army and the legion etranger followed orders and revolted. The conscripts arrested their rebellious officers and put the coup down. Professional warriors cannot be allowed to make political decisions in a republic. But the only way to avoid a large professional army is for all citizens to serve.

Quite a problem, isn't it? And running off to Canada will not solve it. It is the selfish and cowardly thing to do when you avoid military service, but conscription of reluctant soldiers is not the answer. When the citizens of a republic no longer can muster the civic virtue to defend their form of government, it cannot and should not stand.

The same is true of citizens of a republic who abrogate their obligations to control their own government. That is what voting is all about, gang.

 

[Mycernius]

No, I'd p*** off to another country. I believe in self-presevation and have an allergic reaction to being shot at. The might die bit is a bit worrying too. Fortunalty the UK doesn't have conscription and I hope it stays this way.

 

[Doc]

I would rather kill myself than be drafted into a war.

Doc