Military drafts - male and female

[Greenday]

You know, it's completely possible to get drafted and not actually fight. Hell, they could completely reject you outright.

[Hobbs]

Than they could hate me all they want. My life and my freedom too important to worry about what other people hating me.

Points to my above post

[Nyoibo]

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. -John Stuart Mill

There are quite a few things for which I'm prepared to fight for, but a governments paranoia of the red menace or want of oil are not some of them.

[Hobbs]

There are quite a few things for which I'm prepared to fight for, but a governments paranoia of the red menace or want of oil are not some of them.

What are you willing to fight for then?

[crashhelmet]

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. -John Stuart Mill

My dad has this quote hanging on his wall amongst his medals, citations, and pictures from his career in the Marines. I make it a point to read it every time I walk in the room.

As many have said, there are more than just front-line combat roles to draft for. Not everyone is cut out for combat. Even some of those that think they are crumble when things get heavy. I believe that women should be drafted right along with the men.

To be honest, there are times that I think we need to do what many other countries do and require people to serve their first 2 years out of high school in the military if they don't go on to college. The pros would outweigh the cons.

CH

[crazylegs]

Women being drafted is just a bad idea. The drafted people are usually out on the front lines and women often times aren't as strong or physical as men. If you were put in a situation that was life or death would you want a 200 pound man next to you or a 120 pound woman.

And of course the only thing that the armed forces do is have infantry, there aren't any support trades at all are the elsporko?

[Nyoibo]

I know a 120lbs woman who can lift me... actually I know 3 or 4.

[Boozy]

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. -John Stuart Mill

Blech. I could not disagree with the first part of that quote more.

Like Nyoibo, there are plenty of things for which I'd sacrifice my personal freedom, but some misplaced sense of identity as a "Canadian" is not one of them.

Patriotism is a nasty sentiment.

[elsporko]

And of course the only thing that the armed forces do is have infantry, there aren't any support trades at all are the elsporko?

When your drafting people you don't generally want to take the time and effort to train them for a job they won't stick with, plus if you resort to a draft you are in need of combat soldiers quickly.

[Boozy]

When your drafting people you don't generally want to take the time and effort to train them for a job they won't stick with, plus if you resort to a draft you are in need of combat soldiers quickly.

The military doesn't do all of their own training in the event of a draft.

Skilled trades people were drafted in both World Wars and Vietnam. They received basic training and then their previously acquired skills were put to use according to need.

If a woman is a doctor or engineer in civilian life, her services would be very useful for the military in war time. She shouldn't be exempt from a draft just because she's a woman.

[Nyoibo]

Korea too.

[AdminAssistant]

That's one of the main reasons my Dad went to vo-tech to become a mechanic, when/if he got drafted, he wanted to be repairing planes and jeeps, not carrying a M-16 through the jungle. (He wound up not having to go, but that's a different story.)

I might have said it earlier in this thread, but if we want equal rights, then we have to take equal responsibility. I'd like it if there were no selective service, but as long as men have to sign up, then women should, too.

[Hobbs]

That's one of the main reasons my Dad went to vo-tech to become a mechanic, when/if he got drafted, he wanted to be repairing planes and jeeps, not carrying a M-16 through the jungle. (He wound up not having to go, but that's a different story.)

I might have said it earlier in this thread, but if we want equal rights, then we have to take equal responsibility. I'd like it if there were no selective service, but as long as men have to sign up, then women should, too.

Yeah. I won't vote for the ERA until women are included in the Selective Service.