From Different Perspectives
White men were a small part of the puzzle when representing whom in our nation the Untied States Military Draft affected. All different types of people had and still have various opinions regarding the United State’s Military Draft. Countless people would argue that a military draft is reflective of an oppressive government. Former President Ronald Reagan declared, “Conscription rests on the assumption that your kids belong to the state. If we buy that assumption then it is for the state---not for parents, the community, the religious institutions or teachers—to decide who shall have what values and who shall do what work, when, where and how in our society. That assumption isn’t a new one. The Nazis thought it was a great idea” (Paul, 2002). Ronald Reagan obviously did not support the draft and thought that it effects were detrimental to our society and its unity. From this quote, it shows that Reagan viewed being in support of the draft as having no choice over your children’s futures. Furthermore, Reagan’s opinion on the draft was so negative that he even compared it to the controlling society of the Nazis.
In addition to Ronald Reagan, Daniel Webster also believed that forcing people into the military service against their will contradicts the philosophy our country stands on. Daniel Webster stated, “Where is it written in the Constitution, in what article or section is it contained, that you may take children from their parents, and parents from their children, and compel them to fight the battles of any war, in which the folly of the wickedness of Government may engage it?...An attempt to maintain this doctrine upon the provisions of the Constitution is an exercise of perverse ingenuity to extract slavery from the substance of a free government…” (Webster,2002). In agreement with the negative outlook on the military draft have stood countless Americans throughout our past and in our present times today, including many families, religious groups, and veterans.
As shown throughout this paper, Conscientious Objectors played a major role in the anti-war movement. This group was consisted of both religious and secular objectors. Families often influenced many people to gain the CO status. Some young men, including those with religious backgrounds, were directly swayed by their fathers, regarding the decision to stay out of the war. Some African Americans declared CO status and therefore escaping the draft because of the injustice that blacks suffered in the United States at that time. Whether choosing to support the country through alternative services or willing choosing to serve prison time, Conscientious Objectors have always been notably affected by the military draft (Tracey, 2006).
As shown throughout this paper, Conscientious Objectors played a major role in the anti-war movement. This group was consisted of both religious and secular objectors. Families often influenced many people to gain the CO status. Some young men, including those with religious backgrounds, were directly swayed by their fathers, regarding the decision to stay out of the war. Some African Americans declared CO status and therefore escaping the draft because of the injustice that blacks suffered in the United States at that time. Whether choosing to support the country through alternative services or willing choosing to serve prison time, Conscientious Objectors have always been notably affected by the military draft (Tracey, 2006).
Although in 1973 Congress abolished the draft in favor of an all-voluntary Armed Forces, it has still been a matter of controversy throughout our entire nation. When interviewed regarding his thoughts on the military draft, the former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, suggested, “And for those of why? say ‘Well we ought to force people to serve’ so that they will have that experience and feel that they’ve served their country, my answer to that is, that’s our responsibility as parents. If we want to encourage people to serve in the military or serve their country in another way, let’s do that as parents, let’s do that in schools, let’s do that in churches, but why do we need the government to tell them they have to do that whether they want to or not” (Rumsfeld, 2011). Below is a YouTube clip of Rumsfeld's interview.
(Rumsfeld, 2011)
(Gardner, "Lincoln")
On the other side of the fence, many people stand behind the military draft and see it as a necessity to keep us safe. Those for the draft believe that, in the time of crisis, it has and will ensure our military the needed manpower to defend our home. In 1863, President Lincoln argued, “ The principle of the draft which simply is involuntary, or enforced service, is not new. It has been practiced in all ages of the world. It was well known to the framers of our constitution as one of the modes of raising armies, at the time they placed in that instrument the provision that ‘the congress shall have the power to raise and support armies.’ It has been used, just before, in establishing our independence; and it was used under the constitution of 1812. Wherein is the peculiar hardship now?” (Lincoln, 2001). President Lincoln argued that when the Constitution of our country was devised, raising armies was viewed as essential. He did not seem to understand why when men were desperately needed to defend our country, people were all of the sudden exceedingly opposed to providing their service to keep us safe. In his book Military Draft, Wagner quotes, “In spite of the patriotism and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, a national military policy built on a false supposition will—like a line of horse cavalry that has outlived its usefulness but not the heart’s expectation—fail at the most critical of moments. The national decision to move to an all-volunteer force, built on the falsity of draft inequity, is this line of cavalry” (Wagner, 2007). With our continually growing population, many wonder if an all-volunteer army will provide enough manpower for any future conflicts that we might encounter.