It's been said before by the gentleman from New York, Rep. Charles Rangel - if we bring back the compulsory military service then it levels the playing ground and many more Americans in the United States will have a vested interest in the Iraq War.
Mr. Rangel introduced the Universal National Service Act of 2006 last February. It called for all people in the United States, including women, between the ages of 18 and 42, to perform a period of military service or period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security.
A news release posted on Rangel's website noted,
"Right now, the only people being asked to sacrifice in any way are those men and women who, with limited options, chose military service and now find themselves in harm's way in Iraq. A draft would ensure that every economic group would have to do their share and not allow some to stay behind while other people's children do the fighting."
I happen to agree with him. I believe we should reinstate the draft. Plain and simple, the vast majority of service men and women in the U.S. military come from households that do not have the same socio-economic advantages as others. Many of our service men and women come from households that could not afford sending their children to prominent prep schools, let alone university.
With that in mind, one avenue to walk down is that of reinstating compulsory service. Everyone in this country would be affected. Whether it's a family member, a family friend, or your neighbor, someone, including yourself, will be affected.
You won't be able to switch the TV, change the radio station, bypass the headline in your newspaper, not click on a link, or tune out a conversation you overhear about the war in Iraq by simply tuning out, switching the channel, changing the station on your radio, flip to the sports section, or let periphery sounds drown out a conversation without first thinking of that person you know whose stationed overseas in the misbegotten folly we call the war in Iraq.
Joan Vennochi, of the Boston Globe, writes today in her column, entitled "A military draft might awaken us":
"During the Vietnam conflict, the draft sent hundreds of thousands of protesters to the streets. When war is not an abstraction but a personal, involuntary destination, the blanket rationale of war -- defending liberty -- receives tougher scrutiny."
And, its true. We hold our elected officials to a higher degree of accountability when it comes to issues that affect us directly. We all grumble about issues. I grumble about the lack of grants and loans for people like me who are university students. You might grumble about the high price of gasoline. And she might grumble about her right to choose. But, if its an issue that affects you directly you will notice what policies our government elects to enforce.
Vennochi states,
"If we feared our children were next up to be gutted like fish, we might be less likely to shake our heads at crazy antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan. If turning 18 meant your kid's boots on the ground, a resolution to pull troops out of Iraq by a certain date might grab more than six votes in the US Senate".
And, she's right.
Plain and simple we need to reinstate the draft. Ultimately, it would lead our country down a different avenue when deciding foreign policy. Our elected leaders will feel the sting of accountability if they choose foolishly to accept a doctrine that is contrary to the beliefs of the American people. The time is ripe for a true change in the way Washington deals out decisions that have a profound affect on the lives of those brave citizens who fight for her defense.