Cooper: bring back the draft!

Gary Ashwill gna at duke.edu
Sun Oct 14 18:12:56 PDT 2001


on 10/11/01 10:04 AM, Doug Henwood at dhenwood at panix.com wrote:
> We need a universal military call-up to start the real debate on this war
>
> by Marc Cooper


> And that's the wonderfully clarifying nature of a draft. It keeps
> everyone honest. By escalating the stakes, the draft calls the bluff
> on hawks and doves alike. Those who argue for war must be ready to
> give their own bodies. And those who want peace must be ready for
> jail or exile, if necessary. No more cheap, empty theatrics by either
> side. Planting a flag on your Lexus or walking in circles in front of
> the Federal Building just won't cut it any longer. Under a draft, you
> either raise your right hand and step across the line, or you face
> the consequences.

Yes, it's satisfying to call the chickenhawks on their bluff. But of course this puts all the burden on youth. Middle-aged activists and right-wing pundits wouldn't have to decide between prison and the front-lines. So, no, it wouldn't keep everyone honest. Just the ones who stood to be killed, persecuted, or prosecuted. Yeah, I know he doesn't "really" mean it. But doesn't that make this just another example of "cheap, empty theatrics"?

Gary Ashwill



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