More Thoughts on Reinstating the Draft

Submitted by Matt Persiani on March 29, 2010 - 8:22am
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Soldiers training and anti-war protestors marching

A couple of months ago I wrote an article on why reinstating the draft would only degrade the quality and effectiveness of the U.S. armed forces. As a member of the armed forces, I firmly believe that keeping the military an all-volunteer force is in the best interests of this country. So I was not only shocked by the amount of responses I received, but also caught off guard by the number of people who said they were in favor of the draft. The main reason given was that people thought it was generally unfair that so much of the nation’s burdens fall on the shoulders of just those in the military.
 
On the other end of the spectrum, a number of people said that, if a draft were enacted, they would be “the first” to flee the country to avoid serving in the armed forces. One does not always need to agree with government policy to be an honorable and productive citizen of this country during a time of war. What makes this country great is bigger than our government alone; it is the inherent freedoms that Americans are born with and believe in that give us the opportunity to disagree with government policy. And as citizens, it is our responsibility to challenge those policies when we oppose them.
 
I pray this country never has to face the decision of enacting another draft, and I do not want someone on a mission with me who does not want to be there. But can somebody have so little love for this country that they would give up those liberties without a fight--either on the battlefield or on Capitol Hill? 
 
With that said, I just have one question for those who would run from this nation when its freedoms need defending: Would you come back? Would you again enjoy the advantages and freedoms of a U.S. citizenship that you felt you still deserved?
 
Read more from Matt Persiani: Returning Home from War.
 
(Photo credit for anti-war protest march on the Pentagon: Bill Hackwell; Creative Commons; Soldiers run a simulated attack while performing their final combat simulation on Camp Striker, Iraq: U.S. Army)