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November 07, 2004
Post-Election Ruminations
Today it is my turn to be demystified. About the reasons behind the Kerry campaigns continuing statements about reinstating the draft....
Five days ago the United States re-elected President George W. Bush to a second term in office. If this is still news to you, please promptly remove your head from the sand.
The purpose of today's rumblings has little to do with the election itself, however. My all-time favorite author Orson Scott Card recently wrote an article entitled Emotions, the Draft, UnBush, Black Voters, and Local Candidates, giving his final thoughts about the War on Terror prior to last week's election.
Card got his wish, Bush was re-elected, but that is not the interesting part...
Do you remember all the rumblings about Bush re-instituting the draft if he were re-elected? Since I am most definitely in the draftable demographic, my head came up sharply at every news story that mentioned the draft.
I am infinitely thankful for each of the millions of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and for all the work that they do to help keep America, and the world, free. I do not, however, have much interest in joining their ranks -- especially against my will.
Card claims that while Bush would not institute the draft, Kerry's policies would require it. Why? Card explains that under Kerry enlistments would decrease; He makes a comparison to Nixon and the Vietnam war... apparently, he once told a college professor that he would not serve in Vietnam if he could help it. Why not?
"Because we've already decided to lose. Why should I risk my life for that?" Nixon had been elected partly on the basis of a promise to get out of Vietnam. Having made that promise, he was no longer capable of negotiating a peace with the North Vietnamese that differed in any significant way from our complete surrender.
While I'm not convinced that Kerry would have instituted the draft, I find Card's essay thought-provoking as usual. I frequently disagree with him, but his War Watch essays are always well thought out.
— The Shelanman
Posted by andrew at November 7, 2004 09:42 PM
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