Should the United States have Mandatory Military Conscription?

814 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Freedom demands price and sacrifice

The price of freedom should be borne by all, rich or poor. I learned this first hand as a United States Army Recruiter and a volunteer soldier who fought in two wars representing my country. As a military recruiter from 1971 to 1991, I was tasked with soliciting men and women who were high school graduates to enlist into the United States Army. Often times I would call a home to speak to a graduate about joining the army, and a mother would answer; I would tell her the purpose of my call, and often times her answer would be “not my son”! I would often replay, “well mam, if not your son, then whose son”! I very seldom got an answer but I often wondered if I could read her mind, would she be thinking about whether I should be contacting those young men across town she saw hanging out on a street corner at all hours. Was she thinking that those young men from their low income neighborhood should be the ones that pay the ultimate price of freedom?

Would the consideration of my solicitation been a little easier had her son and those young men across town been subject to military conscription? Military conscription can be defined as, the massed military enlistment of national citizens (today recognized in the USA as "the draft"); this concept was devised during the French Revolution. Its purpose was to enable the French Republic to defend itself from the attacks of European monarchies (Encarta). An important figure credited with the start of this concept is Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, a Military Marshal of France whom enlisted as a private in the French royal army and rose to command armies. Jourdan stated: "Any Frenchman is a soldier and owes himself to the defense of the nation (Encarta)." As a nation we have shown our belief in that quo...

... middle of paper ...

...a is under attack. We have to remember, “the price of freedom should be borne by all, rich or poor”.

Works Cited

Encarta MSN: Conscription, Retrieved June 11, 2010 from

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761561714/conscription.html

Hammons, S. The American Chronicle: Military draft still looms: Recruiting for volunteer force

Should be more flexible, Retrieved June 11, 2010, from

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/16750

West's Encyclopedia of American Law (2008): Compulsory enrollment and induction into the

military. Retrieved June 11, 2010, from http://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/

Mandatory+military+service

Williams, A. (2006) Newsmax.com: Mandatory Military Service Would Benefit the U.S,

Retrieved June 11, 2010 from

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/6/18/162837.shtml

Show More
Related

  • Against Reinstating the Military Draft

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    People who support the military draft will say that it is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 42, to perform a period of national service. Aren?t there many other ways--less deadly ways--to contribute to the country?s well being? Should we, as citizens, be allowed to evade this ultimate obligation by turning it over to the poorer members of society, those who can't find good-paying jobs or training except in the military? In "A War for Us, Fought by Them," William Broyles, a Vietnam war veteran and the father of a young man who is a soldier in the Marines, argues that the military draft should be brought back, and this time it should be done right: everybody should be drafted, not just ?the profoundly patriotic or the economically needy" (Broyles 695).

    Read More

  • It's Time for Americans to Understand that Freedom Isn't Free

    2445 Words  | 5 Pages

    I feel inspired and patriotic every time I see a car’s back bumper sticker featuring an American flag stating, “Freedom Isn’t Free!” The moral clarity of those words rings as true as the Liberty Bell. Those Americans that do not fathom the significance of the motto Freedom Isn’t Free suffer from the very problematic “victim/slave mentality,” which ultimately will become a future reality should more citizens not heed the simple message the sage language conveys. Yes it indeed bears repeating, “Freedom Is Not Free!” Its acquisition from King George’s England involved struggle, its maintenance throughout the first two and a quarter centuries of our Great Republic required sacrifice and its continuation demands perseverance. Wise people fully realize that struggle, sacrifice and perseverance are the vital characteristics of freedom, democracy and independence.

    Read More

  • Cons Of Conscription In Canada

    1530 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many obstacles have to be conquered in the struggle for freedom, one of which often includes war. It is human nature to strive for success and as a means to better themselves, countries often participate in war and put up arms to get what they believe will benefit them. But when sheer military power doesn’t match the strength of a government’s desire to win, trouble presents itself. It is in these times that alternative methods must be implemented in order to attain the results sought after. When regarding military size or lack thereof, governments can opt to enforce the policy of conscription to increase their participation in war and in turn, increase their post-war influence. Conscription, or compulsory service is the mandatory enlistment of citizens to serve the country militarily. In both the First and Second World Wars, Canada has enacted military service conscriptions to support the war efforts. The conscription debate drew attention to the underlying problems of the growing country such as the political rights of immigrants and women, language education needs and the divide between Anglophones and Francophones. Although they differed, the conscription crises in Canada’s past helped to define Canadian history and contributed to the shaping of our country as a whole.

    Read More

  • Conscription in World War Two

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    The act of applying conscription during the First and Second World Wars have nearly torn Canada apart. The conscription crisis of 1917 was a treacherous event that occurred during the First World War. During this time the relations between Quebec and the rest of Canada were in an all time low in our Canadian history. The Québécois thought conscription was merely unnecessary no matter what circumstance; while all other Canadians did essentially want conscription occur. The contrast was inevitably high on the issue of conscription between the Québécois and the rest of Canada thus creating a solution when conscription was indeed needed was impossible. However while William Lyon Mackenzie King was the Prime Minister during the Second World War; he reacted differently in comparison to Robert Borden. Although King promised not to introduce conscription as did Borden in his campaign race; he dealt the issue of conscription in a more controlled manner. Essentially Mackenzie King approached the issue of conscription using prior knowledge learnt from World War One.

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography Of Susan B Anthony

    1647 Words  | 4 Pages

    “To think I have had more than 60 years of hard struggle for a little liberty, and then to die without it seems so cruel.” (Susan B. Anthony)

    Read More

  • Oppression In Thomas Paine's America

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his 1791 publication, Rights of Man, Thomas Paine, an American revolutionary and pamphleteer, characterized America as a just nation where “the principles of society and the rights of man” unite all Americans together. Paine painted an ideal image of America, one founded on unity, equality, and freedom that appears ludicrous to some and visionary to others; however, by combining certain elements of Paine’s America and casting out others we can paint a more vivid picture of contemporary America as only some aspects of Paine’s America remain true. In today’s America, as Paine stated, “the poor are not oppressed” as we see many politicians and citizens dedicate time and effort toward assisting the poor and developing plans to help them out

    Read More

  • We Should Not Reinstate the Military Draft

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    I never thought I would say this but I think we should reinstate the draft. It has been years since we have wanted or needed a draft, but in view of the United States being attacked on September 11, 2001, I feel our country must be ready and prepared to defend itself. If being prepared means reinstating the draft, a mandatory summons for military service, then I think we should consider this a reasonable proposal. I think the tragic events of September 11 will evoke most people to agree with me. Since September 11 we have seen a surge of patriotism in this country that seemed hidden for many years. I am so glad patriotism was not lost, and I think most Americans would be willing to defend their country in light of this attack. We are a nation and a people who believe in freedom and democracy. It tells other nations who we are and what we stand for. It is these beliefs that lead me to believe that the people of the United States will do anything to preserve our freedom and democracy even if it means reinstating the draft. I want to prove this notion, but am unsure how to accomplish this. I have not read any recent articles in newspapers or magazines that have dealt with this issue. My textbook was not a source either. So I decided to do two things. First, I went to the Internet for any information, articles, discussions, or statements relating to this issue. Second, I decided to conduct an informal poll. This informal poll consisted of male and female respondents with an age span of eighteen to sixty two. My poll started with classmates in my Western Civilization and Studio Art classes and the professors who instruct these classes. My poll included emailing friends and family who live and work in New York, family currently serving in the Armed Forces, and a family member who is a Veteran of the Viet Nam War. Also included in this poll is a random sampling of the townspeople of Los Alamos. Medical personnel at Los Alamos Women’s Health Services, and the lunch crowd at Café’ Allegro rounded out my poll. This cross section of Americans evoked many feelings and opinions and stimulated many conversations and critical thought. These conversations exhilarated me and the results I obtained amazed me.

    Read More

  • Military Draft No longer Necessary

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    Over forty years has passed since the United States inducted the last draftee through the Selective Service System. The Selective Service System is an independent agency of the United States, which gives the President the right or power to conscript men for military service. There have been different Acts passed by congress since 1917 that require men of various ages to register for service. Although, the name of each Act and the age requirements of the registries changed, the Acts were all similar in nature. They all gave the President the right to call men to war when he deemed necessary. In January 1973, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announced the creation of the all-volunteer service, retracting the need for the draft (GAO.gov). Under current law, all men between the ages of 18-25 must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, however this information is used mostly for recruitment purposes and in case of any future crisis. There has been much controversy over this matter since the Vietnam War, when people started to realize the draft was unfair due to loopholes and draft exemptions making the draft unfair for working men. At one point in time the military draft may have been necessary, but today’s all-volunteer military has eliminated the need for a draft.

    Read More

  • New York City Draft Riots

    1762 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Conscription Act delivered the final straw in the long list of discrepancies, the catalyst that turned that small forest fire into a raging inferno of hate and fear. The white working class (mostly Irish immigrants) were infuriated, they couldn’t understand how they, white, hard-working voters were being punished. The government was forcing them to fight a war they didn’t support and the only way they could avoid it was to pay 300 dollars (a years wages for most), yet they would pay African Americans 1,000 dollars for volunteering. The new federal draft conditions also expanded to include a wider age range of men it would take. “The conscription law targeted men between the ages of 20 and 35, and all unmarried men up to age 45.” Adding to the already high tensions of laborers, since the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation they ...

    Read More

  • Military Persuasive Essay

    1088 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...itary conscription in the name of freedom is an illegitimate, criminal organization. A government that is willing to enslave people cannot be trusted to protect your liberty. A government that forces people to fight for its goals, its protection, and its benefit has created a morally perverse situation where there is no free society left to defend” (Boldin). Another thing we must look at is without an overflow of troops; “unpopular wars are very difficult to fight. The ability to use conscription actually encourages politicians to wage even more wars;the massive resources are a temptation that is hard for the war-lover to resist. When the draft was finally undermined in the 1970′s, for example, the Vietnam War ended” (Boldin).

    Read More

  • Politics In Texas

    1565 Words  | 4 Pages

    Personally, I have to agree with them. Life experiences have taught me that there is always a price to be paid for any service, comfort, or security. With respect to the government, we pay not only monetarily, but also with our freedoms, and that to me is much too costly.

    Read More

  • The Truman Doctrine

    1403 Words  | 3 Pages

    "It must be the policy of the U.S. to support free peoples. This is no more than a

    Read More

  • Causes and Effects of the American Revolution

    1566 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...t for their right to have a say in how their country should be run. In their old age, the leaders of the American Revolution and eventual founders of the United States worried about the extent to which democracy pervaded society. However, their actions planted the seeds for oppressed groups to fight for their rights. A country whose founding principle is that “all men are created equal…with certain unalienable rights” including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” will always give people hope for a better future.

    Read More

  • Military Service Should Be Mandatory

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most people have, at one point or another, considered what they were going to do with their lives. Whether a person would like to become an activist, an artisan or a business professional, the military has something for everyone. Finding a path in life is often filled with uncertainty and procrastination. The United States military is a path in itself, should one wish to retire from it; however, should a person wish to make their own path, there are benefits for that as well that can remove all doubt and curb procrastination. Due to these many benefits, I believe that it should be mandatory for all adults to enlist for a minimum of twenty-four months.

    Read More

  • The Price Of Freedom

    413 Words  | 1 Pages

    What is the price of freedom that was paid, and is being paid? Freedom was paid with anguish, pain, time, and lives. We, the inhabitants of America, are fortunate to see this land where we have unalienable human rights that are just basic and essential statutes. There is always a cost for something; furthermore there is a price on our freedom. We pay taxes, follow the land and society¡¯s regulations, vote, and so on. The topic of importance and eminence is how, why, and what paid for our freedom.

    Read More

More about Should the United States have Mandatory Military Conscription?

Open Document