Tuesday, April 17, 2007
SWOP homepageSaddened by the massacre.
What happened at Virgina Tech, is truly tragic. Questions will swarm about why, and how. I can't say that I would know either, but what I do know is that our youth need alternatives.
It's not about a question of security or getting the call out early enough, it's about what is the infrastructure that is in place to support our youth to make healthy and well informed decisions. There are too many economic pressures, emotional pressures, identity issues that live within our young people.
Today in the journal there is an article on the draft. Why is there even talk about a draft? Bush needs to fill the death quota.
These are the types of pressures and decisions we want our young people to make. I can't even fathom at my age making that decision let alone when I was 18. And then we wonder why young people snap.
The SWOP youth group have been organizing around the heightened military recruitment for the war in Iraq. Our youth need alternatives to live successful lives, not perish unjustly and highly misinformed.
Check out what high school students have to say about a draft.
*************************************
WOULD YOU ANSWER THE CALL?
Teens divided over need for draft, whether they’d register
Journal Wire Report
Today’s teens weren’t around for the military draft of the ’60s and ’70s. Still, many express strong views about bringing back the draft during the war in Iraq. “If they were to reinstate it I would probably move to Canada, because I don’t like war and I think it’s pointless and ineffective, and it would ruin the economy and a lot of people would be (angry),” says Dan Wehr, a junior at Manzano High School.
Others teens have equally strong views.
“It would be foolish to do such a thing,” says Raphael Ramos, a sophomore at Modesto High School in Modesto, Calif. “The reasons keep changing for why we are in Iraq. I don’t see why there should be a draft for a war that doesn’t have a clear purpose.”
Resurrecting the draft, which would require young people of a certain age to register to serve in the military, has been in the news since Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., reintroduced the possibility of a draft.
The lawmaker says his goal is to force others to think more about the human cost of going to battle and to spread the burden of service more fairly across the population.
Some teens were strongly against it.
“The United States Constitution is a contract between the people of the United States and the government. To ask citizens to suffer severe psychological trauma, lose limbs and die for a cause that they may not even believe in is a violation of that contract,” says Paul von Soosten, an Eldorado High School junior.
Some teenagers say a draft should be used in only dire circumstances. Aaron Stigers, a senior at Modesto’s Johansen High School, thinks “a draft would be an appropriate measure if America is at war or when our freedom is in danger.”
Other teens say it isn’t needed.
“There are enough people willing to join the armed forces that a draft is not necessary,” says Felipe Linares, a graduate of Downey High School in Downey, Calif., who completed Marine Corps boot camp.
“I saw hundreds of people come in to boot camp while I was there,” he says. “Also, it was obvious who wanted to be there and who didn’t by the effort that people put in. A drafted military would not be as effective as our current all-volunteer forces.”
But some still think a draft would be necessary at times.
“I think it’s kind of scary, but I think that if the government thinks that it’s
the right thing to do for the country, that would be OK to reinstate the draft,” says Lauren Denman, a sophomore at Albuquerque Academy.
“But at the same time I realize that it’s hard for families to have to send their children and brothers and sisters to war,” Denman says.
Some teens remain undecided.
“Well, I respect it but I wouldn’t be all for it, and I would have to decide if I wanted to consciously object or just do it,” says Gabe Zambello, an Albuquerque High junior.
Kaitlyn Wakefield, a junior at Eldorado High School, contributed to this report. Read what more local teens have to say. www.abqjournal.com/yes
It's not about a question of security or getting the call out early enough, it's about what is the infrastructure that is in place to support our youth to make healthy and well informed decisions. There are too many economic pressures, emotional pressures, identity issues that live within our young people.
Today in the journal there is an article on the draft. Why is there even talk about a draft? Bush needs to fill the death quota.
These are the types of pressures and decisions we want our young people to make. I can't even fathom at my age making that decision let alone when I was 18. And then we wonder why young people snap.
The SWOP youth group have been organizing around the heightened military recruitment for the war in Iraq. Our youth need alternatives to live successful lives, not perish unjustly and highly misinformed.
Check out what high school students have to say about a draft.
*************************************
WOULD YOU ANSWER THE CALL?
Teens divided over need for draft, whether they’d register
Journal Wire Report
Today’s teens weren’t around for the military draft of the ’60s and ’70s. Still, many express strong views about bringing back the draft during the war in Iraq. “If they were to reinstate it I would probably move to Canada, because I don’t like war and I think it’s pointless and ineffective, and it would ruin the economy and a lot of people would be (angry),” says Dan Wehr, a junior at Manzano High School.
Others teens have equally strong views.
“It would be foolish to do such a thing,” says Raphael Ramos, a sophomore at Modesto High School in Modesto, Calif. “The reasons keep changing for why we are in Iraq. I don’t see why there should be a draft for a war that doesn’t have a clear purpose.”
Resurrecting the draft, which would require young people of a certain age to register to serve in the military, has been in the news since Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., reintroduced the possibility of a draft.
The lawmaker says his goal is to force others to think more about the human cost of going to battle and to spread the burden of service more fairly across the population.
Some teens were strongly against it.
“The United States Constitution is a contract between the people of the United States and the government. To ask citizens to suffer severe psychological trauma, lose limbs and die for a cause that they may not even believe in is a violation of that contract,” says Paul von Soosten, an Eldorado High School junior.
Some teenagers say a draft should be used in only dire circumstances. Aaron Stigers, a senior at Modesto’s Johansen High School, thinks “a draft would be an appropriate measure if America is at war or when our freedom is in danger.”
Other teens say it isn’t needed.
“There are enough people willing to join the armed forces that a draft is not necessary,” says Felipe Linares, a graduate of Downey High School in Downey, Calif., who completed Marine Corps boot camp.
“I saw hundreds of people come in to boot camp while I was there,” he says. “Also, it was obvious who wanted to be there and who didn’t by the effort that people put in. A drafted military would not be as effective as our current all-volunteer forces.”
But some still think a draft would be necessary at times.
“I think it’s kind of scary, but I think that if the government thinks that it’s
the right thing to do for the country, that would be OK to reinstate the draft,” says Lauren Denman, a sophomore at Albuquerque Academy.
“But at the same time I realize that it’s hard for families to have to send their children and brothers and sisters to war,” Denman says.
Some teens remain undecided.
“Well, I respect it but I wouldn’t be all for it, and I would have to decide if I wanted to consciously object or just do it,” says Gabe Zambello, an Albuquerque High junior.
Kaitlyn Wakefield, a junior at Eldorado High School, contributed to this report. Read what more local teens have to say. www.abqjournal.com/yes
Labels: Draft, virginia tech, war, youth
