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Originally Posted by seeker5  I've thought about this. If it's an offensive war, or a war fought on someone else's soil, I'll refuse to be drafted because I don't believe in the wars we've been fighting. I'd either go to jail, or move to another country, but I'm not going to allow politicians to force me to kill people whom I don't want to kill.
I'm opposed to a draft in the first place anyway philosophically. People aren't resources for a nation to use at its will, at least a true free people. If people care about defending their nation against invasion, then they'll join up and fight voluntarily. The American Revolution isa prime example of that - fighting against the most powerful empire in the world, fighting against invasion of troops who came to restore British power over their colonies. During the Revolution, Congress did not draft a single person. Every "American" who fought against the British did so willingly. Yet the revolutionairies won against the most powerful empire on Earth at the time. |
I agree. We don't draft people to be firemen or policemen. Why is it acceptable to draft people for the military?
Conscription is illegal in Australia. Hopefully, Canada will follow suit when the Liberal party is reelected.
I think making conscription illegal is a good start to keeping warmongering leaders in check. If they have a finite number of troops, they'll be much more careful about where--and how--they go to war. They'll be much more likely to work with the UN to achieve overwhelming military force.
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Well that's a can of worms. Would you kill Nazi soldiers during World War II? I would. But I wouldn't want to fight in Vietnam or Iraq. Would you serve if you didn't have to kill people (as a cook, engineer, driver, etc.)?
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No, I would not kill Nazis. Nor would I serve in a non-combat role.
Re: Nazis
By "Nazis" I assume you're referring to German soldiers serving under Hitler. I should point out that not all soldiers knew about the Holocaust--many probably hated Hitler, and the war. Have you seen Das Boot?
Americans committed atrocities in Vietnam, too. John Kerry was one such veteran. Many non-Americans felt then (as they do now) that the US has committed acts on par with the Nazis.
If you're referring specifically to those running death camps...well, that depends.
If I was a Jewish prisoner, then yes, I would kill a Nazi captor.
If living in an Allied country, I would avoid service for the reasons above. I do not agree with conscription.
Lastly if I was a German soldier, conscripted, I'm not sure what I'd do. How would you react, upon discovering that your government set up death camps?
Re: non-combat roles
Call it what you will, you're still being conscripted. Contrary to what others believe, the government does not own you, and you are not obligated to put your life on the line.
I find it irritating when people imply you aren't "serving your country" if you avoid conscription. Why is military service worth any more than other contributions to society?
Conscription is odd in that it treats everyone as equal--but we all know that's not the case. Some people are more suited than others for military service.