June 25, 2005

THE GREATEST GENERATION & THE DRAFT

Much has recently been said of the latest polls indicating a majority of Americans are against reinstitution the draft.

• In an Associated Press/Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs, June 20-22, 2005, the question asked was, "Do you favor or oppose the reinstatement of the military draft in the United States?" 70 percent were opposed, 27 percent were in favor, and 4 percent were unsure.
• Another poll, Gallup Poll, June 16-19, 2005, asked, "Would you favor or oppose requiring every able-bodied young man in this country, when he reaches the age of 18, to spend one year in military training and then join the reserves?" 62 percent were opposed, 35 percent were in favor, and 3 percent were unsure.
• Within the margin of error, we can safely assume somewhere between 60 and 70 percent of Americans are opposed to the draft.

While most Americans express their appreciation of those currently serving in the military and preface their remarks opposing the War on Terror with statements of support for the individuals serving in the military, they apparently would rather leave the dying and dirty work to others while enjoying the freedom to criticize their actions as a group.

This should come as no surprise to anyone, especially our enemies, who are well aware of America's inability to see anything through to the bitter end, especially if it costs money. You can hear the constant drumbeat from liberals that the money being spent on the War on Terror is diverting money from some of their pet social projects. Yes, they keep appropriating the money for the war, being afraid of being accused of being soft on our enemies if they don't, while at the same time grumbling that we should be spending more on social programs. The inference being we can not long sustain ignoring what they consider to be more vital social programs.

Americans have never like helping other countries enjoy the freedoms we do, especially if it's going to cost money and take a long time. Some conveniently forget, while others are too ignorant to remember, that other countries spent their fortunes to help us achieve independence from the British. Luckily for us, other countries didn't feel about us the way we now feel about others.

The news media and especially Tom Brokaw's book, The Greatest Generation have characterized the men and women who went to war against the Axis powers as The Greatest Generation. Their accomplishments are indeed great and they do deserve our respect and gratitude. Without them we all would be speaking German. But a dose of reality is required:

• A majority of the Greatest Generation didn't voluntarily serve. A majority of them (67 percent) were forced to serve by being drafting. Even while the world was facing domination by the Axis powers and thousands of Americans had been killed at Pearl Harbor, Americans had to be forced to defend themselves.
• During the 4-year period of WW II there were 350,000 draft evaders.
• Desertion "in the zone" Europe and Pacific theaters: 20,000 convicted servicemen. Prior to D-DAY the British jails were full of US deserters that were brought to dockside in handcuffs.

America has not changed. We have never liked being forced to help our country by serving in the military. So take all the pontifications from the news media and opponents of the War on Terror with a grain of salt. Americans have never willingly helped anyone achieve freedom if the cost was going to involve loss of American lives or money. Things are as they have always been.