[Mpls] Opting out of military recruiting

[WJKAHN at aol.com]

I'm pretty much dead set against military recruitment using any sort of 
records other than a draft registry. When I was in high school and registered for 
the draft the Vietnam War was winding down, so I was in no real danger of being 
drafted even though my random sequence number was 001. Still, the news 
reports of our withdrawal and the retrospective on our inequitable experience in 
Southeast Asia and following had a profound effect on me; I now believe in 
mandatory service of some kind. 

I would like to reinstate the draft in a new form with optional paths chosen 
by draftees: United Nations USA Peace Keeper, US Military (regular or extended 
guard duties), or various opportunities for conscientious objectors. I think 
the chosen paths could well dictate American foreign policy eventually. As 
long as we enter into military conflict with typical Dubya caprice, we're going 
to need some options to remain a strong country. The divisiveness existing from 
the Vietnam experience to the present demands a change. We need our local 
draft boards back in Minneapolis (had to stay with the list topic) and other 
areas of the state. The Portland, ME schools opt-out form seems fine for them; but 
the public schools never directly had much to do with military recruitment 
before, so I'd have to agree with those folks who want to preserve the status 
quo in this area. I think I might have enlisted to go to Afghanistan if I were 
not such an old wreck (as if I'd have the choice); but Vietnam, Iraq, and some 
of our military actions in between should give citizens of some pause about 
giving all or a portion of their lives carte blanche for the notions of Dubyas, 
Cheneys, Rummies, Wolfies, or other neocon-fidence folks by enlisting today. 

Bill Kahn
Prospect Park