<p>[America’s</a> upper classes have gone AWOL | csmonitor.com](<a href=“http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0108/p09s01-coop.html]America’s”>America's upper classes have gone AWOL - CSMonitor.com)</p>
<p>Interesting article. Any thoughts?</p>
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<p>I can’t help but to think that our society mirrors that of late Rome.</p>
<p>It’s a nice essay, and points out a real source of concern. Even WashMom, the daughter of a Navy test pilot and niece of several professional soldiers and sailors freaked out at the idea of her sons going through ROTC and into the service (not that we are particularly elite). </p>
<p>A draftee army is not nearly as good as the one we have now. However, the draft did provide this common ground of experience. Draftee armies also suffer much higher casualties, and don’t finish conflicts quickly. I still come down on the side of the volunteer military, but I sure understand what we, as a nation, are giving up.</p>
<p>S attended a so called elite prep school. He is graduating this May from a top 10 University. He joined ROTC during his junior year of college, and he will be commissioned as an officer in the army after graduation.</p>
<p>(He also voted Republican in the NH primary. :rolleyes:)</p>
<p>Like WashMom, Sokkerdad and I completely freaked out when he told us. :o</p>
<p>S will be proud to serve his country, and we will be scared to death.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that there is a sizable segment of the military-age population that considers the present war unjustified, and the present administration reckless. As such, their unwillingness to serve in a conflict they consider immoral is based on principle, not indifference.</p>
<p>If anyone has ever done any family history or genealogy research the article is quite true especially this paragraph:</p>
<p>“In the middle of the 20th century, military service was near universal for American men. While some used their privileged status to escape arduous or risky duty, society as a whole came together in the common cause of national defense. As a result, America was full of veterans who could place “news from the front” in context for friends and neighbors.”</p>
<p>In my mother-in-law’s family during World War I two of her three uncles volunteered for World War I. The third was simply too young. They were nephews of one of President Wilson’s cabinet members (who had no sons of his own). One died and the second was gassed. He had chronic health problems for the remainder of his life.</p>
<p>During World War II the former cabinet member had two grandsons who volunteered. They were both graduates of Exeter Phillips Academy. Both died - one in a Japanese prison camp and the other in an aerial battle. Neither of their bodies were ever recovered. There was a third grandson - again too young to volunteer.</p>
<p>My Dad lived on a farm and had flat feet. During World War II he would volunteer every time he came to town. Every time he was turned down. He said everywhere he went people asked him why he wasn’t in the Army and he told them he kept trying, but they wouldn’t take him. He was allowed to enlist and then the war ended six months later.</p>
<p>It was the expectation that everyone would do their full share - no matter how educated or how rich or poor.</p>
<p>This was also true during the Civil War - look at how many doctors and lawyers and even educators fought in this war. After the war the GAR organization was formed and lobbied for pensions for Civil War veterans. Civil War veterans were politicians, state governors, ministers, farmers, doctors, lawyers and even the president of the United States. Annual conventions were held, local organizations flourished and the GAR was influential in U.S. politics.</p>
<p>I have always felt that a declaration of war should also be accompanied by a resumption of the draft with no deferrments permitted. It would deepen the debate leading up to the declaration because almost all legislators would realize that their vote would not be made in a vacuum but that they may very well be personally impacted by the decision they make. The concept of self sacrifice would mean something and not be a hollow phrase glibly tossed about by pols.</p>
<p>When S1 joined the Marine reserves it was both a blessing and a heart stopper. It was the best thing for him and he is serving his country both there and on border patrol now with pride. Hasn’t been deployed yet, though, (Mom whispers a little prayer). … We are definitely upper middle class and he is a cum laude college graduate. He is in the minority though on both those counts.</p>
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<p>I wouldn’t carry this idea too far. In the Civil War, draftees could pay someone to take their place, there were anti-draft riots in New York, and thousands of men quietly slipped away instead of showing up for the draft. I don’t have the facts handy (how’s that for a cop-out?) but I wouldn’t be surprised that draft-dodging was more widespread in 1863 than in 1968.</p>
<p>1sokkermom-you are in my prayers for your son! No matter how noble or honorable he is or how proud you most certainly must be of him, fear overrides all of it. I wish the best for him and again my prayers to you and your family that he will be safe in his endeavors.</p>