[Mb-hair] Fw: Article re The Draft

[Sibley Smith]

To the members of the [Michael Butler] HAIR List:

I'm forwarding to you below an important observation about the reemergence
of The Draft, written by a former draftee, a member of the Vietnam Veterans
Against the War and of Veterans For Peace, and author of "...and a hard rain
fell: A GI's True Story of the War in Vietnam" (check www.sourcebooks.com),
John Ketwig.  -- FYI, a "Gold Star mother" is one who lost a son or daughter
in war while they were serving in the American Armed Forces (there were more
than 58,000 Gold Star Mothers left by the Vietnam War).  HAIR would not have
been, without the controversy over the Draft in the Vietnam Era.  So, who
says HAIR is not relevant today?

S.J. Smith

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----- Original Message -----
From: "John Ketwig" <charlatan13 at hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2005 6:17 PM

> Supposedly, the draft will be reinstated on or about June 15th.   I had an
> opportunity to speak out, and I did.   The two Gold Star mothers (who
> recently lost their sons in Iraq) were convinced the draft will get middle
> America upset and the war will end.   Fat chance!   They did not seem to
> appreciate my opinion, and I was quieted quickly.   Please think about the
> draft, because it may be coming to your hometwn soon.   Thanks, JK
>
> >From: charlatan13 at hotmail.com
> >Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 17:33:24
> >
> >Dear Pocono Progressives,
> >My wife and I ventured into PA last Saturday to hear the two Gold Star
> >mothers and to get acquainted with Pocono Progressives.   Then I made a
> >comment and it wasn't received warmly, and I feel I must explain.   I'm
the
> >guy that spoke up opposing the  resumption of the draft.
> >
> >Let me say that I'm a Vietnam vet, followed by a year in Thailand because
I
> >couldn't come home in 1968; I thought there was a civil war going on here
> >and I was wearing the wrong uniform.   I couldn't take a chance that I
> >might be assigned to stand on the steps of the Pentagon and hold a
bayonet
> >on the protestors, with whom I was in full agreement.   I have seen the
> >dead, dismembered, and maimed in large quantities.   We, too, lost a
child.
> >   Our son lived 14 days and died due to internal birth defects.   Years
> >later I learned about Agent Orange... which might be child's play
compared
> >to the depleted uranium being used in Iraq!
> >
> >The draft was one of the great traumas of my life.   What a shock, so
soon
> >after high school, to learn that our government could hunt you down and
> >send you to prison for harboring a dissenting opinion!   I was
unbelieving
> >at first, but I learned.   I have long tried to overcome the revisionism
> >that has covered up much of the horrible truth about Vietnam.   About 95%
> >of the guys I met in the Army were there against their will, boxed in by
> >circumstances and made to do the (lying) government's will despite their
> >beliefs.   The absurdity and cruelty of it all was very evident to us,
and
> >has haunted many of us for years.   I do not want my two daughters,
> >currently draft age, to ever see the things I have seen!   I have, in the
> >past, worked to oppose the draft, and I will till the day I die.   If
> >someone feels the need to support his country's policies by serving in
the
> >military, there are plenty of recruiting offices on Main Streets across
> >America.   If they don't feel so moved, it is immoral to force them
against
> >their will... especially with our country's record of being on the wrong
> >side in so many struggles over the last half century or so!
> >
> >You cannot put out a fire by throwing more fuel at it.   I hope
opposition
> >to American militarism will grow to the point that it has to be
> >discontinued due to lack of volunteers, funds, and interest.   No young
> >person deserves to have their American rights taken away, and be forced
to
> >take part in the terrible things our country is doing today.   That's why
I
> >spoke up.
> >
> >I grieve for the loss of those two ladies' sons.   In Vietnam, we would
say
> >they were "wasted", and I still think that's a very appropriate term.   I
> >know the hurt they are feeling.   But I cannot agree with subjecting
others
> >to the possibility that their children might also be chewed up and spit
out
> >by the machine.   We must oppose the madness.   Our numbers are growing.
> >Remember the unprecedented protests before the war began, all around the
> >world?   Common folks like us oppose the militarism, the costs, and the
> >death and destruction in our names.   Slowly, our movement is gaining
> >power.   It is moral and just, based upon real compassion and values.
We
> >cannot give solace, and especially not our children, to the other forces
in
> >hopes that the citizenry will suddenly feel the burden and join us in
> >opposing the blood sport.   At our house, we will oppose the war.
Again,
> >no one, not my child or yours, should see what I have seen.   It's too
> >important to take chances with that.
> >
> >Sorry, but I had to get it off my chest.   John Ketwig, Washington, NJ.
I
> >am a proud member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Veterans For
> >Peace.

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