[Mb-hair] Fw: Article re The Draft

[richard haase]

Hair is absolutely relevant\
it just has to be updated
as it always was
in the places stipulated for such by the authors
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sibley Smith" <sjsmith at njvvmf.org>
To: "Butler, Michael - HAIR List" <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
Cc: "Ketwig, John" <charlatan13 at hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 4:04 PM
Subject: [Mb-hair] Fw: Article re The Draft


> 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
>
> ========================
>
> ----- 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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