Draft dodging during the Vietnam War was not only ethical but also necessary for many opponents. On the other hand, some people believe that draft dodgers were not ethical because it was a form of cheating. Additionally, draft dodgers strain the military by making it more difficult to staff the war effort. The Vietnam War was a controversial conflict that lasted from 1955 to 1975 and caused significant social, political, and economic turmoil in the United States. Many people believed that the war was unjust and immoral, and refused to participate in it through various means, including draft dodgers. While some may argue that draft dodging was unpatriotic, I believe it was a valid form of protest against an unjust war. It was also a moral obligation …show more content…
The war was based on lies and misinformation. The United States government had no right to send young men to fight abroad for a cause that was unclear. The war caused immense suffering, both for the soldiers and the Vietnamese people, and many people believed it was a violation of human rights. Draft dodging was a way to refuse to participate in this unjust war and stand up for what was right. Draft dodgers risked jail time and public backlash but they chose to follow their moral compass. Their actions were a sign of resistance to an unjust war and showed the power of individuals to take a …show more content…
It was not unpatriotic, but rather a way to show that loyalty lies in what is just and right. Draft dodging was a way to say no to the military draft and a way to advocate for peace and justice. It was a way to express dissent and to stand up for one's beliefs in the face of a system that didn't allow them to do so.
Although many believe that draft dodging was harmless, some hold on to the idea that those who avoided the war draft were selfish and treacherous. With that in mind, Americans should be ready and willing to lay down their lives to fight in any way the government wants. Just being born in America requires absolute servitude to the higher power without any regard for self-preservation, religious beliefs, or value in your own family. This point of view is unempathetic and hypocritical. Nobody is just willing to lay down their own life for government interests. It is dumbfounding to be so out of touch.
In conclusion, draft dodging during the Vietnam War was ethical and necessary for those who opposed it.It was a valid form of protest that allowed individuals to exercise their right to protest. It was a moral obligation for those who believed the war was unjust and
For youthful gentlemen begging and fighting to stay out of death wars, terror began to arise and between and amongst both wars, drafting was viewed as a totalitarian dominance constraining men to take actions against their own freedom. Although it was a brutal force, hatred for the draft undermined wars and citizens began to find loopholes out of conscription and there were inequities and occupational ways out of serving, especially if one was wealthy. Although drafting was coveted to be equal among the poor and wealthy, thus letting the government add more pressure and raise the
“The active draft ended in 1973 and President Gerald Ford ended registration in 1975.” However, this did not last long because of the Soviet Union’s invasion into Afghanistan. The government protected the government policies by, “accepting of conscription by the courts and the acceptance of conscription among members of both political parties.” Having the government work together to protect the law and go by the Constitution, decreased the chances of passing other inaccurate laws such as the eligibility of men for the military and how men were registered for declared and undeclared war. “The scope of proclamations and executive orders rang based upon the period and in relation to the American public’s attitudes regarding conscription or empathy.”
This draft came as an alternative, another fallback for the United States. Also, the draft was done fair, there was no need for citizens to get upset and take the draft away if it is done in an equitable fashion.
All in all, Source 1 and 2 both have a different stance on how the Draft should or shouldn’t be available. While both do give their beneficial ideals, Source 2 was more logical with its stand than Source 1s idea of unity and income. However, both sources use the reason that Draft shouldn’t be passed from World war and Vietnam. For example, “ Vietnam was a war of attrition without a clear victory condition or civilian peace-building component, and thus unlike our more recent conflicts” (Source 1). Also , “First of all, World War II and the Vietnam conflict, both of which were very costly in terms of human life for numerous reasons, were also both wars of conscription, as was the Civil War, the bloodiest conflict in American history in terms of American lives lost” (Source 2).
The draft was used in war time to choose avaliable men aged 18 and older. This was a controversial topic because this was forcing young men to put their lives on hold and be forced to go fight a war in a foreign country. Men that just graduated high school were shipped off to fight in wars that had nothing to do with them. The only way to avoid the draft was to have a serious medical condition, or to flee the country. Instead of a draft he wanted to implement an all volunteer force (CHANCE).
Because of how cruel and horrific the war was, many troops who served had physical and mental health issues. In addition, a disproportionately large number of Americans from the working class and the poor were drafted into the military against their wishes. Another contentious topic included how Vietnam soldiers were treated once they got home, with many of them encountering prejudice and animosity from other
How important were Drafts during the Vietnam War? During the Vietnam War drafts were a huge part of troops and their families lives. The draft was a way that we would make our troops bigger and better by forcing American men to fight in the war.. American men had to sign up for the draft at age 18. Men from the ages between 18 and 26 were the main chosen to go over to fight.
The twentieth century Vietnam protest was a time when many American citizens resisted the idea of war because they did not fully understand why Americans had to fight in Vietnam. College students refused to be drafted in this war because they strongly believed that this was not their fight, this a fight for the government alone. There was Nonviolent and violent sector of the protesters. Even Martin Luther King Jr was against the war. Civil rights groups and college students were the main opposed to the Vietnam war.
The government passed a law stating if men went to college, they couldn’t be drafted for war. This was unfair because a lot of families couldn’t afford to send their children to school so they didn’t have a choice whether to go to war or not. Many men tried escaping to Canada and other countries just to avoid the draft. A person should be made to go fight. It should be their choice.
Primarily, the Vietnam War situation incited a draft, yet, this draft took away the freedom of American citizens. The draft system oppressed American citizens' freedom since they had to join once drafted. The unavoidable nature of the draft caused many
Once America was pulled into WWII the whole nation became close together through nationalism and they all had a goal to work together as a nation and defeat the axis powers and to help the effort in any way possible including the draft. “Americans from every group got together in the service having a common goal to defend their country and, of course, a common experience.” (Ruschmann 53). All the men who were drafted during WWII and Vietnam War had all shared the same experience whether that was if they died in the line of service or made it back to tell the tale, they all experienced the horrors of war and in a way it brought them together. The men drafted did everything together as one no matter what they looked like or where they came from or what they believed in they all were in the fight.
“The end of the draft also has dramatically improved commitment and morale in the armed forces. The difference is simple: recruits who want to serve and succeed are likely to perform better than draftees who want out, the sooner the better.” (Bandow). Individuals who voluntarily serve have officially occupied themselves with the thought of being able to step up to plate and defend their country are rationally the right people to serve in war. So when a person who does not have the courage or desire to serve is drafted they just become a danger to the rest of the group.
So the wealthy people didn't have to go because they could literally buy their way out of it. Then the draft dodgers were people that were unable to buy their way out of the draft or they didn't want to go to the military. Protesters did a lot of different types of anti draft anti war demonstrations to show people their point. The draft needs to be ended because it would keep on ripping apart the society until the people hate each other so much there won't be a society anymore it would be complete chaos. Another example that the draft would divide the society is “In 1863 the Union instituted its first draft, sparking the most violent anti draft protests in U.S. history, mostly in New York City, where riots and arson killed at least a hundred people before federal troops put down the
Throughout history, the United States have only drafted soldiers in two wars, World War II and Vietnam. Thousands of teenagers who had just turned 18 were selected to go fight overseas in Vietnam. Soldiers only had eight weeks to prepare before getting deployed in enemy territory. The young soldiers that were drafted were assigned to infantry positions. The horrifying eyewitness accounts the soldiers witnessed led to psychological changes in their behavior for the rest of their lives.
The Vietnam Memorial Fund analyzed the Vietnam draft stating, “an October 1966 report by the National Advisory Commission on Selective Service showed that only 1.3 percent of local board members were African American. By comparison, African Americans constituted 11 percent of the U.S. population, 16.3 percent of all draftees, and 23 percent of all combat troops in Vietnam in 1967” (vvmf.org, 2018). This obvious disproportionation was emotionally scarring for many, and the poor socioeconomic citizens aimed their anger towards the government. They started to put their opposition towards the war effort to extreme measures with draft protests, inflicting minor injuries on themselves, or fleeing to Canada to make them ineligible for combat. The media televised the abuse of soldiers at war.