Selective Services!!

[rubysoho120]

Okay I dont know what to do..my bf just got a letter in the mail saying
he HAS to register with the selective services or he risks going to
jail or paying lots of money...so what in the hell do we do? I don't
want him to go or get hurt or drafted or anything...I need men here to
tell me what happens when you register... PLEASE Im desperate.

[sillygirl]

Males over the age of 18 have to register. It's really no big deal. My husband did when he turned 18 (we weren't married then though). I highly doubt there is going to be a draft any time soon.


Nothing at all happens when you register. You fill out a little card (at the post office I think) and never hear from them again. There hasn't been a draft in decades - don't worry about it. [img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[sage]

So far, there's no draft in America. If that day comes, however, he will have to go - just like everyone else.Which is probably why he and everyone else has to register. If you don't want your loved ones to be hurt or killed in a war, then I suggest you write to your local politicians and protest the war itself.


I won't make any politcal statements or opinions on here (it's too divisive) but as a general observation, I'll bet if America instituted the draft, a majority of the American people wouldbe much clearer on theiropinion about whether they wanted to be in this war or not. I'm Canadian, and we're in Afghanistan...but it's like - no one cares because the young people are not drafted - they "want to be there". If they instituted a draft, there would be outrage and the government which is currently a minority, would be swiftly brought down. In the USA, this isn't possible until Bush's term is up.


On another note...so sorry you're anxious about this. Really - it's best not to cross any of these bridges until you come to them. There's nothing you can do, so your worry and anxiety willonly add to your stress. Try to relax and not worry so much -just as I pointed out, there would be unbelievable outrage if a draft were instituted, and your politiciansare most unlikely to do this. Try to just get onwith your life and put your energies into other things such as your healing. Take care.

[chicajojobe]

All males have to register for the draft at 18. It's been that way for decades.

However, that doesn't mean he's going to be drafted. A draft has to be issued for that, and there hasn't been one issued since Vietnam ended.

[rubysoho120]

I understand that but my mom said that they have to serve for two years manditory...

[chicajojobe]

That's probably only IF some is drafted. Which, like I mentioned, no one will be until the next time a draft is issued. And even the neo-cons who are for the war don't want that because it would mean their sons could be drafted too.

Other than when there is a draft, military service is absolutely not mandatory in the United States.

In some other countries, such as Isreal, I believe, there is a requirement. But not here.

Edited by: chicajojobe

[shiva]

It's really no big deal at all. Everyone has to do it. If there's a draft just tell him to act nuts and they will not send him. Lol! That's what somepeople I know did to avoid Vietnam anyway.

[xxxaccidentsxx]

No worries, I just filled mine out about 4 months ago. Basically thats information to the U.S military, Incase A draft ever takes place again which it wont.
No worries

-Bruce

[rubysoho120]

Thanks guys. I really needed the support. He was less scared than me,
but he told me that if he has to go away for two years he is marring me
right now, which was the cutest and most romantic thing he has ever
said. HE said he could imagine not seeing me for two years

[x hannah x]

Aww that is cute, and I have no idea about the politics in America but I can't see them forcing him in to a war he doesn't want to be in. Just to clarify, all men have to fill in these forms but women don't? That seems unfair.

[chicajojobe]

Yes, I agree that it isn't. Eventhough it's something that would not be good from my point of view. I certainly don't want</span> to be vulnerable to draft if one is ever issued, but they probably should include females too because it is only fair.

Either we're equal or we're not. There's no just way that it can only apply to the good stuff.

[sage]

Good luck getting elected to Congress if you're going to vote for women being drafted! Feminists make a good point about equality, but the values in America (or most places in the West) just aren't there yet - we hold mothers too sacred, and would not at this point in our history send them off to war, babies screaming at airports. Dads are bad enough, but again - there's no draft so the people reassure themselves that they don't mind being put in harm's way.


I really think that every democratic country should have a draft...only then would the true values of the people about war and peace be demonstrated by the whole country. If Congressmen/women had to send their own kids off, they'd take the matter a whole lot more seriously. Would Bush send his own daughters? (Maybe he would, eh?...but Laura might be pretty pi**ed about that.)

[chicajojobe]

Of course he would not. That's why, inspite of the fact that the United States does not have enough force in Iraq to effectively do this nation building thing that Bush is convinced we can do, he hasn't issued a draft. He has only daughters, so his kids would be safe, but plenty of his friends have sons who could be drafted.

Your thing about screaming babies at the airports....is that how you really think of it? That's an extremely over simplified image.

And, well no maybe I couldn't be elected. I'm a progressive, so there's huge likeihood that I wouldn't be able to be anyway. Not with the political climate the way it is now. But I just don't want to be a hypocrite. I don't feel that I can fairly ask for women's rights such as equal salaries, if I'm not willing to accept the responsibilites that come with equality to men.