read the bill --
In the school arena, by the way, the Bush administration has already
pulled a fast one. Buried deep in the 670 pages of the No Child Left
Behind Act there is a provision which requires that public high schools
give military recruiters access to facilities and also contact
information for every student ? or else face a cutoff of federal aid. read the story --
-----------------------------
my letter to Jim McDermott
Dear Mr. McDermott,
While I support most of your politics, I feel compelled to write
regarding the appalling H.R 163 Universal National Service Act of 2003.
While I understand that you and your collegues feel that you are making
a point with this bill, you seem to be overlooking the real-life effects
it will have.
In a recent speech, you seem to be taking the stance that if everyone's
children had to go to war, this would be a deterrent to war and
that war should not be fought only by the children of the poor. I agree
with this absolutely. It makes for fine oratory. But legislating the
draft to make a point is the most boneheaded thing I've heard of in a
long time.
First, I think that you are overlooking the fact that most Americans did
not want this war. Declared loyalty aside when pressed, the American
people were not the ones clamoring for war. Quite the opposite -- we
had peace demonstrations the likes of which have not been seen since
Vietnam.
It was our political and corporate leaders who pushed this war.
Reinstating the draft does not send their children to the battlefields.
Most of these current warmongers should have served in Vietnam but did
not. Let's face it, for the most part, these people's children will
never have to worry about being turned into cannon fodder. There will
still be college deferrals, high-paid doctors willing to swear to a
medical condition, or cushy placements such as the one that our current
"President" obtained.
I have one child, Mr. McDermott. He is 17 and the most precious thing
in this whole world to me. If he ends up drafted and hurt or killed, I
could not bear it. We are opposed to all war and have raised our son
the same. If he survived a stint in the military, it would not be
without some damage to his ideals or beliefs. If such a scenario came
about, I would not be able to forgive you or the other sponsers of this
bill or anyone who supported it.
By putting this bill out there "to make a point" you are ignoring the
lessons that Vietnam taught us. The children of powerful people
survived. The public opinion did not sway the leaders. The war
continued because of a huge supply of humans to send. You've doubled
this supply by including females.
I am disappointed that you have sponsored such a dangerous and
ill-thought-out bill that might send tens of thousands of our children
to their deaths. We have, after all, been told by the current
administration that this is a war without boundaries. It is a new war
that will not have an end. Your bill is serving their purposes quite
nicely.
If you really wanted to make your point, you should have introduced a
bill merely requiring the service of the children of all those who vote
for, or declare war.
Sincerely, Tammy
5:04:19 PM 
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