Fw: Time to create conscientious objector files and search out safe-haven countries, in case of likely or inevitable draft comes to pass, regardless of who is elected president.

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Saturday, October 09, 2004 5:28 PM

Time to create conscientious objector files and search out safe-haven

countries, in case of likely or inevitable draft comes to pass, regardless of

who is elected president.

 

 

October 7, 2004

 

 

Families plan to skip military draft

By JOHN DARLING

for the Mail Tribune

 

ASHLAND - Opposed to the Iraq war, some Ashland and Talent teens and their

parents are getting their ducks in a row, fearing a revival of the military

draft.

 

They are creating conscientious objector files and searching out safe-haven

countries, all in case what they consider likely or even inevitable comes to

pass, regardless of who is elected president.

 

Nationwide rumors of a renewed draft, dormant since the end of the Vietnam War,

have reached fever pitch with a hotly contested presidential election and the

Selective Service System's stepped-up efforts to recruit volunteers for the

1,980 draft boards around the country. That attempt at readiness appeared to

propel speculation that was already traveling fast.

 

The U.S. House moved quickly Tuesday to quell draft fears by killing a

long-dormant Democrat-sponsored bill that would have required two years of

mandatory military service. The House vote was 402-2, with only two Democrats

voting for the measure.

 

Republicans charged that Democrats created the bill to stir up fear and distrust

of the Bush administration, while Democrats countered that Tuesday's quick vote

avoids a substantive discussion of how the military will accomplish its goals in

Iraq and elsewhere with a volunteer force that is stretched too thin.

 

 

 

Although she expressed her opinion for this article before Tuesday's House vote,

Beckie Elgin, mother of three teens, was clearly worried about the possibility.

 

" I'm very concerned and scared about it and so are my kids, " said Elgin. " The

lives of our children are more valuable than any reasons we're at war.

 

" ... I'll do whatever I have to do to not to let this happen. If it takes hiding

them, I will. "

 

For the last five months, Ashland-based Peace House, the Quaker church and a

committee of " worried, anxious parents " have set up a draft counseling network,

said Ashland activist Wendy Harris, mother of four boys ages 13 to 21.

 

" About 20 people came to the first meeting where we all shared our fears about

the draft coming back, " she said. " The issue is resonating in the community. "

 

Many peace activists, conscientious objectors and military veterans from the

Vietnam War era have joined the effort, creating a volunteer staff that will

conduct training on draft resistance, Harris added.

 

One veteran of the 1970s draft-resistance movement, Dr. Robin Rose of Ashland,

said she's advising teen patients who have a " particular appreciation for world

peace " on the need to establish their status as conscientious objectors early

on, because " you just can't show up and say you're a CO like in the old days. "

 

Rose said she sees this as part of her " holistic health perspective to help

patients not participate in military action, because it's bad for their health. "

 

Rose said a well-documented file for conscientious objectors could include

letters from ministers, doctors and others attesting that the draft-age person

has a long, deeply held belief in peace that precludes participating in military

conflict and committing violence against other humans.

 

Ashland High School nurse Susan Bizeau, mother of an 18-year-old boy, said they

found guidance on the Web - even from the Selective Service's own Web site - on

how to apply for conscientious objector status to avoid the draft.

 

Bizeau's son has joined the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a longtime interfaith

peace group. She also said her son practices Tibetan Buddhism, whose followers

vow not to kill.

 

While Bizeau's son didn't want to register with Selective Service as required by

law when he turned 18, he did to get access to college financial aid, she said.

 

Many parents have filed forms with Ashland High School requesting their child's

name not be reported to the Selective Service during their junior year as

required by President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, said Principal Jeff

Schlecht, who mails the " opt-out forms " quarterly with the school's newsletter

to parents.

 

Schlecht also enforces a policy barring military recruiters on campus except in

counseling offices and only if a student requests an appointment.

 

Army recruiter Sgt. 1st Class James Kaetzel of Medford said schools provide a

list of all students and that becomes the database for volunteer recruiting.

 

Krista Johnson, mother of two teen boys, said she's " alert, but not joining in

the hysteria " because stories on National Public Radio have reported Congress

will not revive the draft. She has not started conscientious objector files for

her sons.

 

But others see what they think is a clear slide toward mandatory military

service.

 

" Anytime you're attacked on your own soil, it's a different ball game, " Bizeau

said. " If there aren't enough soldiers to fight and if the National Guard isn't

allowed to come home after one and two tours, it's only logical the draft will

be used. "

 

Harris agreed: " Both Bush and Kerry say 'no draft,' but they're also not elected

yet. If there's another terror attack or if we go to war in Iran or North Korea,

there won't be enough troops. "

 

Harris said she is researching countries that wouldn't extradite draft evaders

and so far has come up with Nigeria, New Guinea and the Seychelles Islands.

 

" My sons are very dedicated to peace, " said Harris. " Most kids can't grasp

what's happening, but we should all have a plan. I'm in wait-and-see mode now,

but I wouldn't rule out leaving the country. It's just not my first choice to

live on a Third World island for the duration. "

 

John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at

jdarling

 

The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.