Will they draft gays, lesbians, anarchists, pot smokers, communists, etc?

[bigtree]

How did they get around these hang-ups in the Vietnam era? Did they? Is there any chance that we 'non-conformists' could spook em into leaving us out of their war games?

[Disturbed]

1. Lesbian

One of my daughters asked a campus recruiter if she could join the Army. They guy said sure she could. She then asked if it was OK if she told the Army that she was a lesbian. He said that the Army doesn't allow lesbians to serve. She told him that this was discrimination and that she will pursue suing the Army. He just looked at her with his mouth partially gaping and she smiled at him and walked away.

She actually called the ACLU and they said they couldn't do anything about it.

[pop goes the weasel]

3. I sense a large percentage

of gays and lesbians in our younger generation should a draft be called. The only ones who will be inducted will be the terminally honest and the homophobes.

[bigtree]

4. At the time of the Vietnam draft they were so desperate for bodies

to send to war that I can't imagine you could get out of serving by declaring something like that. But I just don't have the facts. I wonder, with all of the ridiculous uproar over GITM, if they would risk hypocricy and take us anyway. I kinda think so. I wouldn't put it past them.

[ThomWV]

2. What Makes You Think They Got Around It?

When there was a draft they certainly got their fair share of gays, lesbians, anarchists, pot smokers, and communists. Do you think for a moment that gay people have not served this country since its inception, that lesbians haven't, that pot smokers haven't (well, in latter days anyway) and at least a few communists?

[Rowdyboy]

5. Yes, gays did serve in the draft in earlier years because

to get out of it, you would recieve a draft classification that would say you were mentally unfit for military service and all subsequent employers could use that against you. Society's disapproval was SO enormous that I really doubt many gays had the guts to openly say they were. Better to die.

[bigtree]

9. I know they have served. I just wonder with the new hysteria

if these things would be overlooked, and if so, how? Did they face it head on in that era, did they just disregard these things? How did they deal with this then, and how could they do a u-turn now?

[pop goes the weasel]

10. but in the past

the military made a concerted effort not to look too hard at the individual as long as the individual could shoulder a rifle. Now we have "don't ask, don't tell." If you were about to be drafted, wouldn't you feel suddenly like telling? There are going to be an awful lot of rejects before the military finally decides that worrying about people's consensual sex life is a waste of time.

Now, if they would just concentrate on worrying about the sadistic habits of hetero MPs....

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. well

how about a pot smoking commie liberal pinko dyke

do ya think they want me?

[bigtree]

11. Hee hee

There goes the neighborhood. :D

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. where goes the neighbourhood?

i can barely even see it anymore :P

[Bridget Burke]

7. Sure--it's a good way to get rid of them.

Send them to the front. Put the Right Sort in safe jobs.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Exactly

[bigtree]

13. I'd end up in the brig

First day. I'm rabidly anti-authority.

I'm too old now, but my kids are in their 20's. I suddenly want to teach them to be more like lionesspriyanka, if it would help.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. trust me

you dont want kids like me...or maybe you do...my dad says he's very proud of me...so i take it back...you do want kids like me :)

[bigtree]

19. I'm feeling pretty proud of you right now

:hi:

[ThomWV]

12. Let Me Say This Another Way

Anyone who thinks for a single second that homosexuals, of either sex, pot smokers, communists, or other 'non-conformists' are any less patriotic, any less brave, any less dependable in times of duress, or in any other way less suited to represent or serve their country is simply wrong.

[bigtree]

17. Oh, well, that. Of course not. I can kick some ass when I need to.

I'm just not inclined to kill for no reason, and I'm not partial to anyone goading me into killing. I'm not so sure about my sons though. I don't know if they would be strong enough to resist. If there was a sure way, however...

[Scooter24]

23. but...

But why must the rules change during times of duress than in peace time? I would think the military would be more keen on keeping that "high morale and unit cohesion" act in place during war time? No?

Oh wait. Homosexuals can only serve and die for their country during war, but in peacetime, we are a threat to military. Go figure...lol

I will guarantee you this, Article 125 will be repealed before the draft is ever enacted. This would void any reasoning to keep homosexuals from serving. If they didn't do this, then they will have legal challenges popping up everywhere. You will have two laws that trump each other and the USSC will be left deciding which holds precedent. If the military doesn't void Article 125, the USSC would more than likely do so following its ruling in Lawrence.

Historically, they have ruled that the UCMJ holds precedent in all military issues. I highly doubt the USSC would rule that the government has the right to draft homosexuals into combat during war, but can uphold the UCMJ statute as binding during peacetime. Unless the government could prove that the reasons to prevent homosexuals from serving in peacetime somehow disappear during war time, I don't see the government getting far. Homosexuals could view this as a victory in gay rights but then we have the bigger issue (i.e., Draft) to worry about.

A more far reaching outcome could be that they rule that homosexuals can be exempt from the draft based on rulings from previous DODT rulings and that there isn't a constitutional right to serve in the military, but the court has voided this logic before in its ruling to uphold the legality of the draft (national security supersedes individual liberty). Another approach, and a way for the military to uphold the UCMJ statute, would be to grant CO status to homosexuals. It might get a little hairy when you have to "prove" your homosexuality, but it would be the only way to keep Article 125 on the books during and after a draft period.

[dsc]

14. There is a famous case of Sgt Perry Watkins

who was drafted in the 1960's. He was honest about being gay and they took him. He reupped several times each time being honest. In 1986 he was on his last reup before the 20 year retirement and they refused to reup him. He sued and ended up winning a pension on equity grounds. In VietNam they did refuse to sign up gays but at least as many pretend gays were refused as real ones since they used stereotypes as their standard.

[bigtree]

18. I like the sound of this

I think the military or anyone else who would restart the draft would be in for a surprise. Folks are very open these days about their lifestyles, which often diverge from the celebrated norm.

[bigbillhaywood]

20. Fuck it I'll go. Might wind up in the stockade for revolutionary agitation

and organizing, but I'll be damned if I run off to Canada while my working-class brothers and sisters are being drafted and used as cannon fodder. Besides, if you can agitate within a conscript army enough to split it, the regime is toast. Look at Russia 1917. And the Black Panthers got some of their best recruits from Nam.

[ForrestGump]

22. Good luck splitting the US military, dude

Not much you can do from a cell in Leavenworth, unfortunately.

[Scooter24]

21. party you say?

I'm sure that they'll find some way to get them in the military.

Would make for one hell of a party in Fallujah, dont you think?

We could show the Iraqi's old-fashion American customs like keg parties and casual sex.

Peace and Love....lol

[Vladimir]

24. I think most communists

would welcome the draft, and certainly welcome an entirely conscript army. Well, the British ones would anyway - don't know about CPUSA.

[nonconformist]

25. You rang?

Is there any chance that we 'non-conformists' could spook em into leaving us out of their war games?

:hi: :P