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Letter to Editor
by Matt Waker
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 1:37 PM
Walkster1@aol.com
This is a letter Im writng to my highschool newspaper.
This is a letter that I am writing to my high school newspaper. An article said that by fearing the draft, we are anti-American. I would like to hear some feedback and any advice, before I send it in.
Dear Editor,
After reading the March 31st issue of The High Post, I would like to respond to an article that was published in the Op-Ed section of the newspaper. “Standing Tall in a Time of War”, an article about the recent war with Iraq, and the fear that many high school students possess about the possibility of a draft, deeply offended me. Although many things in the article were untrue, and many of them stereotypical (i.e. “hippy-mentalities”), the one comment that offended me the most was the statement that by fearing the draft, we are anti-American.
War is never a good idea, and almost always results in death and destruction that is unimaginable. Soldiers have been tortured, killed, and some have never been found. A draft, in which randomly selected men are told that they must defend their homeland would throw many of us into situations like these. For these reasons, I do fear the draft, yet I am in no way, shape, or form – anti-American, I simply do not believe in violence, nor do I believe that this is a good enough cause to risk my life for.
We aren’t defending our homeland either. We are intruding another country and attacking their homeland. If we are supposed to protect America, then shouldn’t the people of Iraq be able to protect Baghdad? There are no Iraqis on American soil attempting to murder our president, and many think that it has already happened with September 11th. However, there is no evidence as of yet to support this, and it has been well documented that Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden virtually hate each other.
On March 20th, 2003, I was arrested, along with 121 other people in downtown Pittsburgh. As much as many like to say it, this does not make me anti-American. I am simply standing up for what I believe in, as the author of this article was. It is wrong however, to tell us that by fearing the draft, and attempting not to go, that we are anti-American. I am in no way a Saddam supporter, and I do agree that he needs to be out of power, but I don’t think that by killing more people, that we are going about it in the right way. Does this make me anti-American? No. I would never in my life enlist in the military, and if, by chance, there was a draft, you wouldn’t find me. Is this being anti-American? No, its standing up for what you believe in, as our constitution gives us the right to do so. Once again, I do respect other’s opinions, but calling me anti-American because I fear the draft, or do not support our country in this war is wrong.
draft could be good
by kevin
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 4:43 PM
In terms of making the army more representative of the nation as a whole and making it so the upper class has to send their own sons and daughters off to die in their imperialist wars. The existence of the draft probably played a large part in creating opposition to the Vietnam war amoung those with the power and priviledge to do something about it. I think a justly applied draft would probably go a long way in curtailing these kinds of wars of aggression.
kevin
A draft isn't a cure-all
by Daniel Papasian
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 5:05 PM
dpapasia@andrew.cmu.edu
A draft isn't necessairily a good idea for the anti-war movement.
Sure, you have, say, the Scandavian countries where everyone is in the armed forces and as such they're usually very responsible, but look at Israel as a counterexample. The draft in Israel has created a situation where now everyone in the government, diplomats included, are military men with military minds. Which is, I think, sometimes very damaging.
A draft would be a convienent way to increase interest in anti-war, but in order to truly become pro-peace what is needed is the type of deep social and mental changes that senators cannot legislate.
You are the future.
by .
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 5:07 PM
Dear Matt,
Before you send this letter off, make sure to get yourself a dictionary and look up the word 'traitor.' After you digest that one, try looking up 'treason.'
When you're done with that, find and talk to one of the many veterans of the armed forces who have faithfully fought to give you the freedom and prosperity you enjoy today.
You seem like a very bright kid, it would be a shame to see you misled by a bunch of cynical losers who hate their own country. America is not perfect--any institution created and administered by mankind will-- by definition--have myriad faults, but it's important for you to study things on BOTH sides of any issue before you make decisions about how you wish to spend your time on this planet. Study all sides, be particular about details and practice skepticism about ALL ideologies you encounter. When you do this, I think you'll find that America is a great and mostly successful continuing experiment in democracy. You may even find that this nation IS worth serving. Good luck... I hope it's not too late.
newspapers
by Evan N
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 5:25 PM
Sounds good to me. I draw the cartoons for the Mt. Lebanon school newspaper, and it never gets any letters to the editor except for stupid crap like hwo the cafeteria food sucks. they will most likely print that if it is anmything liek the mt. lebo paper.
What the hell?!
by Phoenix
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 5:31 PM
I am as of now extremly confused at what you are trying to say about traitors and treason. You see we live in a democracy and therefore standing up for your beliefs do not count as being a traitor. Secondly, fearing a draft is treason, neither is disagreeing with a sterotype about people who do. Perhaps you should refrence your dictionary.
Speaking of veterans, did you know that a large ammount of veterans are against this aswell as for it. So I don't think that an anti-war veteran would consider it un-american to not want to be drafted for this war.
Also, just so you know this war is not defending our freedom, you may disagree. If you do disagree please tell me what freedoms America is guarding with this war. Also this war has caused a support for the whole "Security over Freedoms" indside the goverment. Therefore we, as Americans, are losing our rights during war time, quite the opposite of what you said.
Let us also not forget this rationale of being against war is being against America that you invoked. You see America represents a diversity of opinion, and is what truly makes it an experiment in democracy. Therefore you are logicaly the un-american: you are attempting to use opionated rhetoric to stiffle the opinions of another with sterotype reasoning and inverted factual legitimization rationales. Which is essentialy the anthisesis of American ideals.
I also noticed you thought it clever to switch from the condemning parental tone to the I am your friend and want to protect you tone, both used when speaking to someone who is considered a lesser in terms of mental capacity and maturity. Which is really odd because you are the one implementing convoluted logic and agiprop.
Lastly to Matt, I really think that you letter should be published: you have your right to whatever opinion you desire, and the right to voice it. You should especialy publish it because your letter could provide people who aren't sure where they stand with some different perspectives. I also commend you on asking for the opinions of others: it demonstrates that you are not out to be offensive, but want to know the truth, in a factual sense, and the general consensus of the publics moral stance towards what you plan to do.
One last thing, I was also one of the pgh122. I am Freedom Area senior. I mention this because I have come to find that most high-schoolers don't have enough access to non-media opions, and that you Mr.Matt are helping to bring them about,
Peace
What's wrong with that.
by Julie
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 5:54 PM
Hey Phoenix,
What's wrong with telling the kid to be skeptical and to investigate all ideologies with equal skepticism? What's wrong with talking to vets? Maybe some of them might tell the kid they are against war. That guy's advice sounds pretty sound to me. But you are starting to rant like a crazy man. Seeing conspiracies in your imagination. Parental tones, agitprop! Get real! The guys advice to that young kid is right on target. I think your reading things into it that weren't there.
Response
by Phoenix
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 6:30 PM
Anybody who is telling someone to refrence the words traitor and treason and then link them to themselves in the first statement of what they have to say translates to speaking down to someone, the exact method is one that is used by parental authority figures to denounce the statement formaly used. I didn't tell him to deny other idealogies, I told him to implement his own: in fact it should be quite apparent that if was arrested for being against this war then no statement by someone online is going to make him change his opinion. Therefore, perhaps wrongly, I assumed that he was most propably looking to find the general stance of the public towards his letter, and not where to find people to change his opinion. I also did not discourage him from talking to veterans, but I did dismiss the idea that what a veteran has to say about personal responses to the draft as being irrellevant because they are divided. So, in conclusion I believe that you are finding things in what I said that are not there, and I do support looking at things from all perspectives, as long as the are sensible. I would also once again like to comment on the whole "Traitor thing": No sensible advice starts off with implying that the person you are advising is to stupid to know a common word, traitor, and then telling them that once they find the meaning that they should know it defines them. That is what I would call unsound advice.
hey matt who are you
by Sam Berkowitz
Friday, Apr. 04, 2003 at 11:43 PM
hey matt
if you are in high school, were you one of us 16 minors arrested on 3/20? if so, who were you. (i was sam, the kid with the big blond hair whose sweatshirt the police ripped...)
Re: You are the future.
by Vance
Saturday, Apr. 05, 2003 at 2:41 PM
Dear Matt,
I suggest that you instead look up "conscientious objector." That seems to describe you much better than "traitor."
<http://www.objector.org/conscription/draft-registration.html>
<http://www.nisbco.org/Some_People.htm>
Thanks.
by Matt Walker
Saturday, Apr. 05, 2003 at 10:54 PM
Sam - I was the kid in the black glasses whom was going to be 18 in may. I think I remember you.
Vance, thank you for those sites...they were very interesting.
Thanks again, everyone.
Peace.
lucky matt
by Sam B
Sunday, Apr. 06, 2003 at 8:58 PM
Matt you lucky bastard..... i should do something really stupid right before i turn 18 too
miss the point?
by Erin
Sunday, Apr. 06, 2003 at 10:02 PM
whoever told the kid to look up the definitions to treason and traitor (since you so kindly withheld your name)
you compeltely miss the point of his letter, go back and read it again, and maybe you'll notice the fact that it was derected at someone with exactly your viewpoint.
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