Theoretical Draft

[Kagemusha]

Ironside is right. Here its a citizen´s duty to protect his country against foreign attacks. In Finland only certain medical conditions leave you out of the army. So this staff sergeant in reserve would be shipped in, in the case war would break out.

[Paul Peru]

We have a draft in Norway. (it may be on its last legs)
As a conscientious objector, I served 16 months of civilian service in lieu of 12 months in the armed forces. In case of war, I'd called on to do humanitarian work or provide some other vital service to keep society functioning. That's what I'd do.

[_Martyr_]

I disagree with all you people calling soly a coward. Read Sean O'Caseys play The Plough And the Stars, it examines the the themes of loyalty and duty on various levels; duty to one's self, one's family, one's community, one's country, and to one's ideals.

Ultimately I personally dont put too much weight on the notion of a nation. In my humble opinion, Im a human first and formost, with a family and friends and people I love, that just so happens to have been born where and when I was. Nothing makes me more nauseous than teary eyed patriotism and blind nationalism. Take a step back, had the fluke of birth happened in any other way, you would feel exactly the same way about where ever else you were born. Not exaclty a very strong basis for an undying love, devotion and preparedness to kill and to die for an abstract ideal that just devides humanity.

Dont get me wrong, I am fond of where I live, the people and places here are very dear to me, but as a whole I dont really buy the broader, encompassing, almost devine entity of "Ireland" or indeed any nation. Its all just a result of violant human history - wars, murder, assisnations, plunder, slavery and division - not something I am particularly proud of. In short there's nothing at all sacred about a "country", no more than I dont particularly feel excessive loyalty to my bank, ISP or College as institutions, I dont feel that much loyalty to the State. Its the people I care about, not the institution that was created to govern them. I dont have kids yet, but when I do, my loyalty will be squarely to them, not too the State, what good of a father would I be to them dead for an abstract political cause?

Based purely on a willingness to fight a politically motivated war for this abstract (and imo) rather counterproductive construction of modern pollitical and millitary consolodation and centralisation I would dodge a draft. On the other hand, not all wars are politically motivated (I mean this in the sense that Iraq II was certainly to some extent motivated by the strategic value of the large oil reserves, and indeed Iraq's location, and lots of other political factors, not really by an honest threat to the safety of Great Britain or America, but you might disagree) some are indeed wars of survival. In these wars you and the people you love, your very existance is threatened I would fight to the death.

Basically it boils down to this, I would fight and die for people, but not for politics.

[BigTex]

In 2 weeks I go and sign up for the draft. No, if called I would go and join without moaning, it would be my duty. The least I can do in thanks to my forefathers for the freedoms they have granted, and maintained. Some things are worth dieing for, and the continuance of these United States is one of the better of them. Whatever you may call it, blind patriotism, evil nationalism, it has brought us to the top in the world and it will keep us there.

[Kraxis]

If you are not willing to protect your country then you are not willing to protect the values it stand for... Simple as that. That is of course good when those values are not wholly good.
But at the same time politics should not just be put in the backseat in terms of not serving, but also in terms of protecting people.

If I lived in a country under a despotic ruler who liked to oppress other peoples and dissenters, I would still serve if it protected my people from horrible devastation (think terrorbombing for instance). As noted the people shouldn't as a group suffer because of the regime, and I would protect against that.

Btw, I have served my constription in the Danish Royal Navy.