I support freedom from the draft

While the far left may prefer to talk about the horrors of war, most Americans don't. We must speak beyond the choir. Additionally, most Americans are not impressed with "individual expression" as a reason for opposing the draft. While resistance may make sense to radical organizers, most people fear resistance and find it troubling. We should therefore strike the words "draft dodger" and "war resister" from our rhetorical lexicon. In place, we should advocate that America's youngest citizens exercise their freedom from the draft for a war beyond American soil not related to our defense. The fight for freedom from the draft, for freedom from being forced by the government to invade a foreign country, is noble - and is more required than "dodging" one's duties.

The more that Americans talk about the draft, the more favorable the dialogue is to our issues and concerns. If we fight for freedom from the draft now, and use every opportunity to link the draft to illegal war of aggression, we will find more people receptive to opposing the overall occupation of Iraq.

I suggest that when developing a case against the draft that we build on several themes:

1. Freedom from killing
2. Freedom from illegal war
3. Freedom of life

Since freedom, rights and liberty are fundamental American values - it becomes natural (not forced as in "peace is patriotic") to use national symbols to convey why freedom from the draft is an important issue for all Americans.