Brethren Agree To Revive 'Alternative Service' Military Draft Programs

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15893_1.html

Leaders of the Church of the Brethren say they will follow through on a request from the Selective Service to have "alternative service" programs in place for conscientious objectors if a draft is reinstated.

As one of the historic "peace churches" that shun military service, Brethren officials were "cautious" after an unannounced visit by a draft official to a church center in Maryland last October. Officials were worried that the visit signaled that a draft may be at hand. snip

In follow-up meetings, draft officials urged the church to dust off long-standing "alternative service" programs that allow conscientious objectors to serve in two-year domestic service projects in lieu of military service.

In a meeting Dec. 10, the church's council voted to "maximize our efforts" on alternative service, as well as help "guide our youth in their choice of nonviolent service." snip

Selective Service officials have insisted there are no plans to reinstate the draft, and said Alternative Service Director Cassandra Costley stopped by the Brethren Service Center simply because she was in the area.

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The Alternative Service Director from the Selective Service just happened to be in the area. Thats nice.

[theycanbiteme]

1. Geee....but I thought that there wasn't going to be a draft

why would they be considering such an "alternative" program? :eyes:

[Florida_Geek]

2. The Draft is COMING

everybody knows it but the ones watching FOX.

[TahitiNut]

31. Good.

:shrug: (even though I doubt it)

[LynnTheDem]

3. Gee it sure feels

DRAFTy

[Maat]

4. Couldn't have said it better, LynnTheDem.

n/t

[jdj]

6. I nominate this post for the official bumper sticker of all progressives.

[KingChicken]

5. Fuck the draft...

If I’m forced to give up my rights to any form of conscription then the U.S. makes itself my enemy, which I will fight to the end. Live free or die...

[don954]

7. you dont setup the game board

unless you plan to play a game.

Enjoy the draft, comming to a town near you!

http://www.enjoythedraft.com/

[murielm99]

8. My husband was raised Brethren, and attended a Brethren

college.

Unfortunately, he did not get baptized and join the church officially until he was 28. He was drafted, and served.

We went to a Brethren church for the first fourteen years we were married. Then, the congregation here got too conservative for us. We switched to a United Methodist church.

My son still loves the Brethren. I am encouraging him to join.

[wildflower]

16. Found this interesting history and description of the Brethren:

http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/brethren.html

-wildflower

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. That's interesting...

Following a link on the site, I learned that Ephrata Cloister, which I always believed was a Shaker institution, was an entirely different sect of religious people.

[gratuitous]

29. By all means

Have your son begin working on his CO folder NOW, before the fit starts hitting the shan. The Brethren also founded the On Earth Peace Academy (www.oepa.org) and they have resources for getting things in order.

In Illinois, I am familiar with the Douglas Park congregation in Chicago and Highland Avenue congregation in Elgin, and recommend either one as a good place to learn and live one's liberal Christian faith.

[medeak]

9. so what about agnostics and atheists who object?

they'll be forced to serve with the church?

[NNN0LHI]

13. Become a believer for a while. Religion is like a social club

Similar to the Kiwanis or the Rotary Club. Christian conscientious objectors have the best luck. You can try Buddhism or something else, but I think you would be playing with fire. You would probably have better luck buddying up with the minister at the local Pentecostal snake handling congregation. (just don't actually touch the fuggin snakes) They certainly wouldn't want you to bring no box of damn snakes to basic training with you. Thats for sure. Don't forget the most important part though. Be generous with your church donations. :)

Don

[BrotherBuzz]

15. Agnostics and Atheists can definitly apply....

The Supreme Court decided US v. Seeger in the spring of 1965, just as the greatest escalation of the Vietnam War was occurring. In this case, the Court defined 'Supreme Being' so that the phrase meant nothing; accordingly, Congress eliminated the Supreme Being clause from the draft law two years later. Also, the Court defined 'religious training and belief' for conscientious objectors very liberally, so that even agnostics and members of no religious society could be recognized as conscientious objectors.

The final course of action is yours, and yours alone. It wouldn't hurt to talk to the The Quakers (Friends), Mennonite, Brethren, and Jehovah’s Witness for any advise they might have about alternative service. I would choose to walk the path with friends.

[Just Me]

10. DRAFT,...civil or military service,...from the top of the economic ladder!

NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

Well, except one,...all those who voted for Bush must be worked into the top of the fold.

After all, all those who advocate leadership's policies should be THE FIRST TO SACRIFICE!!!!

Doncha' think? :bounce:

[CabalPowered]

11. I had gone at least a month w/o thinking about the draft..

It was a nice vacation. But like all good vacations, this one just came to a crashing halt.

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. Not to worry, it's only going to be a small draft

They will stop it just as soon as they "finish the job" in Iraq. I promise.

[NNN0LHI]

14. "finishing the job in Iraq" is hard work n/t

[Last Lemming]

17. When you discuss the draft

with nice upscale suburban moms--as I did not to long ago--you might ask them to keep this in mind

Highly Educated Upper Middle Class Suburban Mom: Oh my son went down immediately and got his passport--if there's a draft--he's on his way to England
Me: You know all that improved border security? You don't think that's designed to keep people OUT do you?

Microchips and iris scans--it's God's Will

[brokensymmetry]

18. Isn't it interesting....

how little attention this is getting, even here on DU. And the rest of the web is all but silent on the matter.

Yeah, I know, bad joke time..."It's quiet - TOO quiet!" :)

[NNN0LHI]

19. The Selective Service's Alternative Service Director just happened to...

...to be in the area. It was just a coincidence. Kind of like fate. There is nothing to it. Really. One question though. What is that 800 pound gorilla doing standing in the room with us?

[Don

[Supersedeas]

27. was that gorilla there on business or pleasure??

[Divernan]

20. This is being set up for neocons' kids, and they WILL keep it quiet

as to the the ususal cast of cannon fodder, ie. working class, blue collar and Dem middle class. As soon as I saw this thread, I thought of Jenna Bush setting up some bogus 'teaching" activity; and Barbara Bush murmuring about working with kids with Aids.

[jpgray]

21. We're going to have a special skills draft first, I'd wager

A lot of out of work IT people may find themselves suddenly employed.

[Divernan]

22. And medics. Surgeons will hire those awf trial attorneys

to beat conscription. And new docs with HUGE student loans to pay off would be smart to start a class action to protect themselves.

[Javaman]

23. They keep taking the steps to institute the draft but still say...

That there is going to be no draft!!!

This is typical of repuke double think. Just like when moron* said that there were no plans on his table for an invasion of Iraq.

Two faced mother fuckers, plain and simple.

As long as they keep saying that there isn't going to be a draft and faux news keeps a blackout on the topic the repukebots will fall in lockstep.

However they will be the first to cry murder when the chimp comes hunting down their children.
It will only be then that they shake off the goofy haze of yet another kool-aid induced hypnosis. But alas it will be to late for them and for the rest of us.

Let the repukes serve first they put him in, they should now take front seat for the draft.
Fuck'um.

[thebaghwan]

25. We invaded Iraq because we just happened to be in the area!

n/t

[StephanieMarie]

26. We already have a draft

on low income families who's kids joined to get the educational benefits, or simply to get out of their no-future neighborhoods. And we have a back-door draft called "stop-loss" that won't let them go.

[darkism]

28. Close the window...

...I feel a draft in here.

[Bretttido]

30. Additional drafting institutions

Don't forget about the program that grants citizenship to immigrants that serve in the military for a determined amount of time... though perhaps these people will also have to serve extra because of stop-loss.

[Yavin4]

32. The Draft Is Just A Rumor From the Internets

Isn't that what Bush said during the debates?

[struggle4progress]

33. kick