Impress... coercing one into military service is the word for today

[HereSince1628]

This is a useful word for those of us participating in the rhetorical war against the forced servitude policy of Rumsfeld's military euphemistically known as "Stop Loss."

"Impressed" avoids the obvious confusion of the terms draft and conscription. "Impress" also comes complete with negative connotations in history and literature. The forcing of men into the service of the British Navy is one of the darker sides of American colonial and British history.

Last week's Federal Court ruling will allow Army manpower needs to be met by press gangs as well as recruiters.

[damntexdem]

1. Oh, such things never existed, they were done by others, ...

and they're not what the Bushistas are doing. Don't you watch Faux News? ;-)

[txaslftist]

2. Head in the sand here...

but what federal court ruling?

[HereSince1628]

3. Here's a link to that story

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/01/03/news/opinion/1edmon103.txt

Last Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Owen M. Panner denied Santiago's motion for a preliminary injunction against having to report again for active duty, less than a week before Santiago is scheduled to ship to Fort Sill, Okla. A soldier with D Company of the Oregon Guard's 113th Aviation Battalion in Pendleton, he is and his unit are expected to be deployed to Afghanistan in February.

Santiago argued that he already had completed his contracted term in 2002, but Panner's ruling means that he will have to go. And he is only one of thousands who are finding themselves back in uniform despite having honorably completed the service they signed on for.

<snip>

But the military has gone further in Santiago's case. He originally signed for an eight-year tour with the Guard in 1996, but as a result of the "stop-loss" back-door draft, his service has been extended to December 2031, when he would be 54

[Window]

4. This totally unfair and unacceptable!

Is there nothing that can be done about this injustice? What a disgusting nation we have become!

[txaslftist]

6. If this is verifiably what the judge did, and ...

not overly "spun", then this is totalitarianism!

What kind of crock of shit says you can extend some guy's service by executive fiat for 20+ years?

[ChairOne]

5. Um, isn't it *to press* someone into military service?

Press gangs would, for example, press you into service...

Essentially, "press" in this sense, is semantically functioning as "pressure" it seems...

But not *impress*....

Unless I much misunderstand things...