[Sea of Time]

Conscription is the compulsory enrollment of persons in the military service.

In times of war, do you believe conscription is right? Or do you believe that even when troops are needed, citizens should be able to sign up for the army out of their own free will and for no other reason?

[TheEnglishman]

I don't think it would be fair to order someone to join, especially if it conflicts with their views.
On the other hand, it allows people to experience life as a soldier and may encourage them. I guess it depends really.

[Sea of Time]

Personally, I think that the army is something that should unite a country, not tear it apart. An army should not separate a nation's people into those for or against conscription. That's why I think that freedom of choice is necessary when it comes to signing up for the army.

[TheEnglishman]

It doesn't help morale in a war if people are ordered to join. Everyone else will just be left thinking when their turn will be.
I agree that it should be freedom of choice. I don't think I could ever join the army though.

[Sea of Time]

And that's the argument for conscription. If the war in Iraq gets out of hand, it may become necessary. People are becoming more lazy, it is only the lower class America that is signing up for the army because they need the money. When we run out of lower class young men, it will be up to the middle class to step up and sign up.

[Hotshot101]

Freedom of choice is my vote. You should do it on your own will, not ordered by the king or some guy at 18. In medevil times life was hard, for familes because 18 year olds where taken to be in the army under order. It was hard mentally on people.

[Sea of Time]

Another argument for conscription is that it keeps the troops in battle fresh. With more troops, you also limit casualties.

[Elliott]

I don't think people should be made to fight in a war they don't believe in. If there was some war over some Russian guy who was wanting to bomb an African country I wouldn't give a damn to be honest, and I wouldn't want to be a part of it. Of course I feel the option to join should always be there for those who feel compelled to take up arms for a cause they feel strongly about.

[Hotshot101]

Well if people didn't choose to be in the army, then the countries that don't use constription would have no troops at all.

[Sea of Time]

Conscription can be necessary in larger wars. And people don't want to go to war, at least the majority, not because they don't belive in it, but simply because they don't want to put their life at risk.

[Hotshot101]

I know the US did not use consctription for some of are big wars. Still wars happen and even though people don't want to face it, they have to. Some people think that you can talk your way out of every war, but you can't.

[Sea of Time]

I'm pretty sure that a Liberal Canada thinks they can talk their way out of everything because they cut funding to pretty much every corner of our Armed Forces. When the waters up north melt and the battle for international waters breaks out, we'll be sitting ducks, unable to defend our own land.

[Hotshot101]

Then your people really pretty much realise talking can't solve everything. My strategy is ask questions first then if it doesn't work, well then bye bye.

[Saturos S.]

And that's what's so hateable about America. If they can't talk and smart their way through, they use violence. If any European country were to be attacked by America, they would have to use conscription to even try to match their troop strength.

That god for the NATO, UN and EU. Otherwise America would be able to what they want.

[Hotshot101]

There would be no point in attacking you. SS you can't escape war and you never will. War will always be present, because people can never settle their differences and of course medlo maniacs like hitler. Its just how people are. Diplomacy does not always work. It never will. War can't be avoided. If you can't except that then you really need to get a life.

[Saturos S.]

Wars have been avoided due to diplomacy many times. Using violence instead of pacifism has allways been a sign of weakness. I choose diplomacy over war to spare lifes.

If you except the fact that war is normal and not a problem and an a-okay way to get rid of you're problems. Then you don't have a life.

[Aquamarine]

Look, people, that debate is for another topic(though I would side with SS on that one...).

I think nobody should be made to join the army, especially during a war. Why would I want to risk my life to help politicians gain power and money? None of them would send their children to war, which just shows how stupid it is to go there anyway.

[Hotshot101]

SS I would love world peace just as much as the next guy, but you might as well just give it up, because its never going to happen. I don't think war isn't a bad thing, but its normal human nature and no matter how much you or anyone else does want it to change. It isn't going to happen. So you might as well live with it instead of whining about it.

[Saturos S.]

War isn't natural. Animals only fight each other within the species to prove which is stronger, but they hardly ever even wound each other. Killing your own kind isn't natural.

And who says you can't change. Everything and everyone can change, it's been proved many times. Europe has fought many times, but due to talking and resolving problems, the countries except each other.

And of course world peace is practicly impossible, but still, if one thing doesn't work, you just don't do the opposite. You try something else.

==============================================

Ah, back to conscription. I wouldn't want ot be forced to be in the army. But I would like to protect things I stand for. If I agree with the politicians are whatever. I might fight. But I wouldn't want to be forced to do it.

[Hotshot101]

You obvously don't know human nature then. Its natural for humans to fight. Still get the point talking doesn't always work! It never will with stubborn people. People can change SS, doesn't mean the world will change.

As for backing conscription. Yes nobody wants to be forced to do anything and they shouldn't be forced to join the army. I mean people do join, because they are compelled to help there country.

[Sea of Time]

The fundamental problem with conscription is that by using it, we are breaking the rights of every democratic country in the world. But without a strong army to defend that country, there would be no rights. It is a heated debate, if you think about it.

[Hotshot101]

Yes. Lucky for us we have men and women who are willing to risk, there lives to protect that freedom.

[Sea of Time]

But what if the conflict became larger? What if you needed more soldiers? Would you still feel so strongly for your rights that you would be against conscription?

It's better to have our soldiers overseas than to have the war come here and fight on our own soil.

[Hotshot101]

In my opinion, that wouldn't happen until the end times or in logical words that would never happen.

[Sea of Time]

It already has happened in WWI and WWII. And what about Iran? North Korea? China? Conflicts with those countries can easily escalate into a situation where conscription is necessary.

[Hotshot101]

Well Iran we will probaly have to fight sooner or later. China I doubt. North Korea has to be really demented to attack us. We have the power to destroy each of them, although we maybye talking wiped off the map sorta thing. We didn't conscript in WWs either. Although that did call for it at times.

[Nyktos]

Hotshot, get it though your head: America is not the only country in the word.

[Split Infinity]

Sea_of_Time, on Jan 14 2007, 07:25 AM, said:

It already has happened in WWI and WWII. And what about Iran? North Korea? China? Conflicts with those countries can easily escalate into a situation where conscription is necessary.

I highly doubt that such conflicts would turn into a rule-the-world scenario. It came close to that in WW I & II, but in those days the armed forces of the countries involved were in a sorry state. Nowadays, most countries are sufficiently prepared to hold their own against opposing forces. The 'good' nations of the world have numerous allies to aid them if an attack were to occur, whereas the bad guys have few or none. I'm not naming names, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

[Hotshot101]

Felix of Vale, on Jan 13 2007, 07:50 PM, said:

Hotshot, get it though your head: America is not the only country in the word.

Umm I know that. You don't read very well. I didn't say we where the only one. I stated how likely we would be attacked by the countries.

[Split Infinity]

But you seem to be talking about 'us' and 'we' quite a lot.

[Hotshot101]

It just means the US. Its just how pronouns are used.

[Elliott]

Hotshot101, on Jan 14 2007, 02:12 PM, said:

It just means the US. Its just how pronouns are used.

us = Self reference to 2 or more people.
US = United States

Learn to post with correct English and 2 things will happen.

1. People will know what you are talking about.
2. People will take notice of what you are talking about.

[Hotshot101]

Whatever. The point is conscription is wrong even though in desperate times it seems right. Everyone should have free will about what they want. Its not widely used anymore. Then that pretty much somes up this entire arguement.

[Eugine]

Quote

We didn't conscript in WWs either. Although that did call for it at times.

That's not correct, the US used conscription a number of times. Please research before posting >_>
And I have no idea what 'Although that did call for it at times' means.

Anyway, I agree with conscription to an extent. I do believe in times when a country is losing a war, conscription is necessary. But other than that, conscription isn't that bad. IMO, everyone should atleast have some form of military training if able.

[Golden Legacy]

I agree with Eugine, actually. Having a two year mandatory military training time period is something I'd actually be willing to do.

It's only when the cause and belief for an actual war, like the one in Iraq now, is completely arbitrary, that I feel otherwise.