Letter: Draft would be more fair

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

At the National Governors' Association conference recently, many of the governors expressed concern over so many men and women in the National Guard getting sent to Iraq. There was no discussion, however, of enacting a fair draft law so that all Americans would be equally exposed to the dangers involved in defending our country.

President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney avoided active duty in the military, as did most of our presently elected officials on the national as well as local levels. Yet we hear them talking about the need to sacrifice the lives of our soldiers in the interest of national security and patriotism. The burden of defending this country falls almost totally on the non-privileged, minorities and the economically deprived.

The media is partly to blame for this dismal situation as they have not pressed for changes that would distribute the burdens of remaining free and being secure. Do they also fear their loved ones might be at risk if a fair draft was put in place?

Until the middle and lower classes make their voices heard loud and clear, their loved ones will continue to die while the privileged stay at home safe and secure, rooting the soldiers on, getting educated and attending to their careers. When and if the soldiers return, they will get the leftovers and be forgotten until the next time they are needed.

EUGENE OSKO