Government sanctioned slavery

The jury is out on whether women should have to register for the selective service like their male counterparts.

Some argue the potential service on the battlefield will level the playing field between men and women. The other side has equally compelling contentions as to why women should be excluded, but both clearly miss the mark.

The best solution to uphold American ideals is not to force women to serve, but to demolish the selective service all together.

While sides are arguing over gender equality they are missing the main problemwith conscription; it’s government sanctioned military slavery.

This country was founded on the principles of personal liberty, and forced servitude is its antithesis. Throughout much of American history the selective service served as the “carrot and stick” approach; rewarding men for fighting, and threatening imprisonment for those who avoided it.

Besides the inherent conflict with personal liberties, there are actual dangers to forcing individuals, regardless of sex, into military combatant roles.

Compare the mindset of a student that embraces knowledge, to one who is forced to attend school.  While both attend class, the level of attentiveness in the classroom leads one student to do well on a test and the other to fail.

In the military, attentiveness during training leads some soldiers to great performance in combat and the others to crash. Unlike a small test grade, the actions of one soldier has some extraordinary consequences.

This is because military units rely on the efforts of every individual soldier to work together.  When one soldier fails to do their job, the unit is broken and lives are at risk.

This is unacceptable in a country where, since 1973, we have had an all-volunteer military. Allowing military personnel to individually choose to serve their country in that capacity will lead to safer and more efficient servicemen and women.

Armies are stronger, more poised and happier when they are given the option of being there.  This is why it is vital that we protect the right to be volunteers, instead of creating armies of people who were volun-told.


Micah Christensen is a junior communication studies major of Cheyenne, Wyo.