I read where the government is now going to automatically register all eligible men for the draft when they reach the age of 18. No longer will you be required to make that trip to the post office or go online to register for the draft, that will be taken care of. No mention of any women being automatically registered for a draft or any of the other 100 genders these days. Nope, still just good old American men. I don’t have a problem with that at all, sounds like a great idea. In fact, should have been done years ago.

I also saw another article saying if they are going to automatically register you for the draft, they should automatically register you to vote. That’s fine, your name can be added to list of possible candidates to vote, I’m good with that. Just like the draft you do have to be “qualified” after reporting to the induction station or before entering the voting booth. Yes, you have to be “qualified” to do either of those things. The ladies, along with all those other genders won’t be on a voter list until they register for that, present their documents and qualify for that. All sounds good to me.

The last time a draft was held was in 1972. The armed forces have been all volunteer since that time. All those drafted had filled out the form, registered for that draft because it was their civic responsibility to do so. It’s true that not all of them, when called, answered that call and fled to Canada and other places to avoid serving. I expect the result will be the same should any be called up from a government created list as well.

I remember well when Jimmy Carter pardoned all those draft dodgers. A slap in the face, as far as I’m concerned, to all those that had answered the call, all those that fought and those that died while doing so! You know, fewer than fifty individuals were arrested for tearing up their draft cards. They were the high profile ones leading the “protests”, disturbing the peace with unlawful assemblies and rioting.

Today the big conversation is about citizenship. Who is a citizen? The democratic party in America supporting “birthright” citizenship as an absolute right in America. According to their thinking, that is exactly what the founding fathers intended, anyone born on this soil is an American! I don’t think so, they were the same men that had fought a war to gain that citizenship! Do you really think they would just grant that to anyone? Citizenship comes with responsibility as well as entitlement.

One is dependent upon the other. Defending the nation, against all enemies foreign and domestic, is one of those responsibilities. It isn’t optional! Let me repeat that for those in the back, it isn’t optional! At least 49 nations require a degree of military service, called conscription. Not just registering, actually serving as a requirement for their citizenship status. While we hold this big debate, this big discussion on citizenship, let’s not forget that. You know the bottom line really is this; your pledge of allegiance is only as valid as your willingness to fulfill that pledge. I really do have to take your word for that.

The place of your birth is solely dependent upon the location of your mother at that time. Yes, only women can have babies and can give birth anywhere on the planet, and soon enough I expect, in space as well if they desire that. The child being born is not entitled to citizenship in whatever place that happens. The citizenship of the parent(s) determine that.

The nation that has extended citizenship status to the birth mother or the biological father of the child, grants citizenship to that child. Why would they do that? The answer is simple enough, they welcome a family member. But it must be remembered, being a family member comes with responsibilities to that family. That’s true even when that family is an entire nation.

Embracing your heritage is what that is called these days, and the reason for so many hyphenated Americans. Should that heritage be taken away just because you were born on different soil? You are a citizen of a different family now, a different nation? I don’t think so and I don’t think that is what the founding fathers thought either. Americans begat Americans! Seems obvious enough to me. Others may join the family after certain requirements are met. Entering the country legally tops the list. That is the first sign of responsibility. Entitlement may follow that.

Draft card from ww2.