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Rumors of war
impact ORU
By Jason Bowen
Every night the news
makes it clear that the U.S. is preparing for war. Many journalists
and officials are saying that it's not a matter of "if" but "when."
Husbands, sons, wives and daughters all over the U.S. who participate
in the nation's reserve units have been put on active duty status
as a result of the military's war preparation efforts.
Recently it was rumored that the government might even reinstate
the draft if the U.S. does go to war. Jan. 7 Representative Charles
Rangel (D-NY) introduced into Congress a bill that would require
every male and female between the ages of 18 and 26 to serve two
years of service in the armed forces.
His bill has caused many heated debates over the draft as well as
America's war efforts-which is exactly what Rangel intended. Rangel
is generally known to be an anti-war proponent, and he hopes this
bill will cause the U.S. to heavily consider the seriousness of
sending troops to fight in Iraq.
Right now, the majority of the armed service consists of minorities
as well as men and women from low-income families. Information on
this can be found at www.falklands.org/usaboard/messages/31022.html.
Rangel's hope is that if wealthy upper- and middle-class men and
women are forced into the service, it will make the government think
twice about going to war.
While a draft wouldn't affect college students unless they had low
G.P.A.s and were at risk of flunking out, that doesn't mean college
students aren't impacted by the threat of war.
Students who are involved in our nation's reserve units are at risk
of going to war, despite their G.P.A.s and the fact they could be
approaching graduation.
On ORU's campus there are several students who participate in reserve
units. Not all of them have been activated just yet, but all of
them have been placed on alert.
Being placed on alert simply means that if the U.S. goes to war,
the reservists could be sent anywhere-foreign or domestic. A large
number of reserve units that are activated are actually sent to
military bases stateside to replace troops who are sent to the Middle
East.
Sophomore Rob Dunsmore, who lives on Flint (3-East, EMR) says he
hasn't been activated yet, but has been placed on alert. When asked
if he thinks he will go over he says, "Yes, it's just a matter of
time."
That seems to be the general consensus when our military reservists
are asked if they think they will go to war.
It's just a matter of time.
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