How come the College kids do not protest the Iraq war like their parents did during the Vietnam war?

Question

The young men and women are dying just like Vietnam. Where are the protesters? Do the 18 to 26 year old people care?

Answer 1

Back when the Vietnam war was going on, there was also a draft., and many young College Kids hated that draft, Due to the fact if you were drafted you had no choice of which service you went to..you were also required to carry a draft card.

This is your Notice of Classification, advising you of the determination of your selective service local board that you have been classified in accordance with Selective Service Regulations. The various classifications are described on the reverse side of this communication. You are required to have a Notice of Classification in your personal possession. When a subsequent Notice of Classification is received you should destroy the one previously received, retaining only the latest. For information and advice go to any Local Board.
SPECIAL NOTICE:
A registrant who was deferred on or before his 26th birthday should ascertain from his local board if his liability has been extended to his 28th or 35th birthday.

The draft policy at the time of the V'nam War was called the Universal Mili Training & Service Act. Since its adoption in 1951 at the time of the Korean War, it had been renewed by Congress every 4 years. It called for the registration of all 18-26 year old males with induction to take place at 18 1/2 if so ordered by the local draft board. The draftee, if found mentally & physically fit, would be inducted for a period of 2 years, to be followed by another 2 year period in the active reserves & a subsequent 2 years in the inactive reserves.

The draft was specifically designed to trigger volunteer enlistments before age 18 1/2 had been reached. Volunteers were allowed to enlist as early as age 17 (with parental consent) & were required to serve for 3 years on active duty followed by 3 years as inactive reservists.

But the volunteer prog looked promising to the potential draftee because it allowed him to select his branch of service & receive specialized training if he qualified. He was able to fulfill his mili obligation immediately & he would be required to serve only another 3 years in the inactive reserves.

It becomes clear then why almost 65% of enlisted casualties were volunteers & 1/3d of these were 17-19 years of age & over 2/3ds were 17 to 21.


CLASS I
Class I-A:
Registrant available for military service.
Class I-A-O:
Conscientious objector registrant available for noncombatant military service only.
Class I-C:
Member of the Armed Forces of the US, the Environmental Science Services Administration, or the Public Health Service.
Class I-D:
Qualified member of reserve component, or student taking military training, including ROTC and accepted aviation cadet applicant.
Class I-S:
Student deferred by law until graduation from high school or attainment of age of 20, or until end of his academic year at a college or university.
Class I-W:
Conscientious objector performing civilian work contributing to the maintenance of national health, safety, or interest, or who has completed such work.
Class I-Y:
Registrant qualified for military service only in time of war or national emergency.
CLASS II
Class II-A:
Occupational deferment (other than agricultural and student).
Class II-C:
Agricultural deferment.
Class II-S:
Student deferment.
CLASS III
Class III-A:
Extreme hardship deferment, or registrant with a child.
CLASS IV
Class IV-A:
Registrant with sufficient prior active service or who is a sole surviving son.
Class IV-B:
Official deferred by law.
Class IV-C:
Alien not currently liable for military service.
Class IV-D:
Minister of religion or divinity student.
Class IV-F:
Registrant not qualified for any military service.
CLASS V
Class V-A:
Registrant over the age of liability for military service.

July 26, 1950 - United States military involvement in Vietnam begins as President Harry Truman authorizes $15 million in military aid to the French.

March 29, 1971 - Lt. William Calley is found guilty of the murder of 22 My Lai civilians. He is sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor, however, the sentence is later reduced to 20 years, then 10 years. Out of 16 military personnel charged with offenses concerning the My Lai massacre, only five were actually court-martialed, and only Calley was ever found guilty.

April 1, 1971 - President Nixon orders Calley released pending his appeal.

April 19, 1971 - 'Vietnam Veterans Against the War' begin a week of nationwide protests.

April 24, 1971 - Another mass demonstration is held in Washington attracting nearly 200,000.

April 29, 1971 - Total American deaths in Vietnam surpass 45,000.

December 17, 1971 - U.S. troop levels drop to 156,800.

January 27, 1973 - Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announces the draft is ended in favor of voluntary enlistment.

January 27, 1973 - The last American soldier to die in combat in Vietnam, Lt. Col. William B. Nolde, is killed.

March 29, 1973 - The last remaining American troops withdraw from Vietnam as President Nixon declares "the day we have all worked and prayed for has finally come."

America's longest war, and its first defeat, thus concludes. During 15 years of military involvement, over 2 million Americans served in Vietnam with 500,000 seeing actual combat. 47,244 were killed in action, including 8000 airmen. There were 10,446 non-combat deaths. 153,329 were seriously wounded, including 10,000 amputees. Over 2400 American POWs/MIAs were unaccounted for as of 1973.

THAT IS WHY ALL THE PROTEST BACK THEN.

Answer 2

Kids today are in school to get an education so that they can have better jobs. In the 60's so many were there just to avoid the draft.

Plus I believe that protests are seen as ridiculous and a waste of time. Not as many college kids think waving a sign is action anymore.

Answer 3

Because during the Vietnam conflict, there was a Draft.

If the Draft is reinstated, time to get the popcorn because there will much more activity opposing the war.

Answer 4

58000 US soldiers died in Vietnam. When we get a little closer to that there'll be more protesting.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1114-01.htm

Also the government is investigating peace groups, infiltrating and attempting to instigate them to violence. The whole thing is very Orwellian. Unlike in the 60's they've really got the psychology of masses down pat. They know crying "patriotism" will keep the peaceniks off guard and unheard.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427989/

Answer 5

As a lamb who will lie down with a wolf, or a child who has no fear of placing his hand over the mouth of the cobras den, they will no longer be told who the wolf is, or where the cobras den is hidden, but instead seek it out for themself in order to determine that. And what they have all to often discovered is that while there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing, so also are their many sheep in wolves clothing, not to be feared, but to put upon them the proper skin, and call them what they decide for themself...whether they be wolf , sheep, or cobra, according to the children, and not according to the government.

Answer 6

coragryph is 100% on the money. This is a complete volunteer Army. The weed smoking draft dodging types do not have to fear the draft for this war. They can continue their little counter-culture, and conspiracy theories (as we see them continually doing in here).

Answer 7

Reported.

Answer 8

1. No Draft.

2. Better drugs.

Answer 9

they do protest, but its a different forum. Young people of today. protest on the internet, not street corners.

Answer 10

Because there's no draft for Iraq. There isn't the fear that people will be unwillingly brought to Iraq.

Answer 11

There is no draft and it's only the poor kids who can't afford college who are getting killed.