A question about draft dodgers?

Question

What is the difference between a draft dodger and a conscientous objector?

I know we no longer have a draft. I am asking for the historical context.

Answer 1

There is a difference despite what people here are saying. A draft dodger avoids military service by illegally avoiding the draft.

A conscientious objector; is usually exempt from the draft on religious or moral grounds. This is a legal process that protect the freedom of religion of such groups as the Quakers and the Amish. Some CO's actually serve as Medics and other non-combat personnel. During World War II the B-Actor Lew Ayers a Conscientious Objector served as a medic and was decorated for bravery, proving that not all people who will not fight are cowards

Answer 2

A conscientous objector is just against a war and is willing to be jailed if they dont get a pass instead of going and i respect them but a draft dodger is a person who avoids the draft by lets say moving to canada and i have no respect for them.

Answer 3

A draft dodger is someone who is evading the authorties completely because of military conscrpition against their will.
A conscientous objector still serves unwillingly but protests the action of the military, usually receiving a non combat post.
It is my understanding that this was allowed after Vietnam & the last draft seen in the United States.

Answer 4

A draft Dodger actually in most cases moved places quickly so they could not be found. Some went to Canada and the northen states to hide. Remember this was during the Vietanm era and before. If you had an opinion about the war there where groups that protested it. If you where gonna be drafted youself and didn't agree with it. HMmm MP's!!!

The Conscientous Person might saboatge their entry into the military so there are not fit for combat. Or they would join but never agree with the cause.

Answer 5

A draft dodger would better be called a draft 'evader' as he never shows up on the day he is drafted. A conscientious objector is one, who according most likely due to religious beliefs will not participate in actions that will take another human life. Most CO's if status is granted generally become medics or take other jobs not combat related.

Answer 6

The primary difference between a conscientious objector and a draft dodger, like say George W Bush who didn't bother to complete some of his Air Guard duty would be that the conscientious objector needs to go through a legal process while, extremely wealthy guys like Bush can get their dads to exercise their class privilege to get them easy duties stateside so they're guaranteed not to see combat.

A poor man's son has no choice. They do the time or face the punishment. The extremely wealthy man's son like W doesn't even have to bother to show up very often for their 'duty' as Bush demonstrated, and he faced no punishment for it.

Answer 7

A CO is all about thoughts. A draft dodger is all about actions.

A CO may not be a draft dodger. He may wait for the call up and refuse to go. He then gets arrested and he may serve a few years in prison. Or he may make a deal that he will get to serve as a medic only.

A draft dodger is one who uses any means available to avoid getting drafted. He may be a CO or he may just be a coward. Either way, he does not want to get the draft notice. He may use a variety of methods of not having to go, including student deferment's, faked illness or disease or running to Canada.

Of course, it is possible to be both...

Answer 8

A conscientious objector usually has firm religious grounds, like being a Quaker, Mennonite, or something like that.

A "dodger" usually has personal beliefs that are sometimes similar to the religious objectors, but can't back it up with a letter from their church. Many "dodgers" would have no problem fighting in a war they believed in, but the US hasn't been in that kind of a war since Korea.

Answer 9

The difference is this: When I turned 18, I had to sign up for "The Selective Service." I signed as a Consciencious Objector. Two years later, with no job prospects in sight and tired of going to bed hungry, I enlisted in the Navy. A Con. Obj. does not run like a coward, instead, will still answer the call to duty (begrudgingly perhaps, but they still answer the call). A draft dodger runs like a coward. A draft dodger is just an ingrate who thinks they stand for something, but in truth, stands for nothing..

Answer 10

Draft dodger is a person who refuses to serve for a variety of reasons. A conscientious objector is some one who wants to serve but does not want to kill and is usually based on religious belief. Example Alvin York was drafted in WW I and he requested CO status because of his religious belief thou shalt not kill. He ended up winning the Medal of Honor in that war because his unit was pinned down and would have been wiped if it had not been for York's marksmanship and bravery in killing the Germans with the machine guns. He stated later he killed to save the lives of his friends.