Citing ‘rumors,’ Washington Office, others plan lobbying effort against military draft
The Layman Online, May 4, 2004
Citing “certain signs” and “rumors,” an effort co-sponsored by the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Presbyterian Peace Fellowship plans to lobby congressional staff members against the possible reinstatement of a military draft.
The effort, called the “National Lobby Day for Conscience’s Sake – Against the Draft,” is scheduled May 14. Other sponsoring organizations include the Center on Conscience & War, the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Pax Christi USA, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Veterans for Peace, Mennonite Central Committee – Washington Office, Church of the Brethren, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society and the American Baptist Churches-USA.
An e-mail sent nationwide by the Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, director of the PCUSA’s Washington Office, promoted the lobbying effort because “Congress needs to understand what conscientious objectors will and will not do.”
While never providing any data to support its conclusions, the statement said, “Certain signs point in the direction of a military draft. Rumors from Congress state that the Administration is polling Republican members on the possibility of a draft. U.S. Troops are stretched thin across the globe with commitments in over two hundred countries. Many National Guard and Reserve units are being used for tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and with the continual rise in casualties; many are saying that they will not re-enlist.”
The statement also quoted J.E. McNeil, executive director of the Center on Conscience & War, as saying, “Due to the lack of knowledge of many young congressional staffers, we need to educate Congress about conscientious objection and how a draft is never a viable option.”