Thank you for this Caitlin.

As someone who refused to register for Selective Service during the Vietnam Invasion I watch the patterns being repeated here war after war.

The government learned that the draft was creating dissent and so they redesigned the military to be fed through economic pressures. They realized reporting war dead on the evening news didn’t help getting people to cheer on the war so they redesigned the media to be the dazzling blue/yellow propaganda machine that it is now.

Being a “draft dodger” was just one part of my identity as a “war resister”. I considered my dissent as "service" to my country, and beyond. My writing on Medium is often a continuation of activism.

I would support those in Ukraine who refuse — and even more so those in Russia.

I have read about the very serious risks of dissent around the military in Russia, but have to question if the horrors of that (with your conscience intact) is worse than going to kill or be killed on a battlefield of a country you are invading.)

(I only risked prison back in 1970, and lost a couple precious years of young life, by living underground.)

The deceptive hyperbolic language to give accolades for those who go along is deeply planted in all cultures.

Serving your country.

Dying so we can be free.

Heroes.

And of course: support the troops—no matter what they are actually doing.

View from age 70:

Men start wars. Other men join it. They make arguments for it. It is a cancer that thrives on masculinity.

Nationalism and political hyperbole and religion are all logs to throw on the fire.

When the atrocities happen (EVERY country’s soldiers commit them) they bring up the defense of children and women - and, as they fight, more and more and more women and children get killed, and lose fathers and brothers.

And when it is done the leaders and the rich return to their comfortable palaces.

My advice to anyone facing "service": If they start talking some vague idea of “freedom”, or “democracy”—get your critical thinking firewall up, fast!

General Smedly Butler nailed it all in The War Racket in 1935.

(https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html)

Buffy Sainte-Marie blazingly brought it to life in 2018.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzG_4e8yGew 2018)

Aside:

I still support their stand against the war, but have mixed feelings about the fact that some men can buy their way out - as the sons of the wealthy were able to do here during the Vietnam draft.

Again — thanks!

And yeah, fuck the NYTimes.

(I look at the front page every day and look at how all the smaller headlines are part of the larger headline-narrative for that day. Not one voice of dissent, ever.)