David Swanson and Charles Lenchner: Refusing Military “Service”

Image by Mario Klingemann via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy, Jan. 4, 2022
January 5, 2022

This week on Talk World Radio we’re talking about refusing military “service.” Our guest Charles Lenchner is a veteran peace activist, organizer, and political campaigner. Born in the United States, he grew up in Israel where he became an anti-occupation activist at a young age. In 1987, he was drafted into the Israeli Army and subsequently refused orders and spent time in military prison. More recently he was a co-founder of People for Bernie Sanders and today is part of the RootsAction team that publishes ProgressiveHub. I also work for RootsAction.

The U.S. Military Is Registering 15-Year-Olds for the Draft, by David Swanson

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writers, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
December 19, 2021

Most U.S. states still have excuses when asked to make voter registration automatic, but in various states — including here in Virginia — draft registration is automatic even for 15-year-olds who want a learner’s permit to drive a car. (This is still only for males, as Congress did not, in the end, extend draft registration to females, at least until next year — once in a while Democrats’ obeisance to Republicans works out well.) The application for the learner’s permit in Virginia, for which you must be 15-and-a-half-years-old, says:

They’re About to Add Women to Military Draft in the Name of Feminism, by David Swanson

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writers, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy, Aug. 30, 2021
September 2, 2021

In some future lovely little war, perhaps with China or some other demonized target, some percentage of the U.S. public may suddenly exclaim: “Hey, since when does a draft include young women as well as men?!” Old tunes will be revised and sung in protest with lyrics about being the first one on your block to have your daughter come home in a box. The tragedies will be played out in tears and screams and flag-covered propaganda-regurgitating rationalizations. Dead women and men will be thanked for the service of stirring up World War III before being dumped in the ground to rot, as some of the living begin to envy them and wonder about the merits of the service they’ve provided.

Rivera Sun: Is It Unfair To Young Women Not To Force Them To Kill and Die For Weapons Profits? Interviewed by David Swanson

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

With Rivera Sun
Interviewed by David Swanson
Writers, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy, June 15, 2021
June 16, 2021

This week on Talk World Radio: draft registration. Is it unfair to young women not to force them to kill and die for weapons profits? Our guest Rivera Sun is the Editor of Nonviolence News, a nationwide trainer in strategy for nonviolent movements, and the author of many books and novels, including The Dandelion Insurrection and The Way Between. She serves on the Advisory Boards of World BEYOND War and the Backbone Campaign. Her essays on nonviolence are syndicated by Peace Voice and published in hundreds of journals.

Ditch The Draft, Once and For All, by Rivera Sun

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by Rivera Sun
Writer, Dandelion Salad
April 22, 2021

It’s outdated. It’s dysfunctional. It’s hated by most of the populace. No, we’re not talking about the line at the DMV. We’re talking about the Selective Service and the military draft. For decades, young men have had to register. Now, congress is considering expanding draft registration to women.

Do Not Meet With Mike Pence, Go to Jail, or Join the Military, by David Swanson

Image by Mario Klingemann via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
May 12, 2020

We don’t know what the long-term damage is of coronavirus in those who recover. We don’t know who will die among those who catch it. We do know that we each have a responsibility to avoid catching it and avoid spreading it. Here are some ways to do that.

HR 6415: The Dumbest Idea in Congress + Now Do You See How Evil They Are? by David Swanson

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy, Apr. 20, 2020
April 22, 2020

I know it’s stiff competition, but hear me out.

The threat of nuclear apocalypse is higher than ever. The threat of irreversible climate collapse is higher than ever and massively contributed to by militarism. The trillions of dollars being dumped into militarism are desperately needed for actual defense against these dangers including spin-off catastrophes like coronavirus. But military jobs and weapons production jobs (producing weapons for dictatorships and so-called democracies around the world; the U.S. handles 80% of the globe’s foreign weapons sales) are being deemed “essential” and actually being boosted with more funding.

Trump’s War with Iran will be a Final Blow to the American Empire by Rainer Shea + Chris Hedges: Iran Hit Obvious Targets to Avoid Spiral of War + Will Griffin: No Evidence Iran Killed Americans in Iraq

Image by Susan Melkisethian via Flickr

by Rainer Shea
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Rainer Shea: Anti-Imperialist Journalist, Jan. 6, 2020
January 9, 2020

When the imperialists carry out reckless actions like the recent assassination of a top Iranian military official, aren’t they at least partly conscious of the ways this endangers their power structure? Don’t they see that the more resources the American war machine consumes and the worse proletarian living conditions become as a result, the greater the likelihood becomes that a revolution will happen? Don’t they see the obvious and growing signs of the U.S. empire’s collapse? Don’t they see that the more the neoliberal order exacerbates climate change and destabilizes the economy, the more the bourgeois power structure comes under threat?

The Sleeping Giantess: My Statement Opposing the Expansion of the Military Draft by Rivera Sun

Image by kreetube via Flickr

by Rivera Sun
Writer, Dandelion Salad
November 17, 2019

Rivera Sun on Nov 13, 2019

If you wish to make a comment before Dec 31, 2019, here is where to do so.

Testimony for the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service + Draft Registration Will Be Either Ended or Imposed on Women by David Swanson

Image by kreetube via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
April 17, 2019

I was more surprised that your commission contacted me with a kind-of, sort-of invitation to speak than that you ultimately decided not to include me. I thank you for inviting me to submit testimony.

Chris Hedges: Daniel Berrigan’s Play: The Trial of the Cantonsville Nine

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr
Watch the video below

Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Jan 19, 2019

The nature and cost of civil disobedience is explored in the play “The Trial of the Cantonsville Nine,” written by the Catholic priest Dan Berrigan.

They Went to Jail for Justice by David Swanson

Image by Wystan via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy, July 9, 2018
December 12, 2018

C.J. Hinke has produced probably the best collection I’ve read of writings by and about conscientious objectors and war refusers behind bars. It’s called Free Radicals: War Resisters in Prison.

Underestimating The U.S. Military Budget, Altruism and Sadism by David Swanson

Image by Danny Hammontree via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
June 25, 2018

There are three things that are almost always underestimated: the U.S. military budget, altruism, and sadism.

First, the military budget.

Women’s Draft? Sign Me Up To Abolish War by Rivera Sun + Feds Extend Deadline for Public Comments on Future Draft

Image by Wystan via Flickr

by Rivera Sun
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Originally published June 21, 2016
May 22, 2018

For too long, the women of this nation have been complacent while our brothers, sons, husbands, and fathers are sent to kill, maim, brutalize, destroy and even die in defense of our alleged liberty.

Plutocracy III: Class War (must-see)

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr
See video below

Warning

This video may contain images depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

Dandelion Salad

Scott N June 2017