Forcing citizens to volunteer their services? That's a confusing concept. John Kerry called it a “back-door” draft. I call it a somewhat sly policy. The “stop-loss” is an involuntary extension of a server's contract of enlistment. Stop-loss had been enforced on more than 50,000 soldiers by the Bush Administration.
Despite the amount of time already served and a contracted end date reached, many soldiers are being redeployed to Iraq. The stop loss can be repeated and, therefore, can trap soldiers into several more years of service.
“We are fortunate to have a group of men and women all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm's way,” Vice President Cheney said in a recent ABC interview.
But when asked about those who are involuntarily forced to return to war, he just responded “they signed up wanting to be involved in defending the country” and “wanting to see developments”. Apparently, the idea that some may not want to be forced to return to Iraq isn't as important as “developments”.
On March 28, the MTV motion picture “Stop-loss” released depicting the reality of these tragic experiences. It passionately portrays the story of a Lieutenant returning to his home in Texas. After only being in Texas for a few days, he immediately receives a “stop-loss” to return to Iraq. The government refuses to help him and he finds no way out of the Army. Already suffering from mental and emotional distress, he is forced to return to Iraq.
This passionately portrayed film starring Ryan Phillippe is nothing but strong and stirring. But what is most striking to me is the lack of knowledge some Americans possess on the Bush Administration and its action. Many college students are unaware of the stop loss policy. A USA Today survey showed that nearly half of Americans said they were only “somewhat familiar” with the Patriot Act passed back in 2001. Hopefully this movie will education and motivate Americans to realize the injustices of the stop loss policy.
