The option of “alternative service” vanished after martial law was declared last year. But some have refused to serve, and now face jail time and skepticism about their motives.
Is there a paywall free link?
Thing is, while I cant of course completely fathom these alternate service requesters’ pain as the alternative is horrible war, I served my time in the compulsory military service back in the day. And the alternative to that was jail time at worst.
As citizens, while people have righs, they have duties, as well. Protecting your family, friends and country is supposed to be your duty, while that hasnt really been the case in the west really in a long time (specifically protecting YOUR contry from aggressors), its something I feel I’m obligated to participitate in.
It’s something one should do when the government calls because tomorrow it might be too late, and there’s no coming back from losing in this battle
I disagree that being born in a certain country gives you a duty to fight and die for it, especially as a lot of lower income people fall through the cracks when it comes to receiving help. Sometimes protecting your friends and family involves getting out of where you are. An untrained person given a gun against their will is often quickly just another number in the casualty list
I did my time in my country’s military voluntary, something I now regret. I fundamentally disagree with the brutal overseas wars we were involved in, but at the time the conditioning was fairly strong. It took me a few years after being out to realise how bad it was. Luckily for me and my conscience I was never sent overseas through a quirk of how my training played out. I don’t like the idea of people being forced into that environment.
