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The Big Draft Lie Kevin McCullough It started a few weeks ago, this rumbling that is beginning to turn into a consistent 'talking point' that now seems to be thrown out as often as the day's weather forecast. When New York Congressman Charles Rangel first began talking about the military draft, he purposefully began a discussion that really had nothing to do with the issue of the draft itself, but rather the issue of race in the armed forces. It was underhanded. It was sneaky. And it is a complete lie. But in doing so, Congressman Rangel did something his mentor President Clinton became so adept at: misdirecting the attention of those seeking truth to ultimately seek out emotion and create a great public outcry. The only problem is it's not based on anything factual. His great argument for why the United States should again adopt a mandatory draft was articulated to actually hijack any and all discussion pertaining to the use of force in Iraq, something the United States has made clear will be a last resort, if or when it must be used. But Congressman Rangel and apparently Congressmen Rush and Davis, both from my state of Illinois, have all bought into the great myth and now, armed with the myth and its implications, are again trying to scare black Americans into believing that this president "hates all black people." On the Sunday that honored not only the sanctity of life but also the memory of the most memorable voice for civil rights – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – President Bush spent the day memorializing King and establishing his plan to free up more federal monies for the historic black colleges that have proven so important. Meanwhile, in a church in Chicago, political policy neophyte Harry Belafonte attacked Bush in a service designed to remember Dr. King. The attack was present in numerous places. Tina Fey's comedy weekend update sketch in which she stated that Bush "was trying to stick it to the black man." At the "peace march" in D.C. on Saturday, which had promised millions in turnout. (Actual attendance figures from D.C. PD put the numbers at around 30,000.) That didn't stop speaker Peta Lindsay, however, as she stepped to the microphone to proclaim, "1, 2, 3, 4, we won't take your racist war ..." The attack was also demonstrated at Operation PUSH's weekly meeting. In Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.'s absence, PUSH Chairman Rev. James Meeks presided. He admittedly said that sometimes he gets in trouble when he speaks without notes, but that didn't keep him from saying some truly strange things, like "It's easy to send kids to war when they are 'other people's' children" (implying to the crowd, "when they are black kids and not white kids"). He also added, "I think before we start a war in Iraq we need to finish the one in Afghanistan." And also, "If we go war hopping, we need to make sure we have a certain percentage of senators' kids and congressmen's kids, and let's send President Bush's kids. He's got two daughters – let them go to war." So the mantra has begun. Make the 'War on Terror' an actual civil rights issue, then beat up those mean, stupid, uncaring Republicans and sweep back in to power. The only problem is – none of it is true. If Congressman Rangel wants to help protect black youths from being killed in violent ways, he should focus his attention on gangs, drug use and crime in America's large cities – not the U.S. military. In statistics released by the U.S. Army, going all the way back to 1997, the facts have shown that the population demographic breakdown of race within the military is similar to but slightly less minority-based than the civilian population. But narrowing the numbers down even more specifically to front-line infantry troops, the ones who get shot at first are whites – 79 percent of the military population, compared to 74.3 percent in civilian life. Blacks have increased slightly in service and support positions. These are positions that black males gravitate toward because of the skill and job training associated with the positions. But these are not front-line combat kids. It also appears that in our all-voluntary service force, black enlistees like the army better than civilian life – because while they make up roughly 22 percent of new recruits in the Army, they make up a total of 30 percent of the Army itself. The truth is, those who can most expect to be shot at in combat – if there even IS any in Iraq – will be middle-class white boys. But just because the truth points otherwise, don't expect Rangel, Rush, Davis, Fey or any others perpetrating the great myth to change their tune. They believe that this president is vulnerable on issues pertaining to race. Why it will backfire for those who try to make that statement is simple. George W. Bush will prove them wrong. The Faith Based Initiatives, The Monies for Historical Black Colleges, and his insistence that all men are created equal and should be treated by the same rules no matter who they are will prove to sophisticated blacks that this is a man who, though it may be unpopular, will do the right thing – by all people. It is unfortunate to see people stooping to lies and outdated Clintonian tactics to falsely portray a man who has done more for people than "America's first black president." Sophisticated people know the difference when they see it. Kevin McCullough is enjoyed weekdays 3-5 p.m. on AM 1160 WYLL, a 50,000-watt station in Chicago, Ill. (http://www.wyll.com/nafternoonaudio.asp) Kevin may be reached at kmc@wyll.com.
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