The End of Service?

[Gary Oswald]

Discuss this Vignette by @Charles EP M. here

Submissions for the current contest closes tomorrow.

 

[Francisco Cojuanco]

It reminds me of some of the discourse over many riots in the 1960s United States, at a time where there wasn't universal national service, but enough conscription that it was a major factor in society. Oftentimes, locals, especially black locals, tended to IIRC be more amenable when the government sent in regular units (who had large contingents of conscripts or "volunteered to avoid conscription" recruits) as opposed to the National Guard, which was often the preserve of disproportionately white middle class and higher volunteers who had less connection to the cities they were supposed to restore order in.

 

[Charles EP M.]

Oftentimes, locals, especially black locals, tended to IIRC be more amenable when the government sent in regular units (who had large contingents of conscripts or "volunteered to avoid conscription" recruits) as opposed to the National Guard, which was often the preserve of disproportionately white middle class and higher volunteers who had less connection to the cities they were supposed to restore order in.

That's interesting. Was the National Guard being that disproportionate a deliberate move by higher-class volunteers because of conscription?

 

[Francisco Cojuanco]

That's interesting. Was the National Guard being that disproportionate a deliberate move by higher-class volunteers because of conscription?

Oftentimes, yes. See George W. Bush, who spent his military service in the National Guard