My Brother and the Draft
"As a sister, I’m tied to my brother’s future."
By Lauryn Silverman
I can’t imagine my older brother Jesse leaving home at all.
It’s even harder to imagine him drafted to war.
I’m Lauryn Silverman with a commentary from Youth Radio.
Recently Jesse turned 18 and was required by law to register for
the draft. After getting the reminder in the mail, my family laughed, imagining
my brother in actual combat.
But with congress talking about drafting 18 to 26 year olds, I
am wondering if anyone should be laughing at my brother’s situation. A
draft would mean everything my brother has worked for would change. And what
if all of his honors science education is used for creating bombs instead of
advances in medicines? I can almost picture the headlines; “Jesse Silverman
has created a new nuclear weapon with an improved killing capacity…”
What bothers me the most is that as a woman, when I turn 18 I
won’t have to worry about the draft. But as a sister, I’m tied to
my brother’s future, so whatever happens to Jesse will alter my life and
our relationship.
For Youth Radio, I’m Lauryn Silverman.
|
