Walking Out

THREE CHEERS FOR THE THOUSNADS of Russian men leaving their country to avoid being conscripted into Vladimir Putin's army of imperialism. Seeing the miles of bumper to bumper traffic existing Russia on television gladdened my heart, and gave me renewed hope, in the redeemability of humanity. The total number who have already left Russia is now reaching..what...about a quarter of a million? That's a great start, but there's no time limit. Russians eleigible for the draft can elave Russia anytime they want. Throughout the Viet Nam War, Americans kept going to Canada. If only more had done so, sooner. Maybe if enough people leave Russia and go to Europe or the United States or Canada or wherever, Putin will be forced either out of office or into aggreeing to end the war on less than favorable terms for himself. Namely, Restore Ukraines's original borders, and withdraw all Russian forces from foreign soil. Albert Einstein wisely fled NAZI Germany long before World War Two and lived the rest of his life in the United States. He lived and worked in Princeton, New Jersey, constantly showered with the kind of attention only Americans can give to celebrities, and Einstein often responded to questions from others by offering his opinions on current events and public affairs. The cold war and nuclear arms race which followed World War Two so thoroughly disgusted him that he suggested the best way to end war once and for all would be for all men of military age in the world to refuse simultaneously to serve in the military. Cold War America culture, particularly the conservative part of it, did not respond favorably to Einstein for this, good idea that it nonetheless was, and for that matter, still is. When the Viet Nam War started for the United States, I was quite young, and had no idea where "Viet Nam" even was. I assumed, incorrectly, that it was somewhere in Russia. but by the time I graduated high school, in 1973, I new damned good and well that there was no way in hell that I was going to be drafted to serve in Viet Nam. I wasn't drafted, but I think I would have gone to Canada to avoid going to Viet Nam. Fortunately both the war and the draft ended just in time for me to avoid both. A military career can be extremely beneficial to many people. But being conscripted into the military of any country merely to be used for cannon fodder is justifiably unacceptable to any decent, self respecting human being. Civilians of the world: unite. You have only your military nightmares to lose.