The scenario recalls events of the 1960s when the draft was in full swing and when there were massive protests not only of the draft but of the war being fought. Indeed, it was precisely because the war was unpopular that the draft was so unpopular. while a significant segment of the public might be opposed to the draft at all times and might want to see it eliminated, this number increases when the war being fought is unpopular.
In this case, however, John Smith has different reasons for his opposition, though the argument he raises is one that was also raised during the Vietnam War when it was more likely that a young black working man would be drafted than a young white college student of the same age. Smith argues that the way the draft is constituted is inherently discriminatory toward the poor. College deferments are given, and he is being discriminated against because he does not have the money to attend college, as is true of much of the poor and especially among African-Americans and other minorities comprising much of the poor population. He makes other arguments as well: that his is a hardship case and that his family needs him to support them, and that America should clean up its own house before making a foray into a foreign country.
Smith has attempted to get help from a number of sources--appeals to the Selective Service Board, to his Representative in Washington, to a congressional committee, to the Congressional Black Caucus. All this has failed. He filed a lawsuit, it was dismissed, and he appealed. His appeal is now to the American people. To this point, he has followed the law in eery respect, for there is nothing in the law that prevents him from making these appeals. He has tried the courts, showing again a desire to achieve his goal through obedience to the law. However, he is rapidly reaching the point where he must make a choice,m and in the letter to the American people he indicates that he ...