My Poor Brain

I watched a movie yesterday called Day Zero.

It was a smaller film and could be an independent. It centered on these three friends living in New York City who have 30 days to report for a modern day military draft played by Chris Klein(American Pie), Elijah Wood(Lord of the Rings DUH) and John Bernthal(who the hell knows). Klein’s character is a rich lawyer who just made partner, and who is living the rich life. Bernthal’s character is a taxi driver and not living in the best conditions. Wood’s character is a writer who is not so self-confident and has seen a psychiatrist regularly for many years.

All three of them take the situation differently which keeps the story interesting by going in all different ways. Elijah Wood’s character clearly takes it the worst hence is tiny build and lack of confidence in himself, and is probably the most easily related to by any young skinny guys(girls can’t get drafted).

Watching this movie just BEGS the question: What would you do if you got drafted?

First, I’d say “FUCK!”.

The first person I would talk to is my older brother, he served a total of about two years in Iraq and that is more than enough experience to talk to him about. I would also start eating way healthier and exercising constantly to be as prepared as possible for the imminent physical activity. I’d get into a habit of waking up at hideous hours of the morning just to get the tiniest taste of the rude awakenings to come.

In the movie, they had 30 days to report. That would give me about 4 full weeks including weekends. My training would consist mostly during the week. Weekends would be dedicated to getting in touch with people and informing them. In the film it was really hard for these guys to talk to people and say bye, because they couldn’t help but make it seem like they had 30 days before their death. They weren’t definitely headed for a death but they couldn’t help but think otherwise. I imagine I would take it the same way.

This all seems too simple. How could I just get my draft papers and so easily start a training routine and a goodbye ceremony every weekend until the report date? I honestly think I would keep telling myself that it’s what I have to do, until the day I have to report. I don’t know if I’d be so willing when the day came. I know it will take a fucking truck to pull me to wherever I would have to report. In fact I don’t see it highly unlikely that I’d pack my shit and run, along with many others.

If I ran away I would assume police officers would get a list of people who didn’t report and would be looking for these runaway draftees. In which case I might try to grow a beard and ditch all documentation of my name, leave it home. With the days of the internet I find it likely that you could may be able to contact places where draftees are hiding out, not so sure how fail-safe that would be if it was that easily found.

Do I think the draft will actually happen? I can’t be sure but I know that the longer this war goes on, the more possibility it will happen.

This would be the part where I ask the readers to tell ME what they would do, but I do not run a website here with a loyal community to give good response…yet. If I do happen to have someone that visits me here everyday then I encourage YOU, my ONE loyal reader, to give me a nice response on what YOU would do.

Love,

Scotty Rocks(that’s my alias if I ever get drafted and run away).