I am a 20 year old male. I have voted straight Democratic in two elections. I protested against the Iraq War several times. I have done everything to encourage my friends and family to be against the war and against Bush. I am against war in general. War is an absolute last resort after we have no opportunity to settle matters diplomatically. Wars are not to be fought by choice and war is not a game of chess. I am not a pawn for someone's game of chess. At least I thought so. But now I look at a poll here at Democratic Underground, and 40 percent of my fellow DUers support drafting me into Iraq.

Well, I say hell no. I will not go to Iraq. I will not shoot innocent Iraqis who have never hurt me. I will not follow the commands of corrupt leaders to torture "terrorists" who are really just civilians who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I will not help Bush create his empire in the Middle East. And according to the polls, the vast majority of draft age males agree with me. So why must we fight for this war?

I will go to prison before I go and serve in Bush's war of choice. I am against any politician who enables this war, including any Democrats who are calling for people my age to be drafted. We are not pawns in a game of chess. We are human beings, who do not deserve to be forced into Iraq and commit war crimes. Please don't use us as pawns in your political strategy.