Volume One, No. 6 Price: 104 per issue. October 22, 1968 Cariml California KTE mS'rOWCAl SOCIETY 815 STATE STREET is a state of mind. It is also a canyon where human beings live and create and bring up children. Children who won't kill when they're ordered to kill. Children who absorb nature and exude life, animal life. Palo Colorado is a S3 -; • ' state of mind, not s? perfect, but try­ ing. "CHANNELING" individual it engenders a sense of fear, he has felt some of the pressure but there­ (In the last issue we published the first after is a free agent. half of a document put out by the Sel­ uncertainty, and dissatisfaction which ective Service System in 1965 as part of motivates him, nevertheless, in the same This contributed to establishment of a an "Orientation Kit". Here is the con­ direction. He complains of the uncertain­ new classification of I-Y (registrant quali­ clusion of this unedited, official memor­ ty which he must endure; he would like fied for military service only in time of andum.) to be able to do as he pleases; he would war or national emergency). That classifi­ appreciate a certain future with no pros­ cation reminds the registrant of his ulti­ Patriotism is defined as "devotion to pect of military service or civilian con­ mate qualification to serve and preserves the welfare of one's country." It has been tribution, but he complies with the needs some of the benefit of what we call chan­ interpreted to mean many different things. of the national health, safety, or interest- neling. Without it or any other similar Men have always been exhorted to do or he is denied deferment. method of categorizing men in degrees of their duty. But what that duty is depends Throughout his career as a student, the acceptability, men rejected for military upon a variety of variables, most^ import­ pressure-the threat of loss of deferment service would be left with the understand­ ant being the nature of the threat to the —continues. It continues with equal inten­ ing that they are unfit to defend their national welfare and the capacity and op­ sity after graduation. His local board re­ country, even in war time. portunity of the individual. Take, for ex­ quires periodic reports to find out what An unprejudiced choice between al­ ample the boy who saved the Netherlands he is up to. He is impelled to pursue his ternative routes in civilian skills can be by plugging the dike with his finger. skill rather than embark upon some less offered only by an agency which is not a At the time of the American Revolu­ important enterprise and is encouraged user of manpower and is, therefore, not a tion the patriot was the so-called "embat­ to apply his skill in an essential activity competitor. In the absence of such an tled farmer" who joined General Washing­ in the national interest. The loss of de­ agency, bright young men would be im­ ton to fight the British. The concept that ferred status is the consequence for the portuned with bounties and pirated like patriotism is best exemplified by service individual who has acquired the skill and potential college football players until in uniform has always been under some does not use it, or uses it in a non-essen­ eventually a system or arbitration would degree of challenge, but never to the ex­ tial activity. have to be established. tent that it is today. In today's compli­ The psychology of granting wide choice From the individual's viewpoint, he is cated warfare when the man in uniform under pressure to take action is the Amer­ standing in a room which has been made may be suffering far less than the civilians ican or indirect way of achieving what is uncomfortably warm. Several doors are at home, patriotism must be interpreted done by direction in foreign countries open, but they all lead to various forms far more broadly than ever before. where choice is not allowed. Here, choice of recognized, patriotic service to the This is not a new thought, but it has is limited but not denied, and it is funda­ Nation. Some accept the alternatives glad­ had new emphasis since the development mental that an individual generally applies ly-some with reluctance. The consequence of nuclear and rocket warfare. Educators, himself better to something he has de­ is approximately the same. scientists, engineers, and their professional cided to do rather than something he has The so-called Doctor Draft was set up organizations, during the last ten years been told to do. during the Korean episode to insure suf­ particularly, have been convincing the The effects of channeling are mani­ ficient physicians, dentists, and veterin­ American public that for the mentally fested among student physicians that are arians in the armed forces as officers. The qualified man there is a special order of deferred to complete their education objective of that law was to exert suffic­ patriotism other than service in uniform- through school and internship. This per­ ient pressure to furnish an incentive for that for the man having the capacity, mits them to serve in the armed forces in application for commission. However, the dedicated service as a civilian in such their skills rather than in an unskilled cap­ indirect effect was to induce many phy­ fields, as engineering, the sciences, and acity as enlisted men. sicians, dentists, and veterinarians to spec­ teaching constitute the ultimate in their ialize in areas of medical personnel short­ expression of patriotism. A large segment The device of pressurized guidance, or channeling, is employed on Standby Res­ age and to seek outlets for their skil's in of the American public has been con­ areas of greatest demand and national vinced that this is true. ervists of which more than Vh million have been referred by all services for need rather than of greatest financial re­ It is in this atmosphere that the young availability determinations. The appeal to turn. man registers at age 18 and pressure begins the Reservist who knows he is subject to Selective Service processes do not com­ to force his choice. He does not have the recall to active duty unless he is deter­ pel people by edict as in foreign systems inhibitions that a philosophy of universal mined to be unavailable is virtually iden­ to enter pursuits having to do with essen­ service in uniform would engender. The tical to that extended to other registrants. tiality and progress. They go because they door is opeu for him as a student to know that by going they will be deferred. qualify, if capable, in a skill needed by his The psychological impact of being re­ nation. He has many choices and he is jected for service in uniform is severe. The The application of direct methods to prodded to make a decision. earlier this occurs in a young man's life, effect the policy of every man doing his the sooner the beneficial effects of pres­ duty in support of national interest in­ The psychological effect of this cir­ surized motivation by the Selective Ser­ volves considerably more capacity than cumstantial climate depends upon the vice System are lost. He is labeled un­ the current use of indirection as a method individual, his sense of good citizenship, wanted. His patriotism is not desired. of allocation of personnel. The problem, his love of country and its way of life. He Once the label of "rejectee" is upon him however, of what is every man's duty can obtain a sense of well-being and satis­ all efforts at guidance by persuasion are when each individual case is approached faction that he is doing as a civilian what futile. If he attempts to enlist at 17 or 1 8 is not simple. The question of whether he will help his country most. This process and is rejected, then he receives virtually can do one duty better than another is a encourages him to put forth his best ef­ none of the impulsion the System is cap­ problem of considerable proportions and fort and removes to some degree the able of giving him. If he makes no effort the complications of logistics in attempt­ stigma that has been attached to being to enlist and as a result is not rejected ing to control parts of an operation with­ out of uniform. until delivered for examination by the out controlling all of it (in other words, In the less patriotic and more selfish Selective Service System at about age 23, Page three CHANNELING LIBRA AND THE LIBRAN harmonious atmosphere. He is a lover of to control allocation of personnel without justice as a manes of striking a balance controlling where people eat, where they by Emelyn and Charles Buskirk between good and evil. He is also a fight­ live and how they are to be transported) The sign Libra symbolizes perfect har­ er for social betterment and just causes. adds to the administrative difficulties of mony or balance. It shows the harmony Ghandi's sun in Libra. direct administration. The organization which results from the balanced union of The Libran is companionable and easy necessary to make the decisions, even Spirit and Matter to be with, because he himself wants com­ poor decisions, would, of necessity, ex­ pany and wants to create an atmosphere tract a large segment of population from of pleasant delight. His love of the other productive work. If the members of the is more as a complement to himself than organization are conceived to be reason­ to satisfy any deep emotion and his mar­ ably qualified to exercise judgment and riages are not always successful for this control over skilled personnel, the impact reason.