• RyanGosling [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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    5 months ago

    We all have a plan until the first punch. Whether I’m cowardly or “cowardly” depends on who and what I’m expected to fight for. If we lived in a communist nation, fighting to defend our comrades from extinction as the Soviets, Vietnamese, Spanish, Chinese, etc. were, and I dodged a draft, I would be rightfully called a coward. If I can’t do anything else to contribute to the war effort except pick up a gun and buy time for those who can, I would have my shit rocked by other citizens and soldiers if I dodged and I would say I deserve it.

    But not everyone in Ukraine is pro government and/or pro west. Ukraine was one of the lowest countries in the west’s democracy indexes until a couple years ago. I can’t imagine every man, especially the older ones who got to enjoy the industries of the Soviet Union, being happy about fighting for a nation that is so corrupt and abandoned them. Dodging a draft in this instance is “cowardly” because you refuse to sacrifice your life for the vultures and capitalists, but to me, that’s nothing more than self defense. And it’s also simply transactional - why should I give the ultimate sacrifice when you have done nothing for me?

    • TheWurstman [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      5 months ago

      Dude I literally don’t want to pick up a gun even in a communist country…there are a lot of ways to fight though I guess 🤷‍♂️

      • RyanGosling [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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        5 months ago

        Well I’m just referring to the label of cowardice and how it’s relative. But your point doesn’t conflict with mine. If you do contribute to the war effort in other ways besides fighting, most people won’t exactly be against it. But in this case, there are people who contribute neither combat nor support, and this is what brings people’s ire. But in the case with the Ukrainians dodging the draft and refusing to support their soldiers, they have good reason not to.