By Pepper Parr
October 29th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Ray Rivers: pundit and playwright
Some of our readers know that Ray Rivers, our leading columnist, is also an actor and a playwright.
There is a production coming up in November that covers a subject our generation knew about and experienced.
Draft dodging is a tricky subject for people in Quebec and Ontario.
In 1942, Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister at the time, had to work his way through a very tough issue. The country was at war and things were not going that well.
Men from Ontario were signing up; men from Quebec were heading for the bush, and the government was at risk.
King came up with a statement that covered both bases when he said ”not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessary.”
Ray takes the issue of war and how people react and respond. Should be worth looking into.
Looks very worthwhile. I voluntarily put 6 years into Strategic Air Command – 1961-1967 – during the period when we had the Draft. Actually, an All Volunteer (no draft) force can be frightening; it has a higher percentage of people anxious for “action”. Four of my years were in combat units, and I can affirm that it’s not as heroic and theatrical as it is made out to be.