Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden made a comment about “all Americans” being able to serve their country in the U.S. military. The remarks come amid the recently reignited conflict between Israel and Hamas, the group that controls Palestine on the Gaza strip.
Additionally with the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, a TikTok creator named Timothy James (@inversenews) claimed that essentially every branch of the U.S. military failed to meet their recruiting goals this year. This statistic was first reported by NBC. He then pointed to proposals in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2022 that recommended women should be required to register for the military draft.
This proposal was later removed from the final bill, as confirmed by the Congressional Research Service. James mistakenly claimed that women could very soon be required to register for the draft, should they be between the ages of 18 and 26.
@inversenews Replying to @Chingasos Records ???????? We salute you Ladies ???? #navy #airforce #military #ladies #18to26 #femaleservicemembers #girls #militarydraft #selectiveservice #militaryrecruiting #LifeOnTikTok #TikTokPartner
The claim sent TikTok into a frenzy, ranging from concerned parents to young women doing what Gen Z does best–turn everything into a meme to cope with the tumultuous nature of the times. And thus, a trend was born–users pairing stock images of the U.S. military with the slang and humor of Gen Z women. The absurdly humorous slide shows were paired with arguably the most accurate soundtrack imaginable–Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 hit song “Fortunate Son.”
“Fortunate Son” was released at the beginning of the Vietnam War, the final U.S. war that involved a military draft. The draft was widely opposed by American civilians, and the song sought to raise awareness of how only the sons of the rich and powerful were exempt from the war, leaving the rest to struggle. Some additionally feature Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” which details leaving loved ones behind.
The Draft Meets Starbucks, Instagram, And Exes, According To Memes
The viral slideshows share women discussing how they would cope with being sent to war with their fellow soldiers. Some sardonically joke that they would still need Starbucks and Amazon Prime in order to fight for their country, while others intend to use it as an opportunity to release their rage, or even take shots at their exes. Some even reverted to a middle school favorite trilogy of films and novels, “The Hunger Games,” to pass the time.
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Others confirmed that they would still stick by the girls by telling them how their makeup looks, or helping them draft messages to their potential suitors.
https://www.tiktok.com/@kelsey_alli/video/7290898470884396331?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo8sadxxDrrIgBpWuh7rJP91y8rtsHSKbhyfianLWfQsswCyt8HrUBqyag4wVcdO88Lf51dzzpgu8Ga82oGGgA%3D&_r=1&checksum=9dbf05318ebdc6d16e69184c78fdd922cac1749f7a5677bba0347c9ccc3a17f6&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAL2KJnzmwOfP8GjisuT51UWhVGgV2uCl4yYFmc6xLRkVIskEianvxrH_67NWBoRMH&share_app_id=1233&share_item_id=7290898470884396331&share_link_id=C0E1EB9C-03B4-448C-9B88-072814AF5C5E&sharer_language=en&source=h5_m×tamp=1697758110&tt_from=copy&u_code=daji8md2d7dcag&ug_btm=b8727%2Cb2878&user_id=6790484188804056070&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy
https://www.tiktok.com/@pastrami.marin/video/7290782213438934318?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo89JG4wS9WotrtfFGd1SkO9RqyK4VLlUbfmWp1s%2Fg4R5VROBr0Yw5nwaIqLKqFZcM58OfH8pNcaNJ39bk%2FGgA%3D&_r=1&checksum=245af4f925217b883487e23318ed92aeca792d29b63a3d4298001b6ccba45b01&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAL2KJnzmwOfP8GjisuT51UWhVGgV2uCl4yYFmc6xLRkVIskEianvxrH_67NWBoRMH&share_app_id=1233&share_item_id=7290782213438934318&share_link_id=0DF452BD-6804-4ED6-B66F-8CCB9727D13D&sharer_language=en&source=h5_m×tamp=1697758095&tt_from=copy&u_code=daji8md2d7dcag&ug_btm=b8727%2Cb2878&user_id=6790484188804056070&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy
Elsewhere, some only vowed to go if Taylor Swift’s music was allowed.
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Others gather the top comments on these videos and cannot help but laugh at the absurdity of the idea of contemporary women being drafted into the military. Women have been eligible for military service since 1948, predominantly as nurses. Women were not formally permitted to fight in combat on the front lines until 2013. Some active duty military women confirm that they still engage in their usual “girl” activities while deployed.
@kimberlytahmus Who are we fighting again??? #biden #war #women #ww3 #memes #funny #comedy
While women will not be drafted any time soon, the trend offered some a much needed dose of humor in an alarming global climate.
