These portraits of 14 'dudes' who were drafted to fight in Lithuania were taken to represent their emotions about going to war. True Activist - On May 11th, 2015, more than 37,000 men between the ages of 19-26 woke up to find their surnames on Lithuania’s compulsory military service list. 3,000 were needed for the first wave of recruits, but 2/3 of the first group were filled by volunteers. Some of the men took to social media to express their thoughts on what was being called a sudden and random ‘lottery.’ ... Lithuanian Actress and TV host Beata Tiskevic-Hasanova and Lithuanian photographer and political science student Neringa Rekasiute began capturing portraits of men suddenly conscripted into the Lithuanian army just a few short months ago. The two women gathered 14 random men, aged 17-28, and took their photographs. In the portraits, the men are captured crying in military uniforms. It’s an understatement to say the images evolve beyond words and are very moving. JAUNIUS, 18: A gun in your hands doesn’t define your manliness. VYTAUTAS, 27: Army won’t make a man out of you – if you are a dumbass, you will stay a dumbass. DOMINYKAS, 26: It’s my choice what kind of man I want to be. JUSTAS, 18: The real strength is the ability to make your own mind. Let us be strong. VYTENIS, 18: I could go to the army. Sometimes I lack courage and stamina to do things. Army is good if you can handle it. I was inspired by my friend, a girl, who became a voluntary soldier. EDVINAS, 17: Can you imprison a man’s choice and call it free living? DANAS, 28: In my opinion, the archaic times when a man was supposed to kill a buffalo and drag it home to his family are long over. I think that army is not a bad thing in general, but a compulsory one is definitely not a good thing either. Especially when the government announced it so suddenly without any public debate or preparation. A system should be introduced, one should know at school that there is a possibility to serve in the army, one should grow up with this idea. DENISAS, 23: In today’s free society there is no space for coercion. Compulsory things should be the ones you choose with your free will. MARTYNAS, 22: It’s manly to be able to choose for yourself. JEGOR, 25: Only when fighting you lose. ROKAS, 17: It is manly to work for your goals and ideas, and defend your values. I guess, everyone can go to the war, but army is not for everyone. MINDAUGAS, 25: When I was still at school, conscript army was removed. I was very happy then, but when I look back, I realize it was a better time to go to the army than it would be now when I have my own agency and when I have created jobs for other people – I need to look after all of it. JUSTAS, 27: Army is a waste of time. How many more soldiers do we need? LUKAS, 25: If I was called to the army, I would try to find a way to avoid it. I have a wife, we are so good together and family for me is first. We have created so much, I wouldn’t want to leave it. Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/14-powerful-photos-of-men-reacting-to-the-new-mandatory-lithuanian-army-draft/