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Public Service| Posted Monday, December 31, 2007 at 12:01:34 PM | I have long been an advocate for mandatory public service for anyone turning 18. Yet continually I hear from our elcted representatives that the draft is dead and will not be resurrected. Yet, I see the draft as only one segment of mandatory public service.
While the armed services could certainly benefit from a reconstituted draft, I believe the country as a whole would see benefits.
Conscientious objectors could perform service in a large number of organizations that perform public service. Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Americorp, Peace Corp all perform worthwhile services that would benefit from a new group of volunteers.
The underlying fact to me is that we have too many young people simply along for the ride. Not all certainly, but one could make the argument that most of our young people feel our society is simply giving them what they deserve. Their failure to vote, their failure to accept any sense of civic responsibility, has left our country adrift, piloted only by our politicians.
National service would help to create a thinking generation, one that more willingly step forward to accept responsibility for our nation's course. At this time in our nation's history, we need fresh ideals and individuals who are prepared to rise to the demands of our nation.
Consideration of mandatory national service is long overdue.
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