Serving our country is a public service

It would be wonderful if there were no conflict in our world – no need for a military. But history has taught us otherwise, and we would do well to pay heed to its continuing lessons.

I was impressed last week by an editorial piece written by William McGurn in Atchison, Kansas for the Wall Street Journal. The commencement speaker at Atchison’s Benedictine College, McGurn contrasted the small heartland school with Harvard University, which has not allowed ROTC on campus since it “was booted off” during the Vietnam War. He reflected upon the nurturing pride that Benedictine showed its ROTC graduates.

McGurn noted that opponents of the Iraq war frequently express the view that they oppose the administration’s policy – not the troops. In fact, most public sentiment overwhelmingly supports the troops. He told of how tiny Benedictine College has embraced its ROTC graduates, recognizing that these young people may soon be put in harm’s way to defend the liberties we Americans enjoy. It was his opinion that Harvard would do well to emulate Benedictine.

McGurn’s observation that the military is one of our nation’s “most open and diverse institutions” rang true. Those of us who have served know all too well that the military is far from perfect. Like all huge organizations, it often succumbs to stupidity. Notwithstanding the views of those who focus upon the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuals (http://www.bertrandrussell.blogspot.com/), the United States military remains near the top of those organizations where you’ll find a modicum of openness and diversity.

Offering ROTC on campus is a good thing. I still subscribe to the notion that our country would do well to require that all able-bodied young people be required to perform two or three years of public service for their country. It might be the Peace Corps, a CCC-type domestic program, or the military. They – and our country – would be the beneficiaries of such a plan.

In the meantime, Harvard should go back to school and study the wisdom of embracing ROTC students on its campus.

Kunerth on Public Service

This piece was authored by our good friend Bill F. Kunerth of Belle Fourche. Originally published March 12, 2007, it's a timely topic worth re-visiting.

I recently attended a presentation by Rep. Stephanie Herseth at Black Hills State University in which she did an excellent job of outlining the current political situation and offering her well-thought-out positions on significant issues. Included was a plea for greater participation in civic activities by our youth.

As a retired educator with 35 years under my belt, I could not agree with her more.I tossed out a suggestion to her and the audience, an idea that I think should be more fully exploited in our educational system, especially in high schools, colleges and universities.It involves the formal incorporation of community and public service components into the curricula of secondary schools and higher education institutions. I realize that students at every college and university, and most high schools are involved in such activities, often as a part of their course work. Black Hills State is proposing a major community service effort for the coming school year to the South Dakota Board of Regents.

However, what I am suggesting is that such activity be required of all students.Most of us, at some point in our lives, become involved in community service, but too often it is later in life when our families are well along and we are somewhat secure financially. In fact, the sooner we become involved in such work, the more we realize its self and public benefits. And after our first venture, we tend to continue and increase these activities.

Although such programs can be, and are established locally, there is a national organization, Campus Compact, which for more than 20 years has worked with institutions of higher education - from community colleges to major research universities - in helping them implement community service initiatives. Campus Compact is "committed to educating students for responsible citizenship in ways that both deepen their learning and improve the quality of community life."Students involved in these programs work in such areas as health, literacy, hunger, homelessness, care of the elderly, voting, and the environment.Only one South Dakota university, the School of Mines, is a member of Campus Compact. There are two colleges in Nebraska, three in North Dakota, 15 in Montana, 17 in Iowa, and 47 in Minnesota that are members. Its dues are based on enrollment and are easily affordable for most schools.

I think it's worth looking into for the administrators, faculty and students of South Dakota's private and public institutions of higher education. If it hasn't already, the South Dakota Board of Regents should consider this approach.A comprehensive and compelling package of information is available by typing in "Campus Compact" on your browser.

Thanks, Bill, for allowing me to include this piece at Black Hills Monitor. By the way, Bill Kunerth is an Iowa State University Emeritus Professor of Journalism. He retired in 1988. Absent his photograph, I've posted a shot of the ISU campanile, something of a landmark at the Ames university.

Read This Blog – Earn 50¢

The other day, the Arizona Daily Star reported that some students in “poverty-stricken areas” of Tucson are being paid up to $25 a week to attend classes this fall. The incentive is being paid from private versus public funds, and it's a scheme that appears to be embraced by some schools and the Tucson Education Association.

The idea is basically to keep kids from dropping out of school. Of course, any increased enrollments won’t hurt the school district or the teachers union, both of which would seemingly benefit. School enrollment is a big driver in state funding for schools.

The devil is in the details, and it’ll be revealing to follow this Arizona effort.

Of course, the really big bucks to lure young people are being offered by the U.S. Army. It’s their effort to offset continuing shortfalls of recruits. Proposed new incentives include a $20,000 bonus (if you join up quickly!); new recruits wouldn’t have to meet weight requirements, and Uncle Sam would accept more recruits with GED certificates rather than high school diplomas. Plus, the Army wants to increase waivers for medical and moral reasons or for individuals testing positive for drugs and alcohol. My personal favorite is the one where the Army, according to the Associated Press, would create a "more pleasant boot-camp environment."

Throwing money at these issues – in my humble view – is NOT the way to go. It provides only temporary relief at an enormous cost.

Can you say “Mandatory Universal Public Service”? All young people should be required to dedicate two or three years of public service in the Peace Corps, the military, or a similar selfless endeavor like the old Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s.

To my mind, this would be a far more sustainable program than the bottomless pit of monetary incentives that so many policymakers are quick to offer. Would such mandatory service have problems? Of course, but they are dwarfed by the quagmire created by a seemingly bottomless pit of trying to solve every problem with money.

Young people, federal and state government – and U.S. taxpayers – would all be the better for such a program.

Thanks for reading my blog. Redeem your incentive from the cable guy when he shows up on time!

He's Got it Right!

Unlike my bride, I am not a huge fan of presidential candidate John Edwards. I was particularly taken aback by his position that we should pay homage to veterans by withdrawing our troops from Iraq. An Associated Press story on May 22 quoted American Legion national commander Paul Morin saying that's as "inappropriate as a political bumper sticker on an Arlington headstone." He’s right. And while I am a veteran, I am not a member of the American Legion – but I think Morin's assessment is on target.

Nonetheless, on a related topic, I believe Edwards got something exactly right.The former North Carolina senator reportedly said we should all be "thinking about" some level of mandatory public service obligation, so that everybody in America has an opportunity to serve their country. This is an idea whose time is long overdue.

Rather than just "thinking" about it, I hope Edwards and other candidates will put their weight behind this noble concept. I'd like to see a two or three-year public service obligation for all able-bodied citizens. Their service could be in the military, the Peace Corps, or a similar domestic public service activity. The Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s was conceived for different purposes, but its impact was positive and lasting.

Universal public service is a good idea. Now we need to move it from a concept to a reality.