02-18-2009, 07:35 PM
There is a big difference between choosing not to serve in that particular manner, military service, and avoiding service in. And many choose to serve in other ways than military service. I'll take an honest "did not serve" over a dishonest "I served". In W's case, he may have avoided dishonorable discharge, but I see only subterfuge in any claim of him serving honorably.
In addition, Obama did not "avoid military service", as he was under no obligation to serve in the military. The draft was over long before. He also graduated at a time when there was a much lower demand for persons to enter the military. But those who like military service to be a necessary right of passage are the ones who tend to keep bringing that up. Many presidents have served who had little or none.
As for "Perhaps it's the lack of Military Draft that has hastened the erosion of our society", that might be true. But possibly not in the way you are thinking. I am reminded of an opinion piece I read some 25-30 years ago. In it the writer was wondering if perhaps the all-volunteer professional military was not good for our society. One reason was that it could be all too easy to think that because they volunteered, whatever they were sent to do was okay because it was their job. Another reason he was not completely sold on the idea was social. With the draft all kinds of people from all walks of life ended up serving with each other, from those who would have volunteered anyways to ones who would not have. That exposure to all kinds, he thought was good for society as a whole and the military itself as well. With all-volunteer, he was wondering where things would trend if only those who wanted to be there and those who took up military service for personal economic reasons served in the military. Years later, and I can see some signs that those concerns were right to be raised. Wish I remembered who wrote it, I wonder what he would say now.
In addition, Obama did not "avoid military service", as he was under no obligation to serve in the military. The draft was over long before. He also graduated at a time when there was a much lower demand for persons to enter the military. But those who like military service to be a necessary right of passage are the ones who tend to keep bringing that up. Many presidents have served who had little or none.
As for "Perhaps it's the lack of Military Draft that has hastened the erosion of our society", that might be true. But possibly not in the way you are thinking. I am reminded of an opinion piece I read some 25-30 years ago. In it the writer was wondering if perhaps the all-volunteer professional military was not good for our society. One reason was that it could be all too easy to think that because they volunteered, whatever they were sent to do was okay because it was their job. Another reason he was not completely sold on the idea was social. With the draft all kinds of people from all walks of life ended up serving with each other, from those who would have volunteered anyways to ones who would not have. That exposure to all kinds, he thought was good for society as a whole and the military itself as well. With all-volunteer, he was wondering where things would trend if only those who wanted to be there and those who took up military service for personal economic reasons served in the military. Years later, and I can see some signs that those concerns were right to be raised. Wish I remembered who wrote it, I wonder what he would say now.
