{"id":60367,"date":"2020-01-10T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T10:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/10\/snowflakes-and-deplorables-unite-is-it-time-to-consider-a-national-service-requirement\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:32:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:32:49","slug":"snowflakes-and-deplorables-unite-is-it-time-to-consider-a-national-service-requirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2020\/01\/10\/snowflakes-and-deplorables-unite-is-it-time-to-consider-a-national-service-requirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Snowflakes and deplorables, unite. Is it time to consider a national service requirement?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many of us who are concerned about the direction of our country seek ways to revitalize America\u2019s civic culture and re-validate our nation\u2019s motto, e pluribus unum (\u201cout of many, one\u201d). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pace of global and domestic change along with the disruptive effects of technology will likely only accelerate the cultural tear underway among many of us Americans. Maybe it\u2019s time for a program that promotes the idea of advanced citizenship to match up to all the other ways in which this country is so advanced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Americans, we sometimes assume that progress and development are a given. Travel the world (serve in the military) and look at history, and we know better. While in some ways we grow wealthier as a nation, we have become weaker in other ways \u2014 less self-reliant and sturdy, less accountable, and less connected \u2014 the \u201cunited\u201d in our nation\u2019s name is showing signs of wear. It\u2019s also a law of social physics that there is no such thing as a free lunch, so the important question then becomes: \u201cWhat should be required from any one of us to be a part of all of us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States of America could change the game with a national service requirement for all of us. We could elect to impose upon ourselves some period of service as a requirement of all able citizens. Perhaps even rights (voting) and privileges (health care) would depend on fulfilling such an obligation? National service could be a forcing function for collective self-discipline to build better citizens \u2014 it\u2019s a way to save ourselves, from ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This significant sacrifice from each of us might take the form of local, regional or national service. That service could be in one or more of a number of fields required for a functioning civil society \u2014 education, health care, municipal services, and certainly defense (I am painfully aware of how field commanders would prefer volunteers to conscripts any day, but there is a larger point here, perhaps). While such a program could help us get things done as a country, it would also bring people together who would otherwise not meet or develop an appreciation for each other \u2014 and not just individuals, but entire classes, races and geographies who presently do not mix. <\/p>\n\n\n\t