by Melanie Thomas

Created on: December 12, 2006   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

The worst thing that happened to the United States in the 20th century was Richard Nixon abolishing the draft. Without our draft, men who were unsure of their future (and how many 18 year olds really know what they want out of life) were forced to chose between the armed service or college. For many, the armed services made men out of boys and at the least, gave them the confidence, guidance, and discipline they sorely needed and lacked to make something of themselves.

This perk has been missing from the last generation that has just now reached adulthood. The damage is twofold. We have young adults drifting in their lives, more concerned with the latest outfit sewn onto Paris Hilton's body than getting any kind of training or education. Our country doesn't have enough young able-bodied men and women to care enough to join the service. Many who are currently serving were juvenile delinquents, given a choice by judges to go to jail or join the army. With this option, our military has filled their quotas with misfits and miscreants, some barely literate, many with behavorial and psychological problems. These are the men we've armed and given guns to; these are the men we've asked to defend our nation, our honor, and our lives.

Am I here to berate the wonderful men and women who are serving in Iraq? Hell, no! I applaud their efforts, knowing they are undermanned, illequipped, and fighting another uphill battle that reminds me far too much of Viet Nam. But the only way we're going to meet the military requirements for homeland security, not to mention the strong possbility that we may be asked to stop a war between North and South Korea (again) is to regain our former strength, beginning with the numbers. We need a draft. We need to lure dependable, career-minded men and women to the armed services. We need to nuture their families while their loved ones are away on a tour of duty. We need to change our attitude about the military, period.

There's a woman senator from New York who is testing the water with her big toe about running for President in 2008. This same woman hated having the Marines who guarded the White House wear their dress blues or any uniform. She claimed their uniforms made her nervous and because she is the type of woman who gets her way, the last few years of her husband's administration there were no dress blues to be seen in any photo ops. This woman wants to be Commander in Chief, yet the sight of Marine dress blues made her nervous. Having my Commander in Chief wary of uniforms is what makes me nervous!

At the risk of upsetting mothers and fathers across our wonderful country, we need to reinstitute the draft for our young men and women. We need their intelligence, their courage, and their energy. We need their strength, optimism, and naive viewpoints, to make the rest of us believe again. We need them. Now. Because I'm afraid if we don't find and train them soon, it will be too late for all of us.

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