Let's enlist
Padraic H. McDermott
sophomore
On Dec. 9, The New York Times published an Op/Ed piece by Thomas L. Friedman, entitled "Ask Not What ... " Mr. Friedman, a frequent contributor to the Times Op/Ed section, makes the point that while President Bush is conducting the war effort well militarily, he is not addressing the need of Americans back home to get involved.
I am a great supporter of President Bush, but I honestly agree with Mr. Friedman. There has not been a call to Americans to tighten up our energy usage, to improve our foreign aid, to encourage CEOs to take modest pay cuts to save that many more jobs in the bottom tier. Most importantly, I think, there has not been a call to enlist.
I do not speak only on enlisting in the military, though that is an important point. Americans, and particularly young Americans like we students of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's and Holy Cross, are needed across the country.
America needs us to enlist. She needs us to enlist in the Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps, or the FBI or Teach for America, to repeat some of Mr. Friedman's suggestions. We will emerge from our respective universities or colleges with degrees from across the academic spectrum. We will be financiers, or architects, or engineers or Great Books ... whatever it is we PLS majors become.
We will be educated, and we will be leaders in our fields, by virtue of the education we're receiving right now. Let's use it.
Let's apply for ACE, or one of the many other service opportunities offered by the University and by the Holy Cross order.
Let's apply for jobs in the FBI, or the CIA or other branches of government. We complain enough about the character and capability of our government — let's do something about it. We have an opportunity to become the greatest generation America or the world has ever seen.
Let's figure out how to educate every child in Afghanistan.
Let's end America's dependency on disgusting fossil fuels.
Let's join the military. With our educations, we meet the basic requirements to enter Officer Training programs.
Let's make sure the United States military is all we demand it be. We've received more than education of the mind. We've received education of soul.
Let's end all the talk of a shrinking job market. The world needs us now more than ever before, and there are more opportunities to do some good than ever before. The world is in bad shape.
Let's enlist.
Padraic H. McDermott
sophomore
Morrissey Manor
Dec. 9, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, December 10, 2001
