David Gergen's Plug For National Service: My Response

There are many bones I have to pick with David Gergen's talk before the Ath tonight. I'm sorry that I wasn't as good as I could have been in the Q&A. Maybe I ought to be less confrontational and more probing. I'm working on it. The great thing about the Ath is that there is always another speaker and another way to ask a question. Although saying I made a mockery of myself, really goes a bit too far.

At various points during the night -- I arrived post-7:30 -- he sounded the alarm for several ideas that really, really trouble me. Of course, college student that I am, I enjoy being troubled.

All during the course of the night he suggested that Obama and Clinton may be assassinated because they may be the first black and woman candidate, respectively. I hate how everyone assumes that some nut out there is going to kill Barack Obama because he's People who disagree with you aren't going to kill you, particularly on the Right. Remember J.F.K. was killed by a Leftist and McKinley was killed by an anarchist. (Leon Czolgosz.) Good ole Ronnie Reagan was almost killed by a Jodie Foster fan and I'm not quite sure where you classify that on the Left-Right continuum.)

He suggested that the youth generation was "spiritual" and that we were tired of all the poverty that is in the world and that we need Obama to help create a "new politics" and that everyone will "march" for a "change". Of course, the first Clinton also talked of a "new politics," only he called it "triangulation." Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. I guess I'm just not idealistic enough for this generation. Alas. I would have been one of those who sat out the Bobby mania just as I am going to sit out Obama's.

Gergen also talked about the U.N. and how Eisenhower respected the U.N. and how George W. Bush doesn't. Well, not exactly Mr. Gergen. You see the U.N. has changed an awful lot since the days of Eisenhower. For one thing, the Chinese Communists control a seat, Russia is no longer communist, and there are now well over 150 members who throw conferences hatin' on the Jews. Of course, they insist that we, the U.S. pay for it and look the other way when they put the worst human rights abusers on the human rights commissions. In short, it isn't your grandma's United Nations, anyways.

In any event, we've reached my favorite statement of the night, the one to which I tried to press him.

"We are reaching the point where everyone between the ages of 18 and 24 will be encouraged to do some kind of national service." (That's not an exact quotation, mind you, but if anyone wants to fix it, I'd be more than welcome. I'll be getting the video within the week or so.)

Here's my question a propos of his national service.

I feel sometimes as if the American electorate has already lost, that we are going to have a choice between John McCain who insists that anyone who doesn't serve his country lives a "half life" and Barack Obama whose talked about giving a tax credit for anyone who goes and does non-profit work. I then wrapped up my question by reminding Mr. Gergen that we've already had a national service: the draft. It didn't turn out so well.

He said that I don't see what's so wrong about asking you to serve one year when you've spent four years in college. He explained, though this was less than clear, that he thought "we" -- by which I assume businesses --ought to make life easier for those who have served. Naturally, I assume that means a sort of affirmative action for people who serve the country. He was very clear that his version of national service wasn't "an obligation but an expectation." Well, thank heavens for that. But sometimes an expectation can be a de facto obligation and there can be a tyranny associated with robbing people of the freedom to choose.

Mr. Gergen tried to take me to task for my question. Notice how he tries to make it personal. He tried to turn the tables on me, saying that it was doubtful I was paying for my college education and asking me rhetorically whether I felt like I had some dues to pay.

I responded rather meekly that I had nothing against charity and that I attend college largely to please my parents, but also for a better future. He then leaped on that and asked me whether I felt like I "owed" the country something. I eventually sat down, having been berated for not wanting to serve my country in his narrow definition of service. Something tells me that working for an investment bank or writing for a newspaper or a law firm won't exactly meet his definition of "public good."

Let me flesh out my real response here.

I chose to attend college. My parents and I sacrifice many of the things that others take for granted because we believe that my education will bring about a return on their investment and that I will return every penny to the communal dish. And, much the same with Claremont McKenna, every cent they have given me in aid, I will repay (and then some, if things go well.)

But as to your large questions about whether I owe my fellow Americans anything, I have several answers.

No, Mr. Gergen, I don't feel as if I owe my fellow Americans anything by virtue of my birth. I don't have to "pay my dues" as I had no choice where I was going to be born.

Let us be clear. If ever I serve my country in any way, shape, or form, it will be out of love. I will because I choose to do it, not because I feel an "obligation" or an "expectation."