Compulsory National Service for Americans?

I ran across an article, “Rahm Emanuel: Compulsory Service for All Americans 18 - 25“, on The Political Jungle Blog. In the article it stated:

“It’s time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service. …

Here’s how it would work. Young people will know that between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. They’ll be asked to report for three months of basic civil defense training in their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the event of biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we’re hit by a natural disaster. These young people will be available to address their communities’ most pressing needs.“

I had questions about this, so I went and looked up this idea presented by Rahm Emanuel on the net. I found numerous items, but sadly most of them were garbage and only posted the little quote by Rahm and dozens of opinions by the readers. I did, however, find an article “Rahm Emanuel recommends Israeli-styled forced national service for 18-25 year-olds” that stated:

“Emanuel, who is an Israeli-American, served in the Israeli Defense Forces in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War. Recently, Emanuel co-wrote a book in 2006 called “The Plan” where he suggests that young people should be forced, Israel-style, into serving the country.”

I went and researched the Israeli Defense Force requirements and found:

“National military service is mandatory for Jewish and Druze men and Jewish women over the age of 18, although exceptions may be made on religious, physical or psychological grounds.

Men serve three years in the IDF, while women serve two. The IDF allowed women who volunteer for several combat positions to serve for three years because combat soldiers must undergo a lengthy period of training. Women in other positions, such as programmers, who require lengthy training time may also serve three years. Women in most combat positions are also required to serve as reserve for several years after their dismissal from regular service.”

“Who Is Rahm Emanuel?“

According to Wikipedia:

“Rahm Israel Emanuel (born November 29, 1959) is an American politician who has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Illinois’s 5th congressional district, which covers much of the north side of Chicago and parts of suburban Cook County. Emanuel was chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2006 elections. After the Democratic Party regained control of the House, he was elected as the next chairman of the Democratic Caucus. He is the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House, behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Leader Steny Hoyer and Whip Jim Clyburn.”

Now I realize that some people do not like Wikipedia and have the automatic urge to discredit Wiki at the drop of a hat, but Wiki is a great place to go for information to be followed up on at the researcher’s whim. In this case I don’t think the Wiki information provided warrants further investigation… but if you feel compelled to check out the information further, then please do so and let me know where the facts and Wiki differ.

Wiki provided other facts about Rahm, which I will briefly touch on:

1. Rahm Emanuel was born in Chicago, Illinois.
2. Rahm’s surname was adopted by his family in 1933.
3. Rahm’s paternal uncle, Emanuel Auerbach, was killed in a skirmish with Arabs in Jerusalem.
4. Emanuel’s father, Benjamin M. Emanuel, is a pediatrician.
5. Emanuel’s father was born in Jerusalem.
6. Emanuel’s father was a member of the Irgun, a militant Zionist group.
7. The Irgun, a militant Zionist group, operated from 1931 to 1948 during the British Mandate of Palestine.
8. Rahm’s mother, Martha Smulevitz, worked as an X-ray technician.
9. Rahm’s mother was the daughter of a local union organizer.
10. Rahm’s mother became a civil rights activist.
11. Rahm’s mother was once the owner of a Chicago-area rock and roll club.
12. Rahm’s parents met in Chicago in the 1950s.
13. Emanuel’s older brother, Ezekiel J. Emanuel, is an oncologist and bioethicist.
14. Emanuel’s brother, Ari Emanuel, is a talent agent in Los Angeles who inspired Jeremy Piven’s character Ari Gold on the HBO series Entourage.
15. Emanuel himself is the inspiration for the character Josh Lyman on The West Wing.
16. Emanuel also has a younger adopted sister named Shoshanna, 14 years his junior.
17. Rahm attended Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, a Jewish day school.
18. After his family moved to Wilmette, he attended public school: Romona School, Wilmette Junior High School, and New Trier West High School.
19. He and his brothers attended summer camp in Israel.
20. At some point during his high school years, while working at an Arby’s restaurant, Emanuel severely cut his right middle finger. He sought medical attention only after suffering severe infection as a result of the wound, resulting in the partial amputation of the finger.
21. Rahm graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981.
22. Rahm went on to receive a master’s degree in Speech and Communication from Northwestern University in 1985.
23. While still an undergraduate, he joined the congressional campaign of David Robinson of Chicago.
24. Emanuel was a civilian volunteer in the Israel Defense Forces during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, repairing truck brakes in one of Israel’s northern bases.
25. Emanuel’s wife, Amy Rule, converted to Judaism shortly before her wedding.
26. Rahm and his wife are members of Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel, a Modern Orthodox congregation in Chicago.
27. The Emanuels have three children, son Zachariah and daughters Ilana and Leah.
28. Emanuel is a close friend of fellow Chicagoan David Axelrod, Chief Strategist for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign.
29. Axelrod signed the ketuba, a Jewish marriage contract, at Emanuel’s wedding, an honor that goes to a family friend or distant relative.
30. Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation is quoted as saying: “It’s a very involved Jewish family”; “Amy was one of the teachers for a class for children during the High Holidays two years ago.”
31. Emanuel has said of his Judaism: “I am proud of my heritage and treasure the values it has taught me.”
32. Emanuel’s family lives on the North Side of Chicago, in the North Center neighborhood.
33. Emanuel trains for and participates in triathlons.

What we learned from this information is that Rahm is a proud Israeli-American who is proud of his Jewish heritage. I, personally, can’t find fault with that… everyone ought to be proud of their heritage for their heritage is an important part of what they are. I, actually, find it more disturbing that Rahm has been a part of the Chicago Political Machine more than I am disturbed over his ethnicity and heritage. My questions about Rahm more lie with his affiliations to a political machine that historically has the reputation of the one from the Chicago area. What concerns me is what deals were made for Rahm, and any other Chicago politician make, to rise so far - so fast.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying there is anything wrong with Rahm Emanuel. The only thing I am saying is that I am more concerned over his political affiliations than his heritage or ethnicity. I am sure if I sat down with the man that we would have many points we agree on, but we would also have many points we would disagree on as well.

Rahm’s Ideas

The reason for this article is not an evaluation of Rahm, but in order to understand his ideas more fully - it doesn’t hurt to know a little about the man, himself. So now it’s time to go back to Rahm’s Ideals.

When I was in Germany, the German’s had a mandatory system set up where every German Citizen (between the ages of 18 and 21 or 25) had to either spend so much time in the military or they could try to get into Civil Service. So the idea of a ‘forced” national service is not an Israeli Idea alone, other countries adopted a similar type of system. To call this National Service an Israeli-like National Service is unfair and possibly incorrect.

My questions over this “National Service” is due to the fact that everyone between 18 and 25 has to join up for 3 months and during this time they get trained on various things. There is no talk of how long a term in this National Service will be. Is it like a reserve force where basic training is 3 months, but they have to devote 1 weekend per month for so many years to fulfill their obligation? Does the government expect to train these people one time and then, if called upon, show up and remember what they were taught 2 or 3 years ago? Is there a mandatory refresher course these people have to take on a semi-annual or annual basis? Is there a requirement for them to actually serve so many months in an active duty type scenario, then go into a reserves?

If this system only entails our 18 to 25 year olds spending 3 months in a basic training setting, then what good will that do? Many will forget most of what they are taught shortly after being taught, if that knowledge is not used. It happens with First Aid Training when the people sign up for the courses willingly, why wouldn’t it happen with this too? It happens in the Military where the military members have to undergo a refresher course every year, so what makes this national service any different? It even happens in classrooms around the country on a daily basis. No, the system has to not only teach, but also make the students want to retain the knowledge taught to them. The system has to also have refresher courses to teach these people the new methods that will arise from time to time. It has to be more than a one - 3 month basic training course and then nothing for it to be of any real use. The problem is that I find nothing mentioned of what happens after the 3 month mandatory time.

I am sure there will be more to come on this, it may not even be a thing that happen at all. Still, whether this happens or doesn’t happen, we have to open our eyes beyond our political affiliations and look at the issues. If an idea is a good one, then it is a good one whether Obama or his Opponents bring it up…. however if it’s a bad idea, it’s a bad idea too.

My Views on a National Service

I do not oppose a draft, the selective service, or even a form of National Service where our young has to spend so many years of their life doing Civil or Military Service. I personally think it’s good for our youth’s to broaden their horizon and learn about the real world outside of the classroom and what some academic might think.

I do oppose mindlessly starting any program like these without thought or consideration for the future. The government wastes enough of our taxpayers’ dollars, they don’t need to waste more of our money.

I don’t believe that just because something is a national service that it means the politicians responsible are forming a “Hitler Youth”. I especially don’t believe in the mindset that just because a politician I don’t like is in control that automatically he or she is trying to undermine America and it’s values… just as I don’t believe that a politician I like does everything for “We, the people”. Politicians are politicians, they live and act within their own neat little world where if any resemblance occurs between their world and the real world - then it’s purely accidental. Our politicians have their view of “Life in America” and it’s mostly based upon their personal experiences, most of them can’t really relate to the little man and woman on the street… but they all can talk a pretty good game. That is a huge part of their job… to talk and say things they think the people want to hear.

So, this idea of a National Service may be a good one… but I still am uneasy about it for it does sound too much like the start of something that can go wrong with surprising speed. I would have to find out more about it and even then realize that I might not be told everything about it.