“We cannot all pick up the sword, nor should we be forced to – but we owe our support to those who do.” I chose this quote because it pretty much echoes my sentiments exactly. It is true that not everyone can serve in the military, and I don’t think anyone should be forced to either. That being said, I still have great respect for those that do choose to serve, regardless of their reasons for doing so.
I think this essay is important because it explores a controversial topic like the draft, which seems very relevant now in light of what is going on with the war. The writer’s thesis is that the draft should not be reinstated, as he believes it would hurt today’s military. One example the author uses to support his thesis is his experience as a leader of platoons of volunteers. He describes how they slept in holes they hacked from the rocky ground. They carried hundred-pound packs and on top of that had to deal with their loneliness, exhaustion, and fear. He states that they didn’t complain, and he never had to deal with any discipline problems. The author uses this example to illustrate that all of them wanted to be there. If any of them hadn’t, they would have been a drain on the platoon and a liability in combat, which would hurt today’s military.
I see that they are the one’s who kept it going for our military today. I feel bad in a way that some people who wanted to weren’t able to. I feel that they might be just as good as anyone else if they had a chance.
I think you really captured the point of this story. You really understood what the writer was trying to convey to his readers.
I think you are right with the thesis. He really explains how the people in the Marines really wanted to be there and worked hard, and a draft would just bring in people who didn’t want to be there, and could possibly do more harm than good.
It’s kind of like the difference between high school and college, only the stakes are higher.