west@turing.toronto.edu (Tom West) (02/08/91)
Has anybody given a thought to the reports among many school teachers in depressed areas that their students were eager to join the army and fight, mostly because they could "accomplish something" or "make a difference"? There seems to me some profound error that the only time that the government will help mobilize the effort of people like these (who despite an often difficult life evidently feel a desire to help society) is in a war. These are people who are willing to risk death to feel that they have accomplished something significan, that they're useful and needed. Doesn't it seem like a horrific waste that in the absence of war, nothing will be done to help these people contribute? In youth, there is a tremendous energy that will express itself one way or another. Attempt to deny it an outlet, and it will find one for itself. It seems such a horrible waste that this energy is ignored, or more often, feared. It certainly powers many criminal elements who are willing to exploit the power of youth. Why isn't there any effort to channel such power into more useful parts of society. How can we afford a war to free Kuwait, when we can't afford to help ourselves? Methinks our priorities are a badly mixed up. (Note, this applies equally to both the U.S. or Canada)