Persuasive Essay 4

To Serve or Not to Serve?

In some countries, citizens are required to serve in the military for a year or more. Do you believe the United States should implement a similar policy? Why or why not? Use specific examples to support your answer.

         

          The United States of America has the world’s most powerful military. But has anyone ever stopped to think as to why that is? I’m not talking about statistics or facts; yes they are important, but I believe there is something deeper than that. I believe one of the main reasons our nation has the best military in the world is because our troops have heart, willingness, pride, and drive. Never are you forced into the military (well not since Vietnam), you enter on your own will and from the gratitude of your own heart and pride. Not many other countries can say the same for their troops.

I do not believe implementing policies that force U.S citizens to serve their own country will be beneficial to anyone. If such policies are put to effect I do believe our nation’s validity will be compromised. Not only will the government have a boat load of law suits, petitions, and protests, but also the military won’t be as strong as it could be. I feel doing this won’t promote a better military, but instead bring about a weaker one.

            When you force a young child to do something they oppose, you find yourself met with a lot of apprehension. Even if they do complete the task, they do it unwillingly and the job is usually, as my mother so eloquently puts it so often, half-assed. On the flip side if you show them the importance of the task first and then coax instead of force them into the assignment, you find the child is much keener to comply.  I feel this is the same with the military, if you force your citizens into defending their country when they really don’t want to they aren’t going to do it wholeheartedly. But just as with the young child, if you emphasize the importance of a strong military to protect our country and then you instill in their minds the glory of being in the military, you have more willing volunteers.

             Protecting your country should be a personal decision that you make based on your willingness to give back, not an obligation or requirement. I believe that tasks like these are done best when left up to an individual choice, not some law. If we put to action a policy that pressurizes, better yet obligates, our men and women to serve, I assure you the title of the world’s most powerful military will no longer belong to The United States of America.