Outside the Beltway

BRAVERY OF YOUTH, WISDOM OF AGE

James Joyner · Friday, April 11, 2003 · 4 comments

Former Senator Bob Kerrey, a Medal of Honor recipient, explains why young men must fight our wars:

When I came back from Vietnam, I wrote about my objections to the Selective Service System, arguing that the age of the draft should be increased from 18 to 30 because young men had too little political or social power for their objections to matter. But a friend of mine — one of the finest soldiers I have ever known — told me (correctly) that I didn’t know what I was talking about.

“Give me a group of men between the ages of 18 and 25 or 26,” he said, “and give me the power to control how much they can eat and sleep, and I can get them to do anything I want them to do. Once they get too old, they start asking questions. And once they start asking questions, they are no good anymore.” There is a lot of truth in this observation.

Young people volunteer because they are young. They may be drawn to the excitement of the cause. They may have learned the importance of service from their parents or others they admire. They may hope to acquire the admiration of peers. They may want to see the world, or it may be the least expensive way to earn a college degree. They may also be drawn by the story of a hero myth they have seen, read or heard.

Military service is a young person’s game. In the beginning they are young, naive and vulnerable to the losses that almost always accompany war: loss of innocence, life and health.

He correctly notes that, because of the propensity of the young to take on these burdens, it is the duty of those with more experience and caution to ensure that the decision to send them to war is not taken lightly.

(Hat tip: RealClear Politics)