Conscription And Responsibility

June 02, 1985|By Frederick P. Johnston Sr.

PARK RIDGE — According to a May 9 Tempo article, Morris Janowitz, a sociologist at the University of Chicago, has decided that some form of national service will instill patriotism in the young people of America. As an Army veteran, I have a thought or two.

I am always intrigued by the elitist notion that some vague sort of conscription or compulsory service will engender patriotism. This should strengthen a sense of national purpose fully as much as singing the national anthem before a wrestling match. Second, Mr. Janowitz suggests that such national service would not be necessary if the schools were ``doing their part.`` It would be nice if occasionally we put some responsibility on the home environment rather than asking the school system, the Boy Scouts, the Peace Corps or whatever to fulfill our obligations. Finally, peacetime conscription is not a ``200-year tradition.`` Please check the history department at the university.

Perhaps Mr. Janowitz will devote the next two years of his life to some sort of government service. It seems almost incumbent upon him to do so, since he could become a living example of what he is suggesting. Parachute makers use their own product--why shouldn`t Mr. Janowitz do the same?