Posted by Dan Ewert : 9/26/2002 12:51:00 AM (Archive Link)
Not too long ago, Texas’ Democratic candidate for Senate, Ron Kirk, made a rather interesting comment about the armed forces. He lamented how the minority and lower class representation in the services was disproportionate to that of the general population. He further stated that the powers that be would be less enthused about attacking Iraq if it were their children in the army. I find this yet another example of liberals thinking that everything and every institution needs to have absolute equality across all races, ethnicities and classes. I don’t find it at all troubling that the less fortunate compose most of the armed forces. This is because the services are places were the underprivileged can advance themselves socially and economically. Recruits can learn discipline and real life skills that can be transferred to the civilian sector. Additionally, upon being discharged, they can make use of the GI Bill to finance a college education. Instead of viewing the armed forces as pits for the down and out, they should be seen as bastions of opportunity… opportunity that these young people may not otherwise have.