Do you notice how high school and college kids today lack any understanding or concept of the responsibilities for participating in our Constitutional Republic? Most never read the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. Most couldn’t tell you the name of our first president or reasons for the 13 red and white stripes, blue background and stars of Old Glory.
Most do not recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” any more. Millions pick their noses and talk, or text when the National Anthem plays. Very few American youth understand the costs of freedom paid by millions of men and women who served in the military.
If you look at our ample ghetto populations, you see school truancy, illiteracy, millions of out-of-wedlock babies, early drug addiction, lack of personal accountability and loss of personal responsibility.
Notice 48 million Americans subsisting on welfare handouts like food stamps and Section 8 housing. Even worse, one half of all Americans fail to vote in national elections. A staggering 80 percent fail to vote in local elections.
According to an NPR report, the average American teen texts 3,300 times during the month. That’s over 100 times a day. But if you asked him or her the name of the governor of his or her state, you most like would receive a blank stare.
What constitutes the single greatest aspect for a Constitutional Republic to survive? Its citizens must be able to read, write and think critically.
Today in America:
* Two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Over 70% of America’s inmates cannot read above a 4th grade level.
- 1 in 4 children in America grow up without learning how to read.
- Students who don’t read proficiently by the 3rd grade are four times likelier to drop out of school.
- As of 2011, America was the only free-market OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) country where the current generation was less educated than the previous one.
- Nearly 85% of the juveniles who face trial in the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, proving that there is a close relationship between illiteracy and crime. More than 60% of all inmates are functionally illiterate.
- American reading association states that 32 million Americans remain functionally illiterate.
Additionally, many of today’s youth screw off through high school. They stagger into the job market with zero skills, and less ability to learn how to work a job like plumber, electrician, tradesman and home builder. About the only jobs they might work: burger flipper, cashier, dishwasher, lawn attendant, roofer and the like.
Additionally, there’s no sense of direction, no sense of self-worth and little sense of loyalty to the United States of America. As with all large city youth, no common sense, critical thinking or plans for the future.
An Idea Whose Time Has Arrived!
In order to give America’s youth a head start on their lives and help them figure out what line of work interests them, we need to incorporate a two-year mandatory service in either the military’s five branches of Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard, or civilian work in Ameri-Corps. Every red-blooded American at the age of 18 must enlist in the military or civilian work corps. If they opt for college, they must enter the military or civilian work corps immediately after college for two years.
They could fulfill their national commitment in a combat arms if they feel like a warrior. Or, if they lack the tenacity of combat arms, it takes 10 support personnel in supply, food, hospital, mechanics, etc, to facilitate that combat troop, but could still enjoy the discipline of serving in the military.
In the military, they learn job skills, duty, honor, country. They learn to respect our flag and our country. They learn how to conduct themselves in a free country.
If they feel like civilian work, they funnel into Ameri-Corps where they learn valuable trades in order to work in the outside world.
What would this accomplish?
* We need our citizens to become a part of America and a sense of allegiance to its principles, responsibilities and mores.
- We need each individual to participate in making America a better place to live, work and to add to thriving communities.
- We need a coordinated effort to clean up our ghettoes, inner cities, schools and dilapidated infrastructure.
- We need all races working for a common goal to make America a better place to live, work and thrive.
Any downside? Nope!
Every youth discovers his or her strengths, likes, dislikes and abilities in a myriad of specialties. They get to travel, which creates a worldly understand and broadened view of life. They may discover a trade or other talent that carries them toward their own dreams. Working to improve other communities brings satisfaction in helping others. They earn their way in the world instead of remaining on welfare rolls, complaining and self-pity. Or worse, gangs, killings, drug addiction and pregnancies that lead to hopeless lives.
What will it amount to for all American youth?
They work for something; and against nothing!
Explore their evolving talents. Enjoy higher possibilities. Create friendship. Create community. Create sense of self. Create an affinity toward America, their home, their country, their future.
© 2018 Frosty Wooldridge – All Rights Reserved
E-Mail Frosty: frostyw@juno.com
