While reading Mr. Duschene’s April 14 column on the draft, I paused after the sentence, “We haven’t gotten where we are today on the backs of people afraid to defend the American Way.” Is “where we are today” an admirable position and the “American Way” an admirable ideal? Many people within the United States may admire the position we have attained and the goals and interests of America. Others resist because they wish to change the path of the nation. The similarity between these two groups is their freedom to thoughtfully step forward and publicly question their own motives and the motives of the officials they elect to represent them. The idea that American citizens should give their lives to maintain or benefit their nation because “that’s the way it should be,” cannot be introduced without citizens stepping forward to freely question the logic. We must constantly reconsider the interests and ideals that form the American status quo and raise questions and resistance as we participate in our responsibility to bring reality to our country. In a country as wasteful and arrogant as the United States, the interests of the citizens and the government are not always noble. If we do not take this responsibility to make our beliefs known, we are certainly sacrificing our freedom to express ourselves.

Mr. Duschene’s remarks seem to indicate that reality exists somewhere in the national legislature and we, as citizens, should face up to it. On the contrary, as citizens, we should bring reality to the country.

Why would there be resistance to the draft? After all, the national interest is always concerned with bringing truth and happiness to all of mankind, isn’t it? The government knows best, doesn’t it?

Glenn C. Schlundt

sophomore

liberal arts & sciences