True citizens fight for and defend America

Where are those who understand that being a citizen is more than just a birthright? Where are the countrymen who recognize that their freedoms come with obligations? Where are those who would help their community and come to the defense of the nation? Tell me: Is there a true man or woman among you? I know you must be out there. Stand and be recognized as true citizens.

The Republic of Rome fell to Julius Caesar because the citizens of Rome no longer considered it necessary to be citizen-soldiers. The heavy reliance on a professional military led to its downfall and the establishment of a dictatorship. Rome failed because its citizens where no longer willing, able, or educated enough to defend it.

When our great Republic was founded, the Founding Fathers had an eye firmly fixed on history. The U.S. Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787 —more than 11 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence— establishing the tenets and laws of our great nation. Every serviceman and public servant swears an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

Do we even know what is in the Constitution? It may seem like a ridiculously simple question, but how many among us can name the most basic duties of the government laid out in the document? How dare  we call ourselves citizens of a government when we don’t even know what it stands for? Surely true citizenship requires more than just the luck of being born in this country.

In 1802, Thomas Jefferson founded the National Military Academy at West Point to educate citizens from diverse backgrounds and social classes on how to serve as military officers. The intent of the  academy was to prevent the creation of a socially elite military class within the population (which soon occurred in Mexico, for example). If the United States were to succeed,  those who defended it would have to come from every level of society.

Captain Alden Partridge expanded on this idea of diversifying the military. He was a great believer in the concept of citizen-soldiers. He believed every citizen has a duty to defend the country against foreign invasions (which came true with the War of 1812) and aid communities in times of peace.

Unlike West Point, the universities Partridge founded combined military and civilian education and did not require full-time military service after graduation. With every educated citizen trained as a soldier, the government would always remain in control of the public and liberty would be preserved. Partridge’s vision is now almost 200 years old but it rings as true now as it did when first spoken.

Is it unreasonable to ask every educated citizen to be trained in the defense of the country or to aid their community through community service? Surely not. Can you as a citizen of this fine country hide from your duties to help and protect your community?

I applaud CSC’s new Essential Studies Program and its requirement for every student to learn how to become civically engaged and support their local communities. I am glad to see an institution trying to embed the understanding of service to one’s community into its students. I believe a program choice such as this will allow CSC to produce graduates who are better citizens.

Sometime in your college career, why not take a course in ROTC? I am not asking you to join the military. I am not asking you to change your political views. I am not asking you to change your opinion of the necessity of war. All I am asking is that you take one semester to learn what it takes to defend your country. If nothing else, come meet and stand by the heroes of your generation.

While other generations may look down upon this one saying that we are somehow inferior, I know this isn’t true. Men and women your age are doing incredible things around the globe for our country. You are living in possibly the next “Greatest Generation.” You have the choice to embrace this greatness or watch as others do so.

I was once told than any honorable person would come to their nation’s call if it whispered. If you call yourself an American citizen, then I ask you educate yourself as such and act accordingly.