My conspiracy theory

[4bonhoffer]

The military draft ended while I was in the army. My conspiracy theory is that the reason the draft was ended was because so many of us were finding out just how much we had in common with people who were totally different from ourselves. I served alongside people whom, without being in the military, I would never have come into contact with.

Many have suggested this, and I agree. We need to start up some sort of service draft. It could be giving people the choice of serving in the military, or at a hospital, or some other type of work that helps a community. Something that gets people out of their own bubble, and has them living and working alongside other people from different parts of the country. Expanding the awareness of young people in this country can be so beneficial in so many ways.

With everything that’s going on right now this seems like pie in the sky talk, but down the road it’s something to consider.

[mwmisses4289]

1. We have that. It's called the Peace Corps.

https://www.peacecorps.gov/

[HAB911]

2. It would have to be mandatory

[mopinko]

5. we also have americorp.

at least i think we still do. they tried to axe it, but i think they lost in court.
i wd def support a yr of mandatory service. my very lost kid did a yr in americorp and it turned his life around.
i also have several friends who served in the peace corp. they all went on to serve in nonprofits all their lives.

[doc03]

3. I get your point. Being from rural Ohio, other than a black lady that worked as a housekeeper

for a friend of my mother's, I don't remember seeing another black person until high school were there was
maybe a dozen out of 800. I never even saw a Mexican, Puerto Rican or Asian person until I was in the Army.
Many people in this area still repeat all the Archie Bunker racial slurs.

[Phoenix61]

4. I have a Singaporean friend.

They are required to serve two years in the military and one of the reasons they have to do that is for social cohesion. By the time they get out everybody has friends from every culture that makes up Singapore.