I hadn't heard about the Denver students but that really doesn't surprise me very much. How many of them grew up hearing about how America was a nation of evil oppressors? How many of them grew up believing that any problem in the world must be America's fault? It's like the quote I found this morning.

"The philosophy in the classroom of this generation is the philosophy of government in the next."
- Abraham Lincoln

Sometimes when I read silly statements by self-righteous students who've led pampered lives, I almost give up my opposition to a military draft and wish they'd have to spend a couple years in uniform. Let them learn what heavy physical labor means while you still have to use your brains to stay alive, let them live with people from all walks of life instead of their little circle of friends, let them travel to other countries to see how the rest of the world lives, let them know fear and loneliness and pain. Maybe then they wouldn't come across as a bunch of ignorant brats whose idea of hardship is a dead battery on their cell phone.

But no, my opposition to a draft remains primarily on 13th Amendment grounds. To me, a military draft is involuntary servitude akin to slavery. It also smacks of the notion that the government owns the people rather than the other way around. Furthermore, every draft in US history has had loopholes where those with money or political connections could escape service if they choose. I have nothing but respect for those who were drafted and served, but I hope the day never comes were we resume the draft.

In my years in uniform, I served with people ranging from Mexican immigrants who spoke little English to poor blacks from the inner city to people who'd earned doctorates in science. I saw firsthand that no one racial or ethnic group corner the market on assholes. I'd take any one of those people I served with over all the protestors put together. During my service in the military, I gave up many of my rights to help protect the rights of others. I'd gladly do so again if need be. Of course they have the right to their opinion just as I have my rights, but that doesn't mean I have to respect them as individuals when I believe they're being stupid. Frankly, I wouldn't walk across the street to piss on them if they were on fire, but that's just a personal opinion.

"Everybody has a right to be stupid, but some people abuse the privilege."
- Joseph Stalin