A number of countries require national service from their young men, and Israel from its young women as well
What should the US?
Require national service? No. But more than 30 years ago, a conservative commentator suggested national service as a means of letting America’s young people express their gratitude for the civil liberties we enjoy.
In a book length essay called Gratitude, William F Buckley junior argued for voluntary national service
Buckley founded National Review in 1955, an act many believe launched the modern conservative movement.
And for 33 years TV audiences watched him on “Firing Line. “
By today’s measure, however, Buckley’s views may be seen as less rigidly conservative
I spoke with him in 1990 when his book Gratitude was published.
So here now, from 1990, William F. Buckley Jr.
William F Buckley Jr died in 2008. He was 82.