check this out
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1657570,00.html
TIME magazine ME Rick Stengel is trying to give backbone to the idea of structured (and rewarded) national service ... formalizing the volunteering lots of people do already. He sees it as the way to save the republic.
Personally, I've come to doubt just about anything that has a price tag attached to it because we seem unable to get through funding bottlenecks. But I love his ideas, especially the Summer of Service. What a concept. If it worked, we'd be the better for it.
What do you think? Do we need to refocus our efforts and serve more? And is it even appropriate for a news magazine editor to cough up his opinions like this? It's a call to action. Is that OK?
While you're at it, check out this response in his own publication:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1657256_1657317_1658698,00.html
Kinsley drills down to you guys. Do you think he has a point?
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
TIME's case for national service
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1 comment:
Is it appropriate for a news magazine editor to offer his own opinions? Yes. He was hired as the editor in part for his good judgment. He is in a position to make a difference.
A call to action is what makes an excellent editorial. Anyone can yammer. Inspiring people to actually do something is what an editorial should strive for.
Any news organization is in a position to inspire, challenge, confront, mediate, and keep the government and itself honest and focused on the people. This editorial is an excellent example of such.
As for his ideas for national service, I love them.
We like to think of ourselves as an honorable nation. We can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps individually and as a group. At least that's the myth. His ideas play into that mentality. National service would be unifying, educational, meaningful, useful.
People want something to do that's real, that matters more than the Playstation, more than how drunk they got, more than what's on TV tonight. The results of national service could help to scrub away some of the distrust and apathy toward the government that is so prevalent (rightfully so) among the public today. And it's good for people to learn they don't have to go to Africa to help people in need, and they don't have to join the army to serve their country.
I like his ideas for including all age groups, as well.
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