While reading the comments for Julia Rain's excellent diary "Why the Young Aren't Protesting in the Streets", I noticed a common theme pop up repeatedly: the idea that we needed a military draft, with no college deferments and mandatory community service even for conscientious objectors.
As a 22-year-old who is actively involved in politics and frustrated with the lack of concern among many in my generation, I respectfully disagree. A draft, implemented as many Kos readers would have it, would be, quite possibly, one of the worst options. It would only reinforce what is the true root of the problem.
The problem as I see it is not that young people are apathetic, lazy, self-centered, and so caught up with XBoxes and Facebook that they think of nothing else. The problem is fear and powerlessness. They want to care and to do something, but the power structure is such that they are either ignored or actively penalized for wanting change.
Let me illustrate with a few examples from my own experience in middle school, high school, college, and beyond.
Read More