June 21, 2005: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Draft: National Service: Boston Globe: Philippines RPCV Michael Bedford says: When I graduated from college in 1969, the Vietnam War was at its height. All US males graduating from college or high school faced the military draft. I struggled with how to fulfill my responsibility as a citizen.
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June 21, 2005: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Draft: National Service: Boston Globe: Philippines RPCV Michael Bedford says: When I graduated from college in 1969, the Vietnam War was at its height. All US males graduating from college or high school faced the military draft. I struggled with how to fulfill my responsibility as a citizen.
Philippines RPCV Michael Bedford says: When I graduated from college in 1969, the Vietnam War was at its height. All US males graduating from college or high school faced the military draft. I struggled with how to fulfill my responsibility as a citizen.
Philippines RPCV Michael Bedford says: When I graduated from college in 1969, the Vietnam War was at its height. All US males graduating from college or high school faced the military draft. I struggled with how to fulfill my responsibility as a citizen.
Many Ways to Serve Nation
By Michael Bedford
The Boston Globe
June 21, 2005
In response to Joan Vennochi's "To a son who wants to serve" (op ed, June 14), I was reminded of my own decisions about my belief in service to my nation versus supporting an unpopular war.
When I graduated from college in 1969, the Vietnam War was at its height. All US males graduating from college or high school faced the military draft. I struggled with how to fulfill my responsibility as a citizen.
Instead of fighting in Vietnam, I joined the Peace Corps and served my country in a rural and poor province of the Philippines for nearly three years. Years later, I served as the Peace Corps country director in Bangladesh, where 44 young Americans helped build strong relations between a Muslim nation and the United States during and after 9/11.
Now, I have a 14-year-old son who soon may face similar decisions about service to our nation and the military. While I stress to him our inherent obligations to this nation, I also encourage him to reflect on what his service would do to promote the ideals of this country.
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Story Source: Boston Globe
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Draft; National Service
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