John F. Kennedy ranks as one of our favorite presidents, especially of the modern era, who stated in his 1961 inaugural address, "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." This quote states that each of us, has an obligation to perform some duty or some sacrifice on behalf of our country, which considering the virtues that America represents to its citizens, doesn't seem to be an unreasonable thing to require from its people. To date, there is no compulsory national servicer required in the United States, but in an era, to which there is an elite in this country, who may not ever put their hand to the plow but still are able to live high on the hog, as well as their being an underclass in this country that may not ever be gainfully employed, it might well be the most democratic thing to see that these peoples, as well as all others, can meet at the common ground of national service to their country.
The length of time for community service, could be set at six months, which in length of time, hardly seems a great burden, and this service would be compulsory to be served between the ages of eighteen to twenty-nine, with the flexibility to divide the time served into two separate equal sessions, so as to perform such a duty, if desired, during the summertime, between the conclusion of one year of college, and before the beginning of the next year, or similar. Even though the obligation to all citizens would be a national requirement, in fact, it would be best to have the flexibility of that service to be accomplished either through national, State, local, non-profit, or religious organizations in its aspects. That is to say, the point is for each citizen to serve their nation, to which, they can do this in a manner that is most acceptable to themselves and their particular inclinations. This means that the service provided can be as simple as being directly related to the community at large, or be something that is international in nature, and all things in-between.
People love to talk and admire how free our country is, but freedom, comes with a price attached to it. The freedom that too many of us take for granted, cost this country, blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifice, and this freedom would not have happened without those noble men and women that performed their duties on behalf of not only their generation but for generations to come. The obligation that today's generation has to the past as well as to future generations, is to do and perform the duties and the obligations that one citizen has to its country and to its people. While words may have their place, it is actions that move the world, and a six month obligation to this country, would not only benefit our country and its communities, but will do more to build character, devotion, and appreciation in its citizens, than anything else you might learn in your high school classroom.