On a side note, I’m very excited about the possibilities for properly run State Guards—hereafter referred to as SDF (State Defense Forces). There is a growing need for organized bodies of citizens to conduct civil defense missions. Our highly mobile and urbanized citizenry is losing touch with the spirit of cooperation and self-reliance that marked our forebears. More widespread involvement in civil defense could go a long way towards addressing a number of our ills, disaster response being only one among them.
I’ll discuss one beneficial side effect. For those of you who have teens or who work with teens, you are probably aware that we do a horrible job of giving our teens positive outlets for building their self-esteem and associating with other adults in a fashion that enables them to practice being adults, not just big kids. Maybe it’s different outside the US. Here, teens have limited opportunities to build their self-esteem before they turn 18. Athletics are fine, but what happens when you don’t make the team? What happens when you do something that is viewed with mild scorn, like art or music? Let’s not even go into whether getting good grades genuinely builds self-esteem for teenaged boys.
No, boys in particular need accomplishments to build their self-esteem. No amount of fakery and patting on the head will suffice. Getting an A is fine, but it’s not a real accomplishment of the manly sort. Participating as an auxiliary in the local SDF unit—now there’s something to be pointed to. Learning a little bit of D&C, some first aid, some civil defense—earning a ribbon to be worn on a set of BDUs… Of course, there are the Scouts, and I’m all in favor of the Scouts. They’re dying out, though. Something needs to replace them. A teen who for whatever reason isn’t on the football team can do something worthy of regard as an SDF auxiliary.
Enough of my political machinations.
Webstral
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