Iraq and Turning 18

Iraq and Turning 18 October 8, 2006

I have a beautiful and smart son whose eighteenth birthday

just happens to be today.  In the midst
of all the normal hoopla in our family as we celebrate this milestone I was
jolted last week when his registration card from the Selective Service came in
the mail.

I have a beautiful and smart son whose eighteenth birthday
just happens to be today.  In the midst
of all the normal hoopla in our family as we celebrate this milestone I was
jolted last week when his registration card from the Selective Service came in
the mail.  About thirty one years ago on
my eighteenth birthday I had to travel to “downtown” Paducah,
Kentucky to register with the draft board
at the Post Office.  The draft had
actually stopped and as it turned out my high school class was the last one that
had to sign up.  But Mr. Ford and Mr.
Kissinger were still taking names just in case. 
I remember how lonely it felt signing up for a war I had severe doubts
about but I pretty much kept my misgivings to myself.

 

Paul and I have talked a lot about the just war ethic in the
last four years.  (That’s the downside to
having a father who teaches Christian Ethics). 
But he is quite capable of telling the world what he thinks about Iraq
without his father’s help.  I hope he
doesn’t feel the isolation I felt when I turned eighteen. 

 

I happen to think that for many voters today the Iraq
war remains the most troubling national issue as we head into the mid-term
election.   For those of us with eighteen
year old men in our houses we are especially anxious.  As some American soldiers are now facing
their third and fourth deployments the toll is becoming unbearable.  The policy discussion needs to move from
whether or not to get out to when and how to get out of Iraq.  In coming weeks I hope to write reflections on
three of the more important recent books on Iraq and what they say to us.  In the meantime, happy birthday to you
Paul.  Say a prayer for all the eighteen
year olds out there as well as the soldiers in the field.   


Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!