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On aging and maturity
Mar. 23rd, 2003 02:31 pmSo, as I start this post, I am anywhere between eight and ten hours from turning eighteen, depending on whether you go by exact time or just calendar date. (By the time the date where I am becomes tomorrow, the date of birth printed on my birth certificate, I'll be 18 and two hours.) I've never made much of a fuss out of my birthday, and I don't plan to this year, but there are several things that I have to do that I haven't in previous years.
1. Register for the draft. I don't know the penalty if I don't, and given that I don't expect the current war to go nearly to the level of requiring a draft, it's not worth the trouble if I don't. Those who paralell the current war to Vietnam are missing the small detail that American forces actually have clear and visible goals. There are specific cities and objectives to take, not just phantom forces. Also, the deserts aren't as suited as the jungles are to the style of guerilla warfare that made Vietnam so grueling. Iraq's mythical bioweapons aren't a defense - they are a suicide. They won't make the war last any longer, only make the survivors suffer.
2. Register to vote. Since there won't be any major elections until November of next year, this can wait until I get home this summer. Even after that, I'll be a thousand miles away from my designated voting district - the classic apathetic/uninformed voter. Expect my contribution to democratic government to be little.
3. Renew my driver's license. Again, too much hassle to do anytime before I get home.
4. Get showered.
Other than that, it's just another day, another year. I certainly don't feel any older.
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1. Register for the draft. I don't know the penalty if I don't, and given that I don't expect the current war to go nearly to the level of requiring a draft, it's not worth the trouble if I don't. Those who paralell the current war to Vietnam are missing the small detail that American forces actually have clear and visible goals. There are specific cities and objectives to take, not just phantom forces. Also, the deserts aren't as suited as the jungles are to the style of guerilla warfare that made Vietnam so grueling. Iraq's mythical bioweapons aren't a defense - they are a suicide. They won't make the war last any longer, only make the survivors suffer.
2. Register to vote. Since there won't be any major elections until November of next year, this can wait until I get home this summer. Even after that, I'll be a thousand miles away from my designated voting district - the classic apathetic/uninformed voter. Expect my contribution to democratic government to be little.
3. Renew my driver's license. Again, too much hassle to do anytime before I get home.
4. Get showered.
Other than that, it's just another day, another year. I certainly don't feel any older.
click
