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March 29, 2024 7:52 am
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No One Asked Me But…

by Dr. Larry Moses


No one asked me but…A week or so ago an article appeared on the front page of the Las Vegas Sun. Remember that is the once proud paper that competed with the Las Vegas Review Journal, but is now a mere section of the R.J. According to this article, the Clark County School District (CCSD) has issued a new in-house report card. In this report, the CCSD has listed postgraduate goals for its students. By 2009, the district wants to increase the percentage of students attending two and four year post secondary educational institutions. They also wish to increase the number entering the workforce. According to the article, the school district will attempt to increase the percent of students choosing to enter the military, from three percent to seven percent.

Upon reading this report, Mr. Gary Peck, executive director of the Nevada American Civil Liberties Union, informed the Clark County School District that the ACLU had fought long and hard to minimize military access to public school. Therefore, he is troubled that the district had set a goal to raise the percentage of students enlisting in the military. At this point, the district began to back pedal like a defensive back chasing Randy Moss. While I find myself amazed at the stand the ACLU takes on many issues; I am sure Mr. Peck sincerely believes he is defending the principles of America, if only he understood the same is true of the American military.

According to this news article, Lauren Kohut-Rost, CCSD Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, stated the intent of the goals in the report was to measure the post secondary activity of district students, not to advocate for the military. Her statements included the following: “What we would like to do is increase the percentage of seniors who have a plan beyond 12th grade. That’s what this is really about.”

The article further stated that the President of the Clark County School Board, Mrs. Ruth Johnson, indicated that she did not understand this part of the report and felt it should be rewritten. She stated, “the district has never done anything to promote military involvement.”

Mr. Peck, Ms. Kohut-Rost, and Mrs. Johnson might keep in mind that if it were not for highly dedicated military people; they would not have the privilege of objecting to a program that might encourage youngsters to feel it would be an honor to serve in their country’s military. Many Americans have dedicated their lives to a career in the military so people like Mr. Peck could be alarmed by the fact that someone might enlighten the students to the advantages of a military career.

I personally feel there is very little a person can do that is more important than serve his country. While the ACLU may protest this goal, I for one support the efforts of anyone who encourages young people to step up and become a part of the front line of defense for America. In a nation where all citizens make up the militia and are ultimately the last line of defense of liberty, there would be little harm if all Americans had a little military training before they move into their chosen fields of endeavor.

Mr. Peck might remember that his defense of liberty in this country’s courts would be of little value if it were not for the defense of liberty of those brave men who have forgone more lucrative vocations and dedicated themselves to our military establishments. Are the students of Clark County School District whose parents have chosen a career in the military to be ashamed of that choice? Why should the district be more inclined to support a student in his pursuit of a law degree than a career in the military? Should men like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas McArthur, Sgt. Dan Dailey, Chesty Puller and the list could go on forever, be ashamed of their chosen profession?

I find it repugnant and insulting to suggest that there is something wrong with encouraging young people to become a part of the American military. Some of my most important lessons of life were learned as a member of the United States Marine Corps. However, once I married I found that the sacrifices of low pay, inconvenient hours and the constant moving from station to station were no longer the life I desired. I have nothing but the utmost respect and gratitude for those who chose to make a career out of protecting me and my family.

Sometimes groups like the ACLU are allowed to bully our government officials because they are the only voice they hear. If the CCSD leadership is feeling pressure from the ACLU, maybe it is time for the American Legion, The Veteran of Foreign Wars, and the local military leaders to step forward and voice their support for the goal established by the District. Maybe it would not be so bad if we raised the goal of graduating seniors entering the military to an even greater number than seven percent.

No one asked me but…The method for selecting the President of the United States is somewhat akin to magic. The Electoral College is strange enough but we have added the caucus process. As I watch the candidates on television, I have to continually remind myself what is going on now is not really a presidential selection process; it is a candidential selection process (I don’t believe there is such a word as candidential but I think there should be so I made the word up). All this fuss is really about narrowing the field to two major candidates. Did you ever wonder why we are given fifty choices for Miss America and only two serious choices for the presidency of the United States?

There is nothing in the Constitution to tell us how to select candidates for the highest office in our land. Primaries and caucus are an outgrowth of the party system of which President George Washington warned early Americans. President Washington’s farewell address contained a discussion of the threat posed to the country by factionalism, or by the “spirit of party.” Washington warned specifically of the destructive potential of parties or causes that “now and then answer popular ends, but that over time, can become potent engines by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government.” I remember George from my government class. He always was a smart fellow.

However, very quickly, Americans ignored the warnings of their first president and political parties were formed. James Madison, a little short guy who later became President, defined a faction (party) in Federalist 10, as a group of citizens “united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” The Federalists and Anti-federalist appeared as rudimentary beginnings of parties almost as soon as President Washington hopped on his horse and headed for Mount Vernon. The refinement of parties took place over the years and evolved into what we now have, a two party system. There is little hope that a viable third party will ever offer an effective challenge to the two established parties. We have reached a point where there is no chance for a person without a party affiliation ever being considered a serious candidate for the Presidency.

This brings me to the issue of the caucus as a method for selecting a candidate to represent a party. The caucus is not new; in fact, it was the accepted way for parties to select their candidates prior to the turn of the 20th Century. Then some silly party members thought it would be more democratic to include more people in the selection of a party candidate with the use of the primary. Up until this year, Nevada has been a primary state. Nevada has never before held a wide-scale candidential (there’s that new word again) caucus.

I thought I would take it upon myself to explain the caucus process but then I regained my sanity. I decided to leave the explanation to my more politically learned colleagues on the editorial staff of the Progress. After spending a number of days researching how the caucus is to be run, I believe the selection process is really just magic. I recall an episode of one of my favorite television programs of a few years back–Get Smart. Secret Agent Maxwell Smart was trying to explain how a copy machine worked to a Middle Eastern tribal leader. That was back when a copy machine was the newest thing in technology. He began in great technological detail and moved to lesser technical explanations each time asking if the tribesman understood and each time the tribesman said no. Finally, Maxwell said it is magic. The tribesman replied “Ah, that I understand.” I have come to the conclusion that the candidential (that word has now been used enough that it must be acceptable) process in American politics is magic. And to that I say “Ah, that I understand.”

Thought for the week…”The Republic was not established by cowards and cowards will not preserve it” (Elmer Davis)

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