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We aren't really asked to do anything by the US government, there are a lot of benefits to joining the military in the US but because we're at war in my opinion they don't outweigh the cons. If America wasn't at war I would be fine with compulsory service but because it is no way should that be a thing. I could honestly see myself enlisting in boot-camp and stuff if I didn't have to sign a contract to actually participate in the "War on Terror". However, if there was a war that had actual justification such as the US being invaded by Russia and we weren't the aggressors I would enlist. If my country and in turn democracy was in serious danger I would enlist in a heartbeat, but I don't see that happening for at least 20 years. I don't have a huge amount of patriotism for the US but I would rather have me and my family live under the US government than most other governments.

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In the US, Americans are not necessarily required to serve unless the circumstances are bad enough that a draft must take place. The draft would go out to all able-bodied men above the age of 18. Now, in terms of what I would do, I think it depends on the scenario. If something directly involving people I know, or my community, then I would definitely serve to defend if that was necessary. For the country, however, I'm not so sure. If the United States was the aggressor, for something that isn't our right to be a part of, I would definitely not participate. But, on the other hand, if a country made the first move against us, I would most likely serve.

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In the United States there is no draft or requirement to serve, but in previous times of war the draft only applied to men, which is still the case to this day. While I do not think there should be a draft unless the lives of those living in the United States are under direct threat, I think that a eligibility for a draft should not be based on gender. If my home was under direct attack, I would like to think that I would voluntarily serve to protect my country. However, I feel that the United States has gotten involved in numerous conflicts it has no right to be a part of, and I do not think anyone should be forced to participate in such a conflict (like the Vietnam War, which many young men were drafted to fight in). I think that while the United States honors veterans with holidays throughout the year, it needs to do a better job helping soldiers who suffer due to their time served, for example those with PTSD or who struggle to find jobs back in the US.

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The Indian Constitution does not describe compulsory conscription; soldiers are enlisted of their own volition having volunteered to serve the nation in military spheres and trained accordingly. While women are still not allowed to serve in infantry and the armoured corps, I would be willing to endure training and serve however possible if my nation calls upon me to do so. The last decades have made strides in women being inducted in combat roles and aid in the navy, aviation, defence etc.
Respect for our soldiers’ role in upholding the security of our country is a sentiment unanimously shared by Indians as the spirit of brotherhood is a core part of Indian morals, while our philosophy also preaches peace. We are sensitized to the brutality of war but simultaneously taught that our penultimate goal is to propagate amity, in our families, in our country, and internationally. The liberty to choose our own career relegates military enrolment as a voluntary service rather than a forced obligation, and allows us to serve the betterment of the nation as our potential dictates, keeping in mind the spirit of democracy.
Our spirit of togetherness lies in our unity. Our struggle for independence in the colonial era rings in the heart of every citizen today, our patriots having paved the way for the privileged life we lead today. Our constitution lists fundamental duties that are not legally enforceable but morally obliged to uphold, ranging from rendering national service, preserving our heritage, to safeguard public property and strive for excellence in both individual and collective spheres. These values are instilled in our moral duty as citizens by aiding the community, promoting unity in diversity, and being mindful of our environment.

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Serving in military is obligatory for boys  , I think military service helps in making strong mentally and physically men to protect our country . Personally , If my country needs me , I'll be ready to serve any time even if I am a girl , I think both genders should protect this country and it's important to keep this country going .
And I see military service as an interesting experience to face the real world and to prevent the danger coming in future .

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As in most of the other countries, in Portugal we are also not required military service. Obviously, there are many who volunteer to serve our country in this regard, but I don't think I could ever be one of them (because I actually don’t want to either).

Personally I think that we, as citizens, should have more concerns, mainly nowadays, with human rights, climate changes, etc. rather than go to the army (but that it’s clearly important, I don't want to devalue them). So I am willing to serve my country by providing community service and by raising my voice on such important issues (climate change, equal rights and opportunities for everyone)

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America does not require military service and there has not been a draft for a long time. Signing up for military service can provide an income and affordable education. Personally, I would not want to serve in the military as a career. I do not believe that I am physically strong enough to serve and I would not want to harm other people or have lasting damage to my mental health. However, if it meant that I could protect the people close to me as a last resort then I would be willing to join the military.

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In America, we are not required to serve in the military. However, all who have served/are currently serving are honored and greatly appreciated. However, in the 20th century, there were drafts into the war and if your name was called, you were required to serve. I do not know much about this topic, but I do know that my grandfather was one of these men who were chosen to serve. Personally, I would not be interested in joining the military because of the risks involved, but much of my family has served. The most obvious of these consequences are death or serious injury, but soldiers experience mental effects as well, for example, PTSD and depression.

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Due to the governmental corruption in Lebanon, citizens aren’t involved with the government and do not have any obligatory services towards their country ( excluding the mandatory services that have appeared because of COIVD-19). However, there are a few unspoken services between the citizens such as keeping the streets clean and helping each other.

Unfortunately, I don't have to imagine what I would do to help my country because of the August 4th explosion. Mainly because after the explosion that occurred, all of the citizens of Lebanon came to Beirut, by choice, and started helping in many ways. For example, NGOs were created to provide support and other things, people opened up their houses and hotels to anyone who needed a shelter, blood was being donated along with food, people were helping each other evacuate the injured, and help the hospitals that were struggling at the time. Furthermore, those who couldn’t participate in those things, due to personal reasons, were spreading necessary information and updates through social media about where blood donations were needed, which hospitals were too full and couldn’t take in more people, and etc.

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Everyone has heard about the catastrophe that befell Beirut in Lebanon, which was hit by eradicating countless homes and more than thousands of people to become homeless. For this reason, NGOs were formed to support deprived families in attaining self-sufficiency. Thus, they started their work in providing devastated families with a temporary residence in the time they are reconstructing their damaged buildings. Moreover, NGO also focused on preparing daily meals to distribute them to those people in dozens of locations in Beirut. Even though they are concentrating on the demolition, they didn't forget to donate people with a surgical mask to protect themselves from the Coronavirus pandemic. Last but not least, NGOs are a massive action that is holding crucial significances on people who serve,  and all of us must work through different forms of service to make our present adequate.

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Here in the Philippines, the people are not required to serve in the military. So when I hear about service, I think of jobs that serve the people and the country  -- other than being part of the military. One way to serve for the country, here, is to work in government sectors. An example that I can think of are students who receive scholarships from the government. After they graduate, they are required to serve in the country for a number of years (may it be in healthcare, etc..) before working abroad, if they want to. In this way, the country will benefit from the service of these individuals.

If I were given the chance to bring change and help improve the government, I would definitely serve for the country.  I could serve in different of ways -- working in government sectors, running a position in becoming a public servant/official, etc. I do think that since it's optional, not many people would opt to serve for the country and I believe that it is important for people to know that even small  change can bring a big positive impact to a community.

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We don’t need to serve in military service like Korea and some countries. If we want, we can serve. As I am a student, I don't need to serve in military service. However, I'm helping my country in other ways like doing volunteer work. Globally, I’m taking part in an Eco bag project from japan. I’ll use an eco bag as ideal because plastic can harm our beautiful environment. Because of plastic, a lot of animals are in danger including marine creatures. Plastic bags often clog drains and water supply because of their illegal disposal. So, we should completely ban the use of plastic bags because they are responsible for many problems like pollution, species extinction, health hazard, excessive waste production, etc. that’s why I take part in an eco bag project. And I’m also participating in global classroom 2020 every Saturday. There are many students and teachers from Japan, Russia, Malaysia, Philippines, India and so on. We used to discuss one topic for a week. By doing this, I got a lot of knowledge and know the situation of the world. And I realize that every country is not perfect and they also have their own problem. Not only that, I’m taking part in a lot of programs and find how to help my country individually. For locally, when I was a high school student, I participated in cleaning teams. I remember that I cleaned the pagoda with my teacher on the full moon day of Thadingyut. These are the things I'm helping my country with.

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Military service is not mandatory for any gender in Nepal. However, it's 

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Military service is not mandatory for any gender in Nepal. However, it's 

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Every male who have reached the age of 18 have to either attend military training or do civil services.
For female it's optional.
Both army and civil service takes almost a year if I remember correctly.
I would prefer not joining the army but yes I would "serve" the country if I had to. I am nationalist and I support the ideology that every individual should do something that benefits the country and it's people

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Maximilian D., Germany, Pfaffenhofen, Bavaria

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Maximilian D., Germany, Pfaffenhofen, Bavaria

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Here in Germany we theoretically have a draft but it has been suspended for a few years now. Back then you either had to serve in the military for a few months or do a civilian service (like having to work in a retirement home). So even though it has been suspened its still part of our constitution and can be reactivated any time and it has actually been brought forward a few times to do so. Generally I am actually not opposed to this, having your population go through basic training is in my opinion good for both their physical health and offers the nation better chances in the case of war. Not to forget that the civilian service would help against the shortage of caregivers in retirement homes that we are experiencing right nows.
Regarding an actual war breaking out I have to say that I feel myself fully obliged to serve if my country calls upon me, especially in the case of a defensive war.
So I guess that in that regard I would be willing to die for my country if necessary.

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When we hear 'serving the country' we immediately think about military services. That's true but serving your country though military isn't the only way to do it. In Poland, serving in the miliary is suspended. That means when you are obligated to military service, you have to appear in your nearest station and register yourself, but there is no war now, so you don't have to fight. You are obligated, when you are a 19 years old men and you aren't sick.  Of course if you are adult woman and you want to register, you can do this.  Actually, serving your country though military isn't the only way to do it(as I told before). The question is what you can do to help your nation (when it is in danger) if you don't want to do military services. Well,  you can be a person who passes the infomation or a doctor in a hospital. You can be a paramedic, who helps people on a battlefield, too. You can just take care of your family and be a patriot. To be honest, i don't really know if I am brave enough to be a soldier. I don't think so, but if I were educated enough, I could be a doctor or paramedic.  When the war's coming everything changes, so it is really hard to predict what you would do. Maybe a lot of people would just escape from their countries to protect their families. I think I could be a volunteer and help my country however I can.

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Gabriela V.R., Boston, Massachussetts, USA

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Gabriela V.R., Boston, Massachussetts, USA

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In the United States, serving in the military is very noble. However, it is not something that is required of the citizens. I fully recognize how amazing it is for people to risk their lives to serve our country, but frankly I don’t think it’s something that I would do. I think that many people aren’t motivated to join the military because there’s a lot of government distrust, and I know many people who only serve because they need access to education which they can’t afford. I think that the Vietnam war is just one example where the US government got into a war unnecessary, costing the lives of many, and I am against war and wouldn’t want to fight in a one I don't believe in. I would only ever serve if I truly believed in the cause strongly and it was putting me and my family in danger. Things like volunteering with community service aren’t required in the US, but that’s something that I do, and will always continue to do because it’s great to help out. However, many people just do it because it’s a school requirement or a part of their requirement for a crime committed, and our school makes it a graduation requirement for us to volunteer.

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In America, military service is not required. You can choose to join the military when you turn 18. When you become an adult you are required to sign up for the selective service system. If something happened to my family, community, or my country I would be willing to protect it. I don't think I would be willing to join the military but I respect and appreciate our troops. If I were to be drafted I would like to have a non combat job. War is not necessary in most cases. The resources used for a war could be spent better elsewhere.

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In the United States, it is not required for you to go through any sort of mandatory military service. At the age of 18, you are allowed to volunteer to join the military. Once you turn 18, you're also required to register for the Selective Service System. This would mean that at any point, if the military were to call up a draft, they would look through the list of people who registered and try to draft them into the military. Personally, I would not volunteer to join the military as both my parents advise against it, and I wish to live out my life here in the United States instead of fighting off in another country. If something were to happen to my family, I would try my best to protect them. I'm not sure if I would decide to serve on behalf of them. I probably wouldn't, as it is likely far more dangerous to be in the military today, but I don't know if my mindset would change as I grow up. It is possible that my views on the military would change enough to where I may be willing to fight for the United States.

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In the United states, military service is not mandatory, and the only time when people will be forced to fight is when there is a draft, although there has not been a draft since the Vietnam War. Now, our army is made up of people who choose to serve, and the nature of warfare has changed so that it is not necessary to have massive numbers of soldiers in order to win wars. I personally wouldn't choose to serve if it meant going to another country and attacking their people, but I would probably be willing to serve if it was only to defend American soil from an invasion. Unfortunately, as a young man who will eventually have to sign up for the Selective Service System, it may not be my choice. Ultimately, I believe it is wrong to force people to fight against and potentially kill other people, so I do not support any form of mandatory service to one's country. If I did have to serve, I would want to be in a position that doesn't require directly engaging in combat, because I would not only fear being injured or killed, but also potential PTSD and depression.

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In the United States, we are not obligated to serve in the military, and legally-required “community service” is most often used as a punishment for crime. Men from ages 18 to 25 (with a few exceptions) are required to register for the draft, but the draft has not been used for decades.

Personally, I am opposed to war as anything but a last resort, and I resent the way politicians and military officials have gotten us into endless wars that don’t achieve anything, misled the public about them, focused recruitment efforts on lower-income people, and glorified violence. But, I have a lot of respect for people who do choose to serve the country, and I see its value. All four of my great-grandfathers and some other relatives served in the military. I do not think I would join the military in war unless I was absolutely convinced that the cause was urgent and necessary. Out of any branch, I think I would be most likely to join the National Guard because it can be used for the benefit of Americans in situations such as natural disasters.

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In the United States, we are not required to serve in the military, but people can volunteer to serve if they so choose. I am not considering joining the military after college because I believe I am better suited for other careers, especially considering how dangerous the military is for women. At least 25% of women serving in the U.S. military have been sexually assaulted, and there are many other ways to serve my country that wouldn’t be as dangerous in that way. Like others have stated, being in the military can also be extremely detrimental to one’s physical and mental wellbeing. While I respect the sacrifice of those who do choose to serve, I think the only way that I would join the military is if my family or the people I love were in danger, and my volunteering would help them. I do not think that my life is worth more than all of theirs, so if I could protect them by serving, then I would do it.

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As others have said, it is not required to serve in the military. Many men from the ages of 18-25 are required to register in case of an emergency where men for a military were needed to be found. I personally not join in the military. I do not believe in many causes of war, and also believe, after watching a documentary of how the government hiding the fact they knew they were going to lose in the Vietnamese war but still sent men to die there, believe that the government is hiding from it's people. In any case of war, I would try and protect my friends and family, as well as other civilians, but this does not mean I would go to war. I never want to kill someone. War causes death for so many innocent civilians, and I would never want to add to that in any way.

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In the United States, we are not required to serve in the military. It is mainly on a volunteer basis, although most men 18-25 are required to register in the “Selective Service System,” which would allow the government to quickly find people for the military if there was a sudden need. Despite our current President making remarks that discredit those in the military, I feel that, overall, American civilians have a deep respect for the sacrifices of those currently, or previously in the military. I don’t think I would join the military for the same reason that many others stated, because I wouldn’t want to support hurting other people. Although, if my family was in danger or if America has a shortage of military personnel, I would consider joining the military in a role outside of combat, because I agree with the notion that there are countless other ways to contribute to our country. Merely having an occupation that helps others, such as a teacher or doctor, contributes to the well-being of America by advancing the education and health of its people. As to responsibilities that all Americans are obligated to do, the only ones that are punishable when ignored are obeying laws, taxes, jury duty, etc. I believe obligations as citizens also include voting, volunteering, etc., but those are merely encouraged.

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In the Unites States, military service is voluntary and not required. All male citizens ages 18-26 are required to sign up for the Selective Service System, which is used to draft people for war, but the last draft was back in 1973. I respect the people who are willing to serve on the military, however, I’m not willing to serve on behalf on my country. I agree with Leah that being a soldier can negatively impact the person’s health both physically and mentally. And I’m willing to help in the medical department or to help provide resources for soldiers, but I can’t even kill an insect let alone having to murder someone else in the battlefield. I think that there are other ways to fulfill my portion of the civic obligations and responsibilities such as paying taxes, voting, following the laws, and actively pushing for change through nonviolent protests. Even though I don’t support violence, if something were to happen to my family, then I will be willing to serve to protect my family.

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In terms of service, like many others have stated,  the United States does not require service in the military. However, many do volunteer their service for various reasons like the benefits that are provided, the money, or because they truly want to serve the country. I think that the military is often seen as the "backup" or "safety" path, ironically enough for many young adults who cannot afford to attend higher education at that time. As for myself, assuming that I would physically be in good enough condition, I would only be willing to join the military if there was a cause that I had a strong enough belief in (such as if it affected the people around me like my family and friends) .I would not fight and risk my life for something that I did not stand behind in any scenario, even if I needed the money, I would try to find an alternative job or option. If I was fighting for something that I believed in, and I happened to die or be captured as a prisoner, I would be more content than if I had fought without good cause. That being said, I think it is definitely easier said than done to put yourself through physical and mental strain, but hypothetically speaking there would need to be some extreme influence or issue for me to put myself in that position.

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In America, we are not required to serve in the military and you only go into the military if you are willing to or volunteer to. However it is greatly appreciated if you do serve. I don't think i would choose to serve because i agree with Esli, i generally don't support or encourage violence really, but i do have so much respect for the people that do serve for their country and put their lives on the line. Both of my parents were in the Navy after college and they've told me a little bit about their experiences in the navy.

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Nina A. Skopje, Macedonia          Here in Macedonia we are not required to serve in the military. People that are in the military, volunteer to serve our country. Personally, I would not serve in the military , cause I don't think I am enough focused and strong for that. The trainings and the preparing's in the military are scaring me too and I think I would not endure it. Also military service can affect my physical and mental health. I don't want to work that job cause I don't want to die in a war or something. If it ever comes to money I would rather work through night than risking my own life. 

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Nina A. Skopje, Macedonia          Here in Macedonia we are not required to serve in the military. People that are in the military, volunteer to serve our country. Personally, I would not serve in the military , cause I don't think I am enough focused and strong for that. The trainings and the preparing's in the military are scaring me too and I think I would not endure it. Also military service can affect my physical and mental health. I don't want to work that job cause I don't want to die in a war or something. If it ever comes to money I would rather work through night than risking my own life. 

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In the United States the draft ended a long time ago, and we are not required to serve in the military. Personally, I would not choose to join the military. Generally I don’t support violence, and as Leah mentioned, serving in the military often has negative effects on one's health. However those who choose to serve should be shown respect for the sacrifices that they have made. In the event that something happened to our country, I still do not think I would choose to join the military. I really liked how Sophie said “there are many other ways to serve your country.” There are other things that can be done to improve our country, and other ways to help that don’t involve fighting and violence.

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In America, drafts for the military have been stopped for decades, to military service is voluntary. Many go to various military academies after high school to get a quality education for free and then enlist in the military to have an income right after the academy to support their family. Others believe that their purpose is to serve as they may have veterans in their family.
I would not serve in the military even if something happened. Military service is very detrimental to mental and physical health. I wouldn't want any trauma like that impeding me creating and maintaining my own family. If money is needed, I would rather get a second or third job and not sleep than serve. I also don't believe that war, violence, and the USA getting involved in foreign conflicts is right.
Still, I have the utmost respect for those who serve, for they sacrifice an amount beyond imaginable for many of us.

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Here in America we are not required to serve in the military. It is greatly appreciated if you do but, it is recognized that their are many other ways to serve your country. Personally, I would serve in the military. In the military I would serve as an analyst or a medical professional. I think it would fulfill my spirit of giving back to people. For the people who are closest to me, and who I love the most I would do anything. I also believe in helping those who can't help themselves, and so if it came down to it I would serve for them. Serving in the military is not my first choice career path because it does come with a lot of downfalls. You are fr from family at points, in very dangerous situations, and many soldiers experience severe PTSD post-war. I think my spirit of helping people can be fulfilled in others ways but, this is definitely an option. As Tiffany said being a responsible, engaged and respectful citizen is doing something great for your country and community. But then again I do not think that war is the solution to peace so, I don't know if I would want to perpetuate the system that promotes killing. The more I think about it I would not serve in the military if it was my choice but, if it was for my loved ones, or others who need it I would.

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In America, we are not required to be drafted into the military. Soldiers who are part of the military, volunteer to serve our country. In exchange for entry in the military, some join to get access to college and other opportunities. Personally, I would not serve in the military because I do not think that I have what it takes to be a soldier. A soldier has to be strong, focused, and want to put their lives on the line for the citizens of this country. I have also seen a lot of movies and commercials about life in the military, and the thought of me in their shoes is something I can never imagine myself doing.
I do not know anyone personally that has served for the US, but I can think of others way of serving my country that isn't the military. I think by being a good citizen and abiding by the laws, you are serving your community and your country by being a respectable citizen. I honestly do not think that I would ever join the military, under any circumstances. Nevertheless, soldiers who are committed to serving, deserve respect and deserve praise for sacrificing their life to serve for the greater good.

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In America service is voluntary, and the draft was ended decades ago. I agree with Esli, I would not join the army because I generally do not support that type of violence. Being in the military is extremely physically and emotionally taxing, something that I don't think I could endure. I also think that war ends up doing more harm than good, and is often over conflicts that I believe could be solved in other ways. My grandfather served in the Navy, navigating submarines/underwater missiles during the Vietnam war, and many of my other family members have served. However, the military is not a big part of my immediate family's life, and not much emphasis has been put on it in my lifetime. However, I do have great respect for those who devote their lives to the US, and I admire those who were strong enough to do so. I think Sophie made an amazing point that there are other ways to serve your country, such as caring for the environment, being involved in social justice, and fighting for reform, all of which push for the betterment of our country.

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Bolivian constitution demands a single-year mandatory military service for men between 17 and 19 years old, even though women are not forced to do it many volunteer. Nevertheless, skipping it is quite common despite the importance of the certification of military service document to work in a public institution, for example. I personally believe military service and patriotism, in this specific sense, are merely a disguise to hide political and economic whims of a few powerful people in each country, along the human history, an outstanding percentage of wars can be considered profit-driven campaigns. By demanding military service, the only thing governments are doing is threatening other countries just to give a useless display of military power. If we take pride on being the only civilized, most rational species, why do we resort to the most savage, animalistic way of solving problems? Why do we appeal to large scale conflict if we are so familiar to the dire consequences it bestows upon us? Conflict is inexorable, but in our modern world, problems do not need to be solved with a “who-loses-the-least “game if diplomacy and dialogue are an option. To sum up, I would not be willing to fight other human beings in the name of greed.

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Military service in the United States isn’t required but is instead voluntary. Personally, I wouldn’t serve in the military and I don’t think I would be a good choice either because being in the military requires a lot of training that would be extremely physically and mentally draining and my body would collapse at that. I respect everyone that volunteers to protect and serve the country on the frontline because that’s the courage that a lot of average citizens don’t have and everyone should respect who are going to serve and those who have already served. Occasionally I would see videos and news of people disrespecting veterans and it’s insane that there are people who feel so entitled to the protection of others and see themselves as the one having more value. I hope that the day never comes when I will be needed in the military and I hope that there would be less conflicts and wars in the world so less people have to suffer.

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In America, you are not required to serve in the military, you only go into the military if you are willing. Personally, I wouldn't want to serve in the military because that's just not me but I envy the people that serve for their country and put their lives on the line. My great-uncle died in World War 2 so service is a big thing in my family. But that also makes me scared because I don't want to go die because I don't think serving in the military is what I'm suppose to do in life. I feel like if their was a war going on and I really had to serve then that's what I have to do, I honestly haven't thought about it in depth.