Звездный десант

           Violence,nakedforce,hassettledmoreissuesinhistorythanhasanyotherfactor,andthecontraryopinioniswishfulthinkingatitsworst.Breedsthatforgetthisbasictruthhavealwayspaidforitwiththeirlivesandfreedoms."

           Hesighed."Anotheryear,anotherclass—and,forme,anotherfailure.Onecanleadachildtoknowledgebutonecannotmakehimthink."Suddenlyhepointedhisstumpatme."You.Whatisthemoraldifference,ifany,betweenthesoldierandthecivilian?"

           "Thedifference,"Iansweredcarefully,"liesinthefieldofcivicvirtue.Asoldieracceptspersonalresponsibilityforthesafetyofthebodypoliticofwhichheisamember,defendingit,ifneedbe,withhislife.Theciviliandoesnot."

           "Theexactwordsofthebook,"hesaidscornfully."Butdoyouunderstandit?Doyoubelieveit?"

           "Uh,Idon’tknow,sir."

           "Ofcourseyoudon’t!Idoubtifanyofyouherewouldrecognize‘civicvirtue’ifitcameupandbarkedinyourface!"Heglancedathiswatch."Andthatisall,afinalall.Perhapsweshallmeetagainunderhappiercircumstances.Dismissed."

           Graduationrightafterthatandthreedayslatermybirthday,followedinlessthanaweekbyCarl’sbirthday—andIstillhadn’ttoldCarlthatIwasn’tjoiningup.I’msureheassumedthatIwouldnot,butwedidn’tdiscussitoutloud—embarrassing.Isimplyarrangedtomeethimthedayafterhisbirthdayandwewentdowntotherecruitingofficetogether.