Bush pushes collectivist "service". (Insider Report).

"As September 11th approaches, difficult memories of planes and buildings will resurface," declared President Bush in his August 31st national radio address. "But so will images of brave individuals coming to the aid of neighbors in need." Invoking the "spirit of courage and selflessness [that showed] the world why our nation is the greatest force for good in history," Mr. Bush urged Americans "to honor the memory of those lost by serving others." Toward that end, the president extolled his initiatives for federally supervised "national service," which (in the words of a White House press release) are intended to cultivate "habits of volunteerism and civic participation."

For many Americans, the most prominent memories of Black Tuesday are those of brave men who ran toward danger -- New York policemen and firemen, and the incomparable heroes of United Flight 93, who rushed the cockpit of their hijacked airliner in a desperate counterattack. On that terrible morning, when our federal government failed to carry out its definitive function -- protecting our citizens from foreign aggression -- state and local officials and private citizens answered the dreadful call to service, saving as many of their fellow citizens as they could. Somehow these heroes developed their courage and character without the dubious benefit of "national service" initiatives.

Those glorious deeds should inspire Americans to do everything possible to restore our republic's institutions, ensuring that our nation will always be worthy of her heroes.