A Sense Of Community

摘要

Whoever raises his right hand to take the oath of office as President next January will pledge to uphold the Constitution-and will have already promised to make national service a priority for his Administration. John McCain and Barack Obama have served the nation in different ways, but each man has asserted that national service not only can help solve the country's problems but also can and should be a unifying force for America in the 21st century. McCain's commitment to service is part of a patriotic legacy. The son and grandson of Navy admirals, McCain came close to making the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He has talked again and again about serving a "cause greater than yourself." When Obama graduated from Columbia University, he could have gone on to a prestigious and lucrative corporate career. Instead, he chose to work as a community organizer on the streets of Chicago. Service, he says, "will be a cause of my presidency." Their paths reveal much about the two men. McCain's choice was traditional and honored; Obama's was in some ways unorthodox.