On Being Called To Service

I was always relieved that girls weren't in jeopardy of being drafted into the military. Life was changing so fast in the 1960s and 1970s, and very few people seemed to appreciate the public service of those dedicated guys. Those who went into the military were often considered out of step and, therefore, far behind in social and employment status.

I look at it quite differently today. I'm not in favor of a military draft, but I believe that people who do not serve our country in some capacity are those who will be left behind and out of step.

Economy aside, there is such a feeling of optimism about our government taking a much more positive direction and President-Elect Obama's calls to public service. It's funny to hear terms like WPA and CCC -- acronyms for Works Progress Association and Civilian Conservation Corps -- that we've rarely heard since we read about them in history textbooks.

I was delighted to hear about the Huffington Post's own call to action to serve. I'm in.

I plan to combine two of my passions to add to my existing public service work. I am a Commissioner for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, charged with making our 400+ parks the best places with a variety of programs for millions of local residents.

And, as a first-time author, just weeks away from my autobiography being published, I've been learning a lot about the state of publishing, literacy programs, library priorities and the changes relating to books. My plan is to work with reading programs as my first venture as my newest public service commitment.

Take the Facebook Pledge

Join Candy Spelling in her pledge to improve public parks and to work with public reading programs to improve literacy.

Thanks for the added inspiration, Arianna. Hope no one is left behind.

Comments

[commonsensor]

What is up with the uber-rich and their literacy programs? With all the first ladies, rich executives wives, mommy-movie stars investing all their time and money into these fabulous ltieracy programs one would think we would have the highest "literacy" rate in the world.

Specifics on these programs please???

[Theda]

As a resident of Los Angeles, I'm glad Candy Spelling is contributing to both literacy and the preservation of our 400 parks.
When someone really IS involved in a worthy cause, as Candy is, there's no need for sarcasm or insults.

[maxfax]

There is a huge decrepancy in the numbers regarding illiteracy, it is not as high as some of the former "first ladies" would have you believe, but such issues are less controversial, and would not challenge any of their husbands' policies or focus.

But you make a valid point, there are so many more serious problems like lack of healthcare for the poor, working poor, and no real mental healthcare any longer.

And all the diseases, heart, lung, cancer are just a few that deserve attention.

[maxfax]

My comment was for "commonsensor."

[Veeinncyberspace]

It's an interesting time right now. Optimism facing into an economist collapse, all riding on the hope that Obama can bring about this change we have all heard about for so long.
Public service or service to the Nation in the military means many things to different peoples. From stopping the war machine to the defense of the Fatherland.
Seems to me that it is not social progress that we send our daughters into war in addition to our sons. I would have hoped that in the last 40 years we would have been sending many less Americans into wars around the world. that would have been progress to me.
I support the National service of Citizens within the borders of our Country. It's when we leave our shores that has always seemed to be the problem for ourselves and the world.

[gojo]

The draft is only implimented by our elected leaders when it is for the greater good of our nation whether you agree with our leaders or not. You can always become a conscientious objector but what would happen if we all felt that way? Would war end? No. If you could prevent one country from murdering hundreds of thousands would you volunteer? What makes you think that you know more about what is going on elswhere in the world then our elected leaders do? Yes, sometimes they make the wrong decisions about a situation and we get ino trouble. Mr. Obama will be no different.

[tonygumbrell]

War is good business. Invest your son (strike that) daughter.

[msoverall]

You people are a mess, if she said nothing she'd be wrong, she says something and she's wrong. Before we start mocking people, we should ask ourselves: What am I planning to do, be a part of the solution or keep being a whining, complaining ,back biting part of the problem.

[GodfatherofSoul]

I always find it funny how people come to this conclusion AFTER they're past the likely draft age.

[maxfax]

Laudable efforts, be sure to invite your daughter.

[disjectamembra]

my earlier comment seems to have come detached from the comment it was a reply to...these computers caqn be so confusing...it was a response to a comment about people giving before taking and maturity levels

[disjectamembra]

i'd like to agree with you, and i agree with many in dissent. since clinton with his book about giving i have been leery of this new emphasis' real intent. it seems to be asking alot of american people who are mostly giving alot right now. i guess i am not happy with the national dialogue when it comes to matters about government and ethics, economics and poverty, to feel what all these authers are saying. i get the argument though that somehow we are each responsible for the state we are in. when we are forced into cities or by choice we can still be civil and live by our greater knowledge. but i do not feel those responsible have really owned up to the mess our country is in.

i also agree that service must mean more than just serving in the military.

[Pdubya]

Thanks for your laudible efforts, but how will they be paid?

[acecat]

Some very nice sentiments, Candy. But, your ideas might sound more sincere if you also offered to use some of your substantial personal worth to help people outside the Los Angeles area. I'll just bet you might be able to locate something that interests you...or not. Honestly, I think you're a load of nonsense that couldn't care less about anything or anyone but yourself--hence, your plug for your new book. But I have to give you some credit--I don't know of many so shameless as to attempt to use something as selfless as the idea of serving your country to increase their cash flow. Take your phony smile elsewhere Candy--no one cares what you have to say.

[disjectamembra]

purr...

[acecat]

Purr...WTH??

[KellenER]

It's actually the Work(s) Progress ADMINISTRATION, but yeah I appreciate the sentiment.

[provgrays]

Service means more than being in the military and it has been a very long time since our military was involved in a war of necessity instead of a conflict of choice. If there was a draft today and I was young enough, I would have refused to assist in the destruction of a foreign country that had never posed any threat to us. Had I been around during World War Two, I would have recognized the necessity of ending tyranny in Europe and I would have served.

People are not robots and should not take up arms for their country without good reason. Individuals have to make moral choices and governments very seldom deal in those. The last eight years are only the most recent example.

Service is doing what you are able to do if your conscience moves you to do it. Soldiers are government property and they check their free will when they are sworn in.

[scoochman]

Wow, parks programs, you say. I hope you don't break a nail, Candy.

This rich rhymes with wit ch is typical of the super-wealthy patrons we had when I worked for a Symphony in a major American city. Their "volunteering" consisted of showing other patrons to their seats during a performance and stuffing envelopes for the annual beg-a-thon. This is what the rich consider volunteering for a good cause. You won't find Spelling or anyone named Madoff doing outreach for gangs or feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving or building a poor person a house with Habitat for Humanity. And guaranteed the moment her daughter or son got drafted, she's pull out every penny in her late husband's wallet to stop it somehow.

[Raybee]

I don't think she would try to protect her children, you do remember Tory Spelling don't you, left out of daddys will so Candy took the whole thing. Not very gratious of her not to share.

[MikeDu]

You do know, don't you, that "serving your country" is not necessarily a synonym for wearing camou and killing strangers for our political masters. Sometimes serving our country is NOT doing that. That woman soldier in Iraq who elected to take her own life rather than follow orders to torture prisoners served her country too.