HILLSBORO — At Baylor University in the ’50s, history professors like J.D. Bragg and Guy B. Harrison taught us to seek information from many sources rather than to simply accept the words of one or two historians.

One source that proved educational was military service. Post-college, I fulfilled my military duty. The “draft” was still on, so I joined to get it over.

Afterwards, well-armed with knowledge and life experiences, I taught history for 14 years in secondary schools. (And, no, I did not interject even a hint of my political leanings to any students.)

Reading and studying history, I find it fascinating, exciting and, yes, very depressing at times. For example:

From the earliest recorded history there has been in all cultures, generally blessed by the prevailing religion, a hierarchy of worthiness — always an upper class and an underclass, with some layers of society in between.

In most systems, no one could climb from one socio-economic class to another. The climb was confined to what one could achieve in one’s assigned class, and that was that.

The upper class ordinarily decided when it needed more new conquests, then ordered the requisite invasions, spilling the blood of the underclass in so doing.

True, at least in the time of breast plates and spears, the king, emperor or highest religious officials would lead the troops.

Over the centuries, that evolved into, “Go get ’em... we’re behind you.”

Now many nations, including ours, rely upon a professional military to do the fighting, along with private contractors.

As a result, most young people grow up without experiencing military order and discipline.

Attitudes seem to be “leave the fighting to Rambo.” That necessarily leads to civilians who are spoiled and almost insensitive to the carnage they endorse.

There is a great need to get back to a nation of giving rather than a nation of taking. I’m talking about the draft.

That’s right: Give a couple of years to the nation’s defense or in a service providing hope and education to the lost generations in America (many of which are incarcerated) and the hungry and sick people in all parts of the world.

What if all able-bodied youth (who do not have family obligations) were drafted into service? Those who conscientiously object to fighting in a war would become members of a corps of peacemakers who would go to places in the world and teach basic literacy, agriculture, technology, etc., or they could do most of what noncombat private contractors do currently.

After their tours of duty, they would return to civilian life or they could “re-up” for two more years.

We know that this is unlikely to happen. It would mess up the military industrial complex’s playhouse.

It also likely would prevent some future conflicts. There should be no exemptions for reasons other than for heads of family and mental, emotional or physical limitations that would prevent a person from serving in one area or the other.

A return of the draft would result in an abrupt decline in the “cowboy” mentality manifest in such taunts as “Bring ’em on.” War would fall down the list of priorities in dealing with people we don’t like.

Another very important product of a reinstated draft would be the elimination of many old prejudices, biases and hatreds that have resurfaced recently.

Working together, side by side, in war and in peace-building really improves amalgamation and understanding among the classes.

Harley Johnson is a member of the Board of Contributors, Central Texans who write columns regularly for the Tribune-Herald. He is a retired school superintendent.