Last week, President Bush set a new agenda for the American people: to serve.

During his State of the Union address, he called on us “to commit at least two years, 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime, to the service of your neighbors and your nation,” and I applaud Bush for pushing a sense of responsibility and an orientation of action toward the American public. However, I cannot be satisfied until a disclaimer is inserted.

Service is a noble and rewarding calling, but it entails a commitment to a great challenge. It should be practiced with the greatest humility: Successful servers don’t have (or provide) answers for those whom they serve. They ask, “What can I do for you?” as opposed to “What can I teach you?”

I spent last year in Kenya, and witnessed an organization collapse after a Peace Corps volunteer left. Having contact with both the corps member and people in the organization, it was obvious everyone meant well. The corps member was so dedicated that an unsustainable dependency relationship resulted.

Despite Bush’s decree that “we have no intention of imposing our culture,” my experience has been that intentions don’t hold water, and often the recipients are the one’s left to repair the leaks. Bush’s semantics of humanitarianism cannot overlook the unforeseen consequences that typically result.

However, God knows our world needs more people to commit themselves to service. Indeed, serve. But do so with a self-critical mind, a humble spirit and a reflective judgement on the larger impact that your service may have.

Spencer Cronk, UW senior