Caleb Campbell Criticized for Leaving West Point for NFL While Classmates Go to Iraq

In the seventh round of last month's NFL draft, the Detroit Lions selected Caleb Campbell, a safety who played college football at Army. And thanks to a new U.S. military policy, Campbell will get to play in the NFL, assuming he makes the Lions' roster, while his West Point classmates have to serve active duty, many of them in Iraq.

In a profile in the Boston Globe, Campbell talks about the harsh criticism he has faced from people who think he's doing the wrong thing by going to the NFL instead of serving on active duty:

"The worst was a handwritten letter," says Campbell, a native of Perryton, Texas. "It said, 'Please don't do this. How can you look your classmates in the eyes when they are serving their country and going to Iraq and you're taking the easier way out?' That hit me . . . But I'd be a fool not to take advantage of this opportunity."

I disagree with anyone who suggests that Campbell shouldn't be able to look his classmates in the eye. But I also disagree with Campbell when he says he'd be a fool not to take the opportunity. By that rationale, Pat Tillman is a fool. I certainly hope Campbell isn't suggesting that.

The bottom line, though, is that the Army decided to make this choice available to Campbell. How many people wouldn't do what he's doing if they were in his shoes?