City Council Member Charles Barron has moved from being just foolish to being both foolish and unpatriotic. The former Black Panther, whose past blunders include hosting at City Hall Zimbabwe’s tyrant, Robert Mugabe, and seeking clemency for a convicted cop killer, is now trying to pass legislation banning military recruiters from public schools and colleges. He claims the military is “taking advantage” and “preying” on black and Hispanic students by recruiting them.

It’s surprising to hear anyone, let alone an elected official, describe Americans serving their country as being taken advantage of. We’d describe it as one of the greatest careers any citizen can embark on, echoing the famous words of a Revolutionary War captain, Nathan Hale, who said just before being executed by the British, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

If Mr. Barron doesn’t believe that serving one’s country is an honor and not a trick, let him have a chat with Corporal Charles Grant – one of the black youngsters Mr. Barron thinks is being taken advantage of by the military. Corporal Grant, aged 22, told The New York Sun he joined the military when recruiters came to his high school in the Bronx, Adlai E. Stevenson, four years ago. He’s part of the 82nd Airborne Division, served both in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and received Army commendation medals in both wars.

In response to Mr. Barron’s view that he had been taken “advantage of,” Corporal Grant described his military career to The New York Sun as “actually an advantage for me,” providing him with “mental, physical, and financial stability” while many of his high school peers fell on hard times. More importantly, he was proud to be of “service to the country” and “part of something great,” “providing a blanket of comfort for the next generation.” Corporal Grant, in his wisdom, values his military career so highly that he persuaded his older brother, Gary, to join the military a few months ago, and his brother is set to graduate from his Army training program today.

On top of all this, Mr. Barron’s legislation contravenes the No Child Left Behind Act. This is the federal law that requires any school or college that receives federal dollars to give the military the same recruiting rights as other potential employers.

The president of Manhattan, C. Virginia Fields, a Democratic mayoral candidate, said she supports Mr. Barron’s legislation. The council speaker, Gifford Miller, and Rep. Anthony Weiner, who are also running for mayor, said they were against the proposal, as did Mayor Bloomberg. New Yorkers are proud of the military heroes they’ve produced, from Colin Powell to those like the Grant brothers now serving their country. It’s a shame some of today’s politicians don’t feel the same.