The opinions of our society, heavily influence who we are and who allow ourselves to become. Another example of social pressure is seen in the chapter, “Speaking of Courage” by Tim O’Brien. Norman has come back a completely different person, but nothing about where he came from has changed in a way to help him ease back into society. Norman keeps driving and he's thinking about all of the people he wishes he could talk to like his father or Sally, but they're caught up in their own lives and Norman doesn't feel like his issues are important enough to intrude, or that they wouldn't understand. He imagines an entire conversation with his father, whose approval he sought out so desperately in the war, and in their conversation his father would celebrate how courageous Norman was, even though Norman feels like a failure for not winning the Silver Star for …show more content…
The town refuses to hear the horror stories, nonetheless they continue to celebrate America. In the chapter on Bowker's twelfth circulation, the fireworks start to go off. It's Independence Day and there's a huge show celebrating America and its victory in war, shiny lights in the sky like shiny medals on a uniform, but Bowker is still alone, with no one listening to his unspeakable thoughts. Thus he has a hard time coping with his bagage and ends up losing his battle with society. In the article “The Psychological Effects of Vietnam War” expresses the Veteran attitudes toward life at home. As Veterans were constantly surrounded by civilians who cannot relate to what soldiers went through and endured, the Vietnam veterans began to succumb to the beliefs and views of those who did not go to the War. Instead of remaining proud of what they believe in and what they had fought for, the veterans in Born on the 4th of July to gradually weaken in their