Vietnam War And Beliefs In Draft Resisters Many Years Later

The Vietnam War explored the ideas of patriotism and personal beliefs. It was a tumultuous time in American History and caused division among the American people as many questioned the purpose of the war and it led to distrust in government decisions. The war had a huge impact on soldiers who fought in the war, as well as their families. Some men opposed the war but felt pressured to fight and these men were seen as courageous in the eyes of society while the men who deserted the draft were labeled as cowards. However, by looking into both sides it becomes evident that both the men who fought the war and the men who stood by their personal convictions by taking a stand against the draft demonstrated courage.

A war isn’t something everyone

One has to give up a lot to be a part of the war, and the same goes for anyone who wants to resist the war. The video “Draft Resisters Many Years Later” shows men who dodged the draft and their opinions on the topic. The men explain how they have no regrets in their actions. One said “When your own ethics dictate that you separate yourself from your friends and family, that's not cowardice, that's standing up for what you believe in,” (Imber 1.10 - 1.18). This goes to show that instead of just giving in, they fought for themselves and left their lives behind and started over. This shows boldness on their end as they’re prioritizing their own morals while also giving up a part of their lives. Another video “A Vietnam Vet.” William Ehrhardt talks about his experience serving in Vietnam. He explained how he didn’t fully understand what he was getting himself into, and after a couple weeks of being there he realized that it was a lot worse

The book “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien, shows the lives of men in his platoon and their stories and experiences of the war. O’Brien, a soldier himself, had a difficult time coming to a decision about the war. Although he opposed the war, he decided to comply with the draft and went to fight in Vietnam anyways. His reason behind joining the war stemmed from embarrassment he would have received from others when he wrote “They carried the soldier's greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing. Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. It was what brought them to the war in the first place, nothing positive, no dreams of glory or honor, just to avoid the blush of dishonor. They died so as not to die of embarrassment.” (O’Brien 20). This quote could be interpreted as cowardice as it explains that men go to war so they are not looked down upon. However, the quote acknowledged that being perceived as cowardly and weak was a soldier's greatest fear, not the actual dangers and death that come with war. While still being aware of the burden of a war, the soldiers take part in combat and face panics of the war. It reveals the courage they have to face a dangerous situation. Although it may seem selfish that the soldiers are willing to die rather than feel ashamed, it shows the sacrifices they are willing to make. The soldiers show their bravery by going through the hardships