While watching the movie “Born on the Fourth of July” in class, Ron Kovic, while in high school, said that he was willing to die for his country in Vietnam. “That lack of comprehension for his own mortality is what makes him a great soldier,” (as Mrs. Logan said), that he is willing to do anything. It isn’t until after he returns home, paralyzed, that his views on the war change. He becomes an anti-war protestor, but is still just as patriotic as ever. It takes an incredibly strong person to fight in a war, risking their lives for their country, and they should be seen as just that; however, it takes an even stronger person to be able to speak out against war, to say that we can “fight communism” without guns. This should not take away from the bravery of soldiers; we should be supporting our soldiers in Iraq right now, by bringing them home. When he demands to his parents that he will die for his country if he needs to, it seems melodramatic and childish, but that may be necessary. If a soldier didn’t demand that they were willing to die for their country, for what they think is right, we would have no military. Kovic went to fight, while some were forced to fight. During the draft many young men were proud to fight, but there were many that tried to afford it by all costs. If people do not want to be in a war, it will be easy to see based on how they respond to it. People should not be forced into a war, and war should not be made with false pretenses.
1 comment:
Very interesting comment Mimi! I think you bring up a really important point. When we read O'Brein's short story "The Rainy River," we debated whether or not he was a coward for going to war. Although many argued he indeed was a coward for he went to war for the wrong reasons, I agree with your comment that when Ron returned home after fighting in Vietnam , it took even more strength for him to protest the war. He had personally witnessed both the romantic and horrific aspects of war, and followed his beliefs in promoting a protest for peace. This action should not be shunned and seen as unpatriotic, but rather celebrated for its strength of conviction.
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