"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brian
On The Rainy River
"I was no soldier. I hated Boy Scouts. I hated camping out. I hated dirt and tents and mosquitoes. The sight of blood made me queasy, and I couldn't tolerate authority, and I didn't know a rifle from a slingshot. I was a liberal, for Christ sake: If they needed fresh bodies, why not draft some back-to-the-stone-age hawk? Or some dumb jingo in his hard hat and Bomb Hanoi button, or one of LBJ's pretty daughters, or Wesrmoreland's whole handsome family - nephews and nieces and baby grandson. There should be a law I thought. If you support a war, if you think it's worth the price, that's fine, but you have to Put your own precious fluids on the line. You have to head for the front and hook up with an infantry unit and help spill the blood. And you have to bring along your wife, or your kids, or your lover. A law, I thought."
Above is an excerpt from s short story written by Tim O'Brien in his book of short stories, The Things They Carried. The story it is taken from, On The Rainy River, describes his personal experience almost fleeing the Vietnam wartime draft. However, in the story he clearly emphasizes his frustration and disappointment with the political leaders of America who support the war, who would dare send him to fight in it instead of they themselves fighting. An example of this is when O'Brien exclaims, "or one of LBJ's pretty daughters," showing his frustration towards the fact that he was drafted, while those with connections don't get drafted and those who actually believe in the war - the politicians - don't actually fight it. This is an example of feelings felt by millions of Americans towards their politicians in the late 1960's, and shows the stress that the Vietnam war put on public relationships and viewpoints between citizens and their political leaders.
"I was no soldier. I hated Boy Scouts. I hated camping out. I hated dirt and tents and mosquitoes. The sight of blood made me queasy, and I couldn't tolerate authority, and I didn't know a rifle from a slingshot. I was a liberal, for Christ sake: If they needed fresh bodies, why not draft some back-to-the-stone-age hawk? Or some dumb jingo in his hard hat and Bomb Hanoi button, or one of LBJ's pretty daughters, or Wesrmoreland's whole handsome family - nephews and nieces and baby grandson. There should be a law I thought. If you support a war, if you think it's worth the price, that's fine, but you have to Put your own precious fluids on the line. You have to head for the front and hook up with an infantry unit and help spill the blood. And you have to bring along your wife, or your kids, or your lover. A law, I thought."
Above is an excerpt from s short story written by Tim O'Brien in his book of short stories, The Things They Carried. The story it is taken from, On The Rainy River, describes his personal experience almost fleeing the Vietnam wartime draft. However, in the story he clearly emphasizes his frustration and disappointment with the political leaders of America who support the war, who would dare send him to fight in it instead of they themselves fighting. An example of this is when O'Brien exclaims, "or one of LBJ's pretty daughters," showing his frustration towards the fact that he was drafted, while those with connections don't get drafted and those who actually believe in the war - the politicians - don't actually fight it. This is an example of feelings felt by millions of Americans towards their politicians in the late 1960's, and shows the stress that the Vietnam war put on public relationships and viewpoints between citizens and their political leaders.