On The Rainy River “One Man’s Responsibility” English April 8, 2013 Many men were imprisoned and some even put to death for refusing to fight in war. In the short story “On The Rainy River,” author Tim O’Brien tells about his own experience at the age of 21, when he receives a draft notice for the Vietnam War. He was devoted to his country, but not necessary devoted to protecting it. O’Brien is faced with fighting in a war that he doesn’t agree with, and is also terrified of. Should he take up a weapon and fight, or should he find a different path?
I think the author’s purpose is to tell us about the war, the “true” war story. He mentions a lot of ways to tell a true war story in the book. Through the stories of the soldiers, through the nasty war, no one can tell the true story about the war because in many cases a true war story cannot be believed or sometimes it’s beyond telling. For instance, in the book, there is a man named Norman Bowker, he almost won the Silver Star by saving his fellow in the Song Tra Bong, a muddy waste river, but because of the strong nasty smell, he gave up. When he came back to home, he wanted to tell people about this, but then he gave up telling because they would not
Biff has come home because he has just been released from jail, has no job and has nowhere to go.Why does willy get so angry at howard? Willy is so angry at howard because willy was once promised(by howards father) a position that willy now needs, however in the present howard is unwilling to offer willy such a position. Willy is also angry because howard fires willy.What is the point of Willy’s talking about Dave Singleman to Howard?Willy tells howard about dave singleman because dave was willy’s inspiration. Willy tells howard about dave to try and show howard that he can still to be useful in an office position despite his old age.Why does willy get so angry at Bernard?Willy gets so upset at Bernard because Bernard asks him about what happened in boston with biff. This makes willy feel guilty as he was caught by biff in boston having an affair, which resulted in biff not attending summer school and flunking school altogether.
Barney decided to do some fishing on his property located in the mountains. Upon Barney’s arrival to his property he encountered a problem, and that problem was Ernest living on the property which Barney owned. Barney could not do any fishing because Ernest was shooting at him so he decided to go to his beach property. Upon arriving at Carolina Beach Barney discovered that the beach property he owned had been taken over
Tecumseh found his father in the woods before he died and his father’s death instilled hatred for the settlers in him at an early age. Tecumseh’s first military encounter occurred in 1780, when he was twelve years old. Two years later Tecumseh and his brother Cheeseekau were in a small engagement and his brother was wounded and Tecumseh, overcome with fear, ran away. After this humiliating event, he became determined to never run from a fight again. Tecumseh joined the many Shawnees who attacked the settlers coming in on boats, and on this particular day, the Shawnees burned at the stake a settler they had captured.
Why did people not want to serve their country? Some thought the war was unfair and others believed that the U.S. was the aggressor in the conflict. Some simply didn't want to put their life on the line in the military at war.“On the Rainy River” weighs the guilt of avoiding the draft against the guilt of committing atrocities against other humans.Upon receipt of the draft, Tim is faced with a conflict, a “moral emergency” as he describes it. Tim describes what most people think they would do in the case of such a “moral emergency”;“All of us, I suppose, like to believe that in a moral emergency we will behave like the heroes of our youth, bravely and forthrightly, without thought or personal loss or discredit” (pg.70).The only way that he can avoid his guilt is by taking a course of action that will make him feel guilty anyways. If he goes to war, he will feel guilty for ignoring his own objection to United States involvement in the Vietnam War, but the only way to avoid this guilt is by gaining the disapproval of his community, which will result in shame There are a number of reasons as to why Tim withheld sharing his story of how he dodged the draft, but they all stem from one very basic human
He finds it challenging to have lost his father as the motif of “the boat” is used to emphasize the loss of his father. He feels that “no boat rides restlessly in the waters” generating an idea that you won’t be happy throughout your whole life because he has lost his happiness since the day he lost his dad. His memories of his father are remembered as “gigantic” and “being elevated”. But to him they are “only shadows and echoes” of his past. The “earliest recollection” of the father is filled with imagery such as “stubble of his cheek” and “ sound …boots galumphing along”.
Second Writing Assignment Shawn Naylor Donald Cowart Rejects Treatment (pg. 3-6) After reading Donald (Dax) Cowart Rejects Treatment – and Is Ignored, there are some clearly visible ethical issues within this case. Donald was a 25 year old college graduate who served our country and sadly felt as if he was betrayed. He was in top physical condition and was working with his father at the time of the incident; there was nothing that he could do in order to escape that terrible tragedy. The major ethical issue was that Donald was not allowed his own decisions to be carried out.
Fallen Angels follows Richie Perry, a black high school graduate, as he joins the army and is sent to Vietnam. On the way, he meets Peewee, who tells Perry that he joined the army because "it was first place [he] ever been in [his] life where [he] got what everybody else got" (15). In return, Perry tells Pewee that he joined to avoid questions about his future, as well as to send money home to his brother and mother. The soldiers are convinced that the war will soon end, but nevertheless, are still scared when shipped off along with another soldiers, Jenkins, to a camp near Chu Lai. That night, they go on a patrol where everything works out fine until Jenkins steps on a mine near the end and is killed.
Dear Mrs. Moore, The book I read was Soldier Boys it was written by David Halberstan. This story is about a teenage boy who wants to go to the military but his dad thinks he shouldn’t because he thinks he won’t last and get killed. The teenager’s name is Spence and he isn’t that good at listening to orders. And this was also during world war two. When Spence goes to war he meets a friend named Ted.