anti-vietnam war

The Date is June 28th,1971

You have turned 18 today and you have to register for the draft. You don't want to break the law and go to jail for not registering or run away to Canada but you also don't want to go to war. You have seen images from the Vietnam war on your T.V. every night for the past six years. You have an older cousin who was killed at the battle of Khe Sanh and your girlfriend's brother is in a wheel chair because he stepped on a land mine in Cu Chi and now has no legs. You know that you want no part of this war. You have decided to register as a conscientous objector which means you can still be drafted but you can't be made to carry a gun. If you get drafted you will likely be trained as a medic and taught to save lives rather than take them.

The only problem with your decision is that your father is a World War II combat veteran who would be very proud if you were to follow in his footsteps. He feels that anyone who doesn't fight for their country is a coward and anyone who protests against the war is a traitor.

Your point of view has been influenced over the years by the anti-war movement and you have decided to do some research so you can present your position to your father and hopefully change his opinion about the war.

Here are some topics to think about

One of the images from T.V. that you recall vividly is the 1968 Democratic national convention in Chicago
You read the Port Huron statement which you feel gives a voice to your generation and explains why students in this country don't want anything to do with the war in Vietnam
You have read veterans tell the story of their experiences in Vietnam and what it has meant to them
You were disturbed and upset at the Kent State massacre last April
You watched on T.V. as John Kerry spoke before the U.S. House of Representatives. Kerry was speaking for the Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
You have read interviews with people who are involved in the Anti-War movement and you agree with them
You were shocked and horrified by the massacre at My Lai. If this is what the war is about you want no part.
Your father gets very upset when you try to tell him about how you feel about the war and starts yelling. You have decided to use the information you have gathered on the Anti-War movement to write a letter to your father describing the many reasons why you think the U.S. involvement in Vietnam is wrong and why you feel you can't be involved. Write your letter and give it to your teacher so he can deliver it to your father.
If you want some tips on writing a persuasive letter click here