War Case - What Is It Good For?

War

"War....Huh...Yeah! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!" (Edwin Starr). The song "War" was considered to be the best protest song about the Vietnam War, but it makes a broader statement of the need for peace and harmony in the world today. In the short story "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brian, he illustrates how the young men that was drafted into the Vietnam Was were not physically or mentally prepared for the situations they had to encounter. Drafting young men to serve in war, is not only a form of slavery but their experience may also affect them physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Going into the military should be voluntary not forced upon you by the government.

Those who argue that a draft is sometimes necessary have not considered the effects it will have on the individuals. The government use of the draft is a form of slavery and violates the rights of young men. The draft, take young immature eighteen year olds and send them to war against trained men. They were put in situations with men that were killing machines, men that had an advantage of fighting in their own environment, rigged with tunnels and other types of booby traps. There are some younger men who are mature enough to go into war at such a young age. But there were so many young men who were not ready physically or mentally for war. People don't realize the psychological, emotional, and physical effects the draft had on these young men. "They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die, /grief, terror, love, /they carried shameful memories. /They carried the common secret of cowardice barely restrained, /they carried their reputations" (O'Brien 634). My brother was 16 when he was drafted, my mother thought it was a good idea at the time but when he came home he was a totally different person, withdrawn, paranoid all the time, and had horrible nightmares.

Today there are so many reasons for not allowing the draft to begin again. Young men and women should have the right to volunteer if they would like joining the military, it should not be forced upon them. Too many mothers watched their sons and daughters go off to war and never return or come back with some type of disability. When you watch the news and see all the deaths of our young men and women that went to war, the government, and media sees one death as a tragedy, a million deaths become a static. "In addition to the three standard weapons-the M-60, M-16, and M-79-they carried whatever presented itself, or whatever seemed appropriate as a means of killing or staying alive." (O"Brien 628 ) Too many young people are immature and can't handle situations throw upon them. Once they return home they find it hard to deal with society. Many of them could end up with physical disabilities and many may have mental disabilities or both.

Some people may argue