On the rainy river is a story about a young man who has been picked in the United States Draft lottery, and must now decide whether he will fight in the war or will run away.
I just thought that a bit more information on why it is such a big deal might help. I know it was a war, but have you ever really thought about why people were so reluctant to go?
The United States Draft Lottery:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_lottery_(1969)
History of Conscription (Drafting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_the_United_States
Refusing the call to join the army was a serious offence and could land you some serious jail time in military prison (worse than regular prison, they don't mess around). Those are the two choices, flee or suck it up and fight.
The whole problem with the fleeing (draft dodging) thing:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm85.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertion
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/awoldesertion.htm
Never seeing your family or loved ones again (if you don't get shipped back from whatever country you were hiding out in,) jail time or death. Oh and for shame on you for failing to serve your country and protect your freedoms (Yah that too).
What people faced if they sucked it up and faced it like men:
The Vietnam War (God bless the men who died in that bloody war.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war
(As one of history teachers told me, Generals
Why people didn't want to go:
Because images such as these scared the heck out of people.
Also the literary aspect in the story:
Theme:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section4.rhtml
Setting:
Life in the 1960's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s.
Place:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainy_River_(Minnesota%E2%80%93Ontario
Irony:
What it is: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/irony
It's use in the story. Irony is used in the since that Tim, the narrator, goes to war because he is too much of a coward to run away, and face to the shame. "I was a coward. I went to the war (61 Brian)."
That my dear readers is one of the finest examples of I have ever read.
I just thought that a bit more information on why it is such a big deal might help. I know it was a war, but have you ever really thought about why people were so reluctant to go?
The United States Draft Lottery:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_lottery_(1969)
History of Conscription (Drafting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_the_United_States
Refusing the call to join the army was a serious offence and could land you some serious jail time in military prison (worse than regular prison, they don't mess around). Those are the two choices, flee or suck it up and fight.
The whole problem with the fleeing (draft dodging) thing:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm85.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertion
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/awoldesertion.htm
Never seeing your family or loved ones again (if you don't get shipped back from whatever country you were hiding out in,) jail time or death. Oh and for shame on you for failing to serve your country and protect your freedoms (Yah that too).
What people faced if they sucked it up and faced it like men:
The Vietnam War (God bless the men who died in that bloody war.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war
(As one of history teachers told me, Generals
Why people didn't want to go:
Because images such as these scared the heck out of people.
Also the literary aspect in the story:
Theme:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section4.rhtml
Setting:
Life in the 1960's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s.
Place:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainy_River_(Minnesota%E2%80%93Ontario
Irony:
What it is: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/irony
It's use in the story. Irony is used in the since that Tim, the narrator, goes to war because he is too much of a coward to run away, and face to the shame. "I was a coward. I went to the war (61 Brian)."
That my dear readers is one of the finest examples of I have ever read.
No comments:
Post a Comment