Daniel Davis Week 16: How a Memory of the Draft can Foster a New American Identity
Given that we are all starting to focus on the Vietnam War in APENG and have likely already covered this topic in our History classes, it makes sense that the conversation surrounding Vietnam and the draft might be fresh on our minds.
This was especially true for me when I decided to ask my mom about my grandfather being drafted into the Vietnam War. The interesting fact about her response was the perspective from which she told it from. I expected her to tell it from her perspective or even my grandfather's, but she did not do this. (Perhaps she felt this was a story that only he could tell.)
She told the story from the perspective of my great-grandmother: "She had seven children, four of them boys, and all four were drafted."
This made me think of everyone who may have been affected by the draft: Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons. It became clear to me that the question of the morality or immorality of the draft is not simply connected to individual rights or perceived obligation.
The weight of any draft or war is a shared weight, and this was no different during the Vietnam War.
In fact, a research brief published by CATO research briefs argued that their research proves that the draft caused increased risk for drug-related, mental health, and other struggles for the offspring of eligible men. The brief points to both experiences of war and the actions of those who avoided being drafted as reasons for this increased risk. While it is commonly accepted that parents can have a large influence on their children's upbringing and overall quality of life, this brief posits that the influence of these parents was largely affected by a situation the United States government forced them into.
These findings should change the way we view the morality of a draft and even trauma—especially trauma that is inflicted by the government—in general. This not only demonstrates the possible implications of the actions of the United States government, actions that we sometimes have the ability to alter, but also provides the possibility for a discussion on generational trauma.
Hi Daniel!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog about the impacts of both drafts and war and how far-reaching they are. This topic is extremely relevant, as we have been discussing the Vietnam War in APENG as you said, and I have been taught about various wars throughout elementary, middle, and high school. I believe that your introduction is extremely strong, as you transitioned seamlessly from a related statement to your family’s personal experiences with the Vietnam War. Getting drafted into war truly affects much more than the draftee, much like war affects more than only soldiers.
After learning about the Vietnam War in APENG, I was similarly compelled to ask my dad about his experience in the Sri Lankan Civil War, specifically whether he had been drafted or had known anyone who had been drafted. To my surprise, I learned that the Sri Lankan government and the armies that participated in the Sri Lankan Civil War, both on the Sinhalese and Tamil sides, never enforced a draft. This means that fighting in the war was completely voluntary. However, even though participation in the war was voluntary, several of my dad’s friends joined the army and were killed, affecting not only them but their family members and friends. This showcases just how much of a negative effect war can have on entire groups of people.