A LETTER TO GRANDPA

Dear grandpa,
I am so happy when I got your letter, I haven’t heard from you for quite a long time, I miss you so much. We are doing great, hope you are the same grandpa. I have read your opinions about the Vietnam War and I have some serious discussion about this. I hope you will understand my perspectives and not forcing me to be conscripted to go to fight in Vietnam.
To start with, as you know that South Vietnam seemed to be under attack from communism, with its political, economic and social implications therefore it requested for USA and Australia’s supports. Moreover, we were willing to help because we don’t more countries to become communist like a domino effect and it might affect our country’s policies. Grandpa, do you get why did Australia even agree to become involved? It’s such a bad idea. Australia fight in Vietnam because our biggest ally – USA did and we want to make sure they stay bound to us if we need them to help us in the future (in addition as we formed ANZUS that means alliances have to help each other’s). However, in this case fighting is not a good choice because it will have bad effects on the relationships and in general of those countries. One of the reasons is Vietnam didn’t do anything to us, as if declaimed war or anything that require us to fight, to protect our homes; this case they just want to be communist. Australia was sort of got influenced by the America. I think Vietnam has the right to choose between capitalism and communism; therefore we didn’t need to fight and risk our lives in the first place.
Grandpa, I understand your points of view, I respect you and your ideas; you want me to show what I can do, by doing my duty for my country but I’m very sorry, I strongly disagree with it. Your point of views towards the war are very different from now; for you it shows the courage and how powerful, strong you are but now going to war is a really bad consideration. Furthermore, it seems like you are just causing more troubles for yourself, your family and the country. What is the point of going to Vietnam War when you can live in peace? I have heard that some people tried to escape from being forced to go to war have to go to prison for at least one or two years? Well, I rather go to prison than going to Vietnam and being killed or killing random innocent Vietnamese people.
So what I have said means that I am a conscientious object, I claim the right to refuse to perform military service. I think can we do what we believe is right, and the freedom to have our own decisions. We can’t just force someone to go to war, even when they don’t want to. I don’t think anyone wants to go to war anyway because you know what your life will be ended up with. I believe that all of us should be able to live and speak freely and not to be put in prison for a different view to the government policy. Conscripting people to war is just wrong, it is against the rights of being freed. At its height the Australian commitment to Vietnam reached 8,000 men in 1968 – 1969; I don’t think any of those soldiers wanted to go to war, and now they want even more people to join, will there be an end to this. Because more and more people get involved and they are not happy to be there so this also means that the government is not doing very well, it didn’t do its duty to serve everyone happiness. I feel sorry for who went to war by conscription, so they had to separate from their families, wives and children; thinking of what would happen to them, they might never return or they come back with dangerous injuries, depressed and effected minds, they can also get affected by diseases or violent chemicals like Agent Orange that could affect their lives later on. Just by going to war to complete their duties and it can cause them to live in an empathetic abnormal life that no one can ever imagine.
On the other hand, many people who are calling against the Vietnam War were gathering together and made up anti-war groups. The anti-war movement had grown from small demonstrations into huge rallies, marches, sit-ins, church services and candlelight vigils. And this is the evidence to show that I’m not the only one who is against this war – ‘The first Vietnam Moratorium took place on 8 and 9 May earlier this year and over 200 000 people across Australia took part. In Melbourne, an estimated 100 000 marched.’ I know the impacts of this war and I don’t think it’s good to continue. More and more people agree that this war shouldn’t be happening in any points. Many marches were on the streets and probably I would join them to raise even more awareness to show the government to stop. I also see a lot of propaganda and I was thinking why do you let 20 years old boy to war, they are too young and naïve to fight. They should stay safely at home and live happily since they still have a long life to go.
In addition, this Vietnam War was the first war that is ‘live’ which means everything was reported on television, and just by looking and it, I would never think of myself going there. Hundreds of soldiers were shot in a second and the conditions were horrible. Just a little different point is we started helping South Vietnam in July 1962 and look how many years now grandpa? It’s already 8 years and we still are fighting and fighting. I don’t see any point of fighting for this no more. It had become the longest war in which Australia had ever been involved, so I consider this will last longer and it shows that we had put too much effort in and we are still not winning. Also by looking at Vietnam’s past, I can tell that this country is not extremely easy to deal with since it also has USSR and China backed it up.
So in conclusion, I am already 20 years old and I know what I want to do, I have the right to choose my future and I can think what’s best for me the country. Also, I mean everyone can be the same – do what they like without being forced. Obviously I have a strong belief towards the conscientious objector. I hope after my explanations you will understand more and be happy with what I thought. And somehow the government will also understand conscientious objectors as I am.
Grandpa, I’m sorry if I am against you, but you will understand. Stay healthy and I will visit you sometimes, grandpa, I promise.
Lots of love,
Your grandson,
Stefan

BILIOGRAPHY
Chairman Rod Salmon, 2014, The developing anti-war movement, viewed 18 April 2014, .
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 28 March 2014, Conscientious objector, viewed 18 April 2014, .
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 2 April 2014, Conscription in Australia, viewed 18 April 2014, .