insanity. Everyday was a step closer to going over the edge and many did just that.For many a soldiers, emotional traumas began well before they even stepped foot in Vietnam. With the draft in full effect Americans were enlisting and fought for the cause whether they believed in it or not or even knew what that cause was. In On the Rainy River OBrien finds that his future plans of going to school in Harvard may not be realized when he receives a letter in the mail saying that he had been drafted to go to Vietnam. He struggles with the thought of fighting in a war that he doesnt agree with and wrestles with the idea of fleeing the country and heading to Canada in order to avoid the draft. While at work OBrien snaps and immediately walks out. He packs his clothes, leaves a very short note for his parents, and starts making his way to the Canadian border. OBrien decides that he needed a place to rest just before he crossed over so he shows up on the door step of an old inn keeper named Elroy. Elroy senses trouble and takes OBrien in for a few days. The two become closer over that short period. Elroy new what kind of a dilemma OBrien was in without either of them saying a word so the old man offered money to OBrien to help him along his way. Elroy planned a fishing trip on OBriens soon to be last day with him. The fishing spot picked out was not but twenty feet from the banks of Canada. OBrien came to a point when he had to make the decision of either fleeing to Canada and leaving everything he knew behind or going off to Vietnam and fight a war that he felt was not justified. He was emotionally torn but OBrien returned home the next day.If I were put in his exact same position I would feel the same way. Giving up his future, all the work he put into creating that future, and not being a supporter of the war would be strong evidence to hit the border, but at that point I would rather go to war and have a chance of picking up...
