On the Rainy River

Summary vs. Analysis: On the Rainy River
On the Rainy River is the story of Tim O’Brien being drafted into the Vietnam War. This story takes place from the time he receives his draft letter through the weeks that follow, until he chooses to go to war. It is an internal monologue of the events that happened in that time period, his debates on whether or not he should accept the draft notice or head for Canada. He decides to run away to Canada, but he stops in Minnesota to rest at an old lodge and ends up staying for six days. In those six days, he and the lodge owner, Elroy, get to know each other, and according to O’Brien, Elroy saved his life. On the fifth day, they go fishing and cross into Canadian waters with the Canadian shore just twenty yards away, O’Brien is torn and he sees his embarrassment and shame in the twenty yards to the shore and he can’t do it, he can’t swim there. He calls himself a coward for not being able to jump off the boat and swim ashore, a coward for choosing to go to war instead of run away.
I personally think that is an ass backwards way of looking at this situation. A lot of people put into this same situation would choose to swim those twenty yards to shore and leave all of their responsibilities behind. I think that choosing to fight for this country and accept responsibility, even against his will, or especially against his will, makes him a very brave man. He had the opportunity to start over, have a new life in a new land, and I understand that that can be a very scary thing to do, but it wasn’t necessary for him. I think that if you are going to turn your back on your entire life and all that you have done, you better have a damned good reason, and I don’t think being drafted into a war that you didn’t choose is a good enough reason.
Image from the motion pictur Good Morning Vietnam: http://www.ussmullinnix.org/GoodMorningVietnam.jpg