Summary:
A letter written to Tim O'Brien after reading his stories "Ambush" and "On the Rainy River."
Dear Tim O'Brien,
I know the war has been hard on you. I remember 20 years back when you first were drafted. Life was at its peak for you, and everything was going well. Until the one day you received the draft notice. Your life was changed drastically, and it all went downhill from there. However, I am not writing this letter to make things harder for you. I am writing in order to let you know that I am proud of what you did, and I respect the decision you made to come back and fight in the war. You were so close to running away, you could have done it, but why live life as a fugitive? You would have never been able to come back to the U.S. and see your family or friends again. Running from your problems and fears is never the answer. Although you and I obviously do not see eye to eye on the full issue, I think deep down inside you had to make the choice you did. Living your life all alone in Canada would have hurt you more. Not getting to live out your dream or finish your education at Harvard or ever being able to see your old family, friends, or town again.
Looking back on it now, you still see yourself as a coward for not doing what you believed in. Sometimes our beliefs and opinions, no matter how strong or justified or how much they seem like the right thing, are not. I am sorry for you that you had to fight a war which you did not believe in or support. But I am glad that everything for you went okay. And although you may still see yourself as a coward, there are many of us, including myself, who do see you as the hero you've always wanted to be.
Sincerely,
This is the complete article, containing 313 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
