Although the focus of Who Comes with Cannons? is on a girl in North Carolina in the 1860s, it touches on issues that are still sore points with many people. Many people in Truth's day regarded refusal to serve in America's military to be unpatriotic. Today, many people still have that attitude and resent anyone who refuses to serve because of his or her religious beliefs or conscience. The reasoning usually is that those who benefit from America's way of life should be prepared to fight to protect it. This is a nettlesome subject that can bring out high passions from people on either side of the disagreement. In Who Comes with Cannons?

Beatty presents people who, because of Who Comes with Cannons?