Dear Diary,
There was a rally on campus today. The police came and shut them down real quick. I would be there with the protesters but I’m awful scared about what might happen. The police are getting more and more impatient with us. But how can we not protest. I see our boys on TV. I see the guns and blood and feel their terror. Two thirds of them don’t even want to be there. I want to help out. Maybe be a nurse but father wants me to finish college. Darn college.
How come I can sit here safe and sound while those poor boys die half way across the world? They couldn’t pay and now they’re fighting for a cause that nearly no one knows. Why are we there? What are we doing there? Haven’t we had enough war already?
I watch all the boys as the reporter asks them questions. They all seem so weary. Whenever the reporter asks them why they are here, they just shake their heads and say “I don’t know.”
There is no clear cut enemy. The VC is murderer by night and farmer by day. The boys have to go from village to village checking for weapons or clues. There is so much fear.
What are we supposed to do? Drive back to North Vietnam? We can’t really attack Vietnam. Not with China getting involved. Boy, would that be a war.
This whole thing. It’s one huge mess. Our soldiers don’t want to fight. The generals and politicians don’t know what to do. The people here are as made a hornets cause of the draft. And whole Vietnam is like a time bomb. I do hope it gets better.
Signed, Jamie.
Dear Diary,
I can feel it. Change is in the air. Tomorrow. All of us kids will go to the church and we’ll flood the jails. We have to stand up cause our parents can’t. They have jobs and cars and house and reution and us to worry about. And I guess they grew up with worse. But for me since I’m only eleven, I don’t have much to lose. Daddy will be cross but it’s gotta be done.
I’m excited but real nearvous. All my friends are going. Danny is real exicted about it. I hope it all goes well. The radio has been talking it up a lot. All in code of course, he’s talking about how there is going to be a party in the park. I’m so excited I can’t sleep. Should I bring a toothbrush?
I can’t believe its happening. I can’t wait. All of us kids will be standing up for what we believe in. We are going to make history, I just know it.
Sincerely, Anna
Sunday, November 7, 1965
Dear Diary Journal (Because diary’s are for girls)
Tomorrow is the day! The University will finally receive the funding it so desperately needs. The federal government is going to pass the Higher Education Act to help open up new scholarships and offer new, low-interest loans.
Even better news, my counselor says the school is offering me an athletic scholarship! I guess all those days spent on the field practicing really paid off. Between the scholarship, low-interest loans, and the job at the shop, I might actually manage to make it through college with a less painful debt and significantly less burden on dad.
Maybe Sammy will get a chance to go to college too. This could open up so many new doors for him. He’s only fourteen but he’s so smart. And God knows I’d sell an arm and a leg for him to get to go to college. And he’s got his eyes set on high places. Stanford! I mean that’s gonna cost an arm and a leg (maybe two) just for a year. Hopefully the new HE Act of ’65 will help a bit. At any rate it’ll keep him from getting sent over to Vietnam.
Anyways, I’ve got an early morning (yay Mythology 101 final) and a late night (football practice). So I better turn in.
Dean W.
No comments:
Post a Comment