Dominant Narrative & Impact

During the Vietnam War, the Army wanted people to see the draft as a fair way to support the war in vietnam. They aimed to inspire a sense of civic duty and patriotism, making military service feel required for all citizens that were able. The Army communicated to the public that the draft was about keeping the country safe and framing the war as a shared responsibility throughout the country, rather than just a personal burden they had dealt themselves. 

We know that this is the dominant narrative because when doing research, many times, articles showing the Army's narrative and perspective are still first results, and this is the perspective many have always and only heard. An example of this is, according to https://www.studentsofhistory.com/vietnam-war-draft, the drafting lottery was by birth dates, completely random, and therefore fair and not biased. 

For students today, learning this shows how the government affects the opinion of the public. This situation is a reminder to think more carefully about how only hearing the main perspective can shape our views on service and responsibility. It teaches students to question authority and look for multiple perspectives. 

The Army's view on the draft during the Vietnam War caused a lot of tension. In society, some people saw drafting as fair, but many felt the opposite, that it was unfair, especially to people on the poorer side. This led to protests and a massive anti-war movement, changing how people viewed the government and the ongoing war. It also shows the importance of how government messages can influence public opinion and the importance of getting involved today.