Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 21: Empathy and the Vietnam War

One of the most important aspects of the war in Vietnam was the draft. Every male upon reaching the age of eighteen was required to register with the selective service. Men found themselves willingly enlisting, trying for deferments as full time students or for other acceptable reasons, or leaving the country for Canada. Conscientious Objectors, including a young boxer named Muhammad Ali, became a part of the picture of the war. Some men were alleged to get 'special treatment' from their local draft boards. America developed a lottery to decide who would be called upon first. The purpose of this lesson is to have students try to empathize with the decisions young men had to make when they reached the age of 18.