What the Vietnam War Can Teach Us About Peace By Dee Knight

Hello friends!

My name is Dee Knight. I write stories and share ideas to help people understand peace, justice, and fairness. I believe we can all work together to build a better world, one without war. Today, I want to tell you about something important that happened many years ago. It’s called the Vietnam War, and even though it happened before you were born, there’s a lot we can learn from it today.

What Was the Vietnam War?

The Vietnam War was a big fight between two parts of the country called Vietnam. This country is far away, in Asia. One side wanted the country to be run one way, and the other side wanted something different. They couldn’t agree, so they started fighting.

The United States, where I live, joined the war to help one side. Many people, including young men, were sent far from home to fight. Some of them were only 18 or 19 years old. That’s not much older than your big brother or sister!

Many people in the U.S. thought going to war was the right thing to do. But many others, like me, thought it was wrong. We didn’t want to hurt people or destroy homes. We believed there had to be a better way to solve problems without fighting.

Why I Said No to War

When I was a young man, I got a letter in the mail. It said I had to join the army and go fight in Vietnam. This was called the draft. That meant the government picked people and told them they had to be soldiers.

But I didn’t want to go. I didn’t believe in the war. I thought it was unfair and wrong. I believed that peace was more powerful than weapons. So, I made a very big decision: I said no.

That was not easy. People who said no could get in trouble. Some went to jail. Others, like me, left the country. I moved to Canada, where I lived for many years. I missed my home and my family, but I believed I was doing the right thing.

A Big Peace Movement

I wasn’t alone. Many people in the U.S. started speaking out against the Vietnam War. They held signs that said, “Make peace, not war.” They marched in the streets. They sang songs and gave speeches. Even some soldiers who had been to Vietnam came home and said the war should stop.

This was called the peace movement. It was full of regular people, students, moms and dads, teachers, and even kids. All of them wanted the war to end. And guess what? Their voices made a difference.

In 1975, the Vietnam War finally ended. But many people were hurt, and many lives were lost. That’s why we must remember this war, not to feel sad, but to learn how to do better in the future.

What Can We Learn?

The Vietnam War teaches us that war causes a lot of pain. It shows us that being brave doesn’t always mean fighting. Sometimes, being brave means standing up for peace, even when it’s hard.

We also learn that every voice matters. The peace movement worked because people spoke out and worked together. That means you can help make the world better, too, no matter how young you are!

How You Can Build Peace Today 

You don’t have to stop a war to be a peacemaker. Here are some ways you can spread peace every day:

• Be kind to others, even if they are different from you.
  
• Listen when someone tells their story. Everyone wants to be heard.
  
• Share and take turns. These small actions show fairness.
  
• Speak up if you see someone being treated unfairly.
  
• Learn about other places and people. The more we understand, the less we fight.
  

When you do these things, you are helping to build a world that’s more fair and peaceful.

A Future Without War

I still believe we can have a future without war. I believe we can build friendships across borders, between people of different countries. We can learn from each other, work together, and take care of our planet.

Even though the Vietnam War happened a long time ago, the lessons are still important today. War hurts people, but peace brings hope. And hope is something we all need, young or old.

Thank you for reading my story. I hope it helps you think about peace and how you can be part of it. You don’t need to be big to do something great. You just need a kind heart and the courage to care.

Let’s keep learning. Let’s keep hoping. And let’s keep working together for a better, kinder world.