During the Vietnam conflict (not war) many young men died. Many were called (drafted) to or joined the service. Many did so because of our fathers’ service and beliefs that we must not question, and serve and die if need be for our country no matter the cause. We played war almost daily and we all wanted to be a hero and die. We did not know the reality of our dreams.

Some, like myself, joined with our fathers’ permission and still got a draft number while we waited for induction. We were young and impressionable. There were those of us who wanted to go and those who did not. Some refused to register and some went to Canada. Some of us held views the same then as now, and some have changed their views about the conflict.

Some of us came to appreciate the efforts of the mostly civilian (college) protesters, for they awakened us to the fact that “we the people” can say no, and that we have a right and a duty to say no when something is not right. The protesters’ achievements have helped to protect us in more ways than we can count. They showed us the despicable means by which the government will stoop to stop the people from exercising their free speech when it runs contrary to the government’s agenda. Our government has made some terrible decisions for which we pay the price.

Since the Civil War, protests to wars or conflicts have been with us. Some may not like those who speak out against a supposed popular government agenda but we have that right.

In fact, we have been given the right to question and we are expected to do so. Those who remain silent, though that is their option, do not understand what freedom is all about.

If you don’t speak out when the choices are made about something and remain silent, how can you speak about it later when you were not willing to speak when it was unpopular or debatable? Or, as some might be doing, they are taking the safe road and waiting to see who comes out on top without ever saying a word one way or the other.

The draft was a horrible time. The system allowed a way out for those who had influence and money. If they could not obtain a medical or college or marriage deferment they joined the National Guard. The Guard is an honorable institution, but some have misused it. Maybe we should change the first few years to active duty so that all shoulder some of the same risks.

Some found a way to cut in line to save their family while putting someone else’s life at risk. Some went in by waiting their turn hoping to avoid combat. Yet one thing was for sure, if you missed a couple of drills (18 hours once a month or one weekend each month) your Guard status was terminated and you were shipped off to the regular U.S. Army and off to Vietnam. Many of us know the young adults who missed their drills, lost their status, went to Vietnam and came back crippled or in a box. Some got away with missing their drills but their conscience reminds them daily.

Many who have supported this conflict of today do so without ever having risked their lives at all. They, as Americans, made a choice to avoid that which many others could not. They took no stand and made no public statement about the Vietnam conflict one way or another. They had no more right to an expectation of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness than any other American – yet they did. Still, they remained silent. Just think if they had been around during the struggle for our independence we would have never achieved it.

I take my hat off and say thank you to those who served with honor and dignity. To those who saw combat, to those ready to engage in combat, to those who could have taken a determent but chose to serve in some capacity, to those who waited their turn and to those who paid the ultimate price with their blood and body and their life – you can never be thanked enough.

Those who never said a word but remained in the shadows, those who took someone else’s place in line, who used influence to save themselves, who made every effort to stay out of harm’s way, when you could have spoken you elected to remain silent – your words condemn others to sacrifice for you when you would not sacrifice for yourself or your country when it was your turn. How can you ask others to do for you that which you could not, would not bring yourself to do for others? I will not forget and I do not want you to lead my country, but I do forgive you.

We who have served did so to protect the rights of all. Rights that have recently been twisted to almost nothing compared to what we had under this so-called Patriot Act. I would rather be able to travel without having to tell someone who I am and where I am going. I would rather get on a plane and take my chances as a free person than to sit there under suspicion, watched and filed and photographed. That is not freedom and it was not the people who planned Sept. 11, 2001 who did this. It is our government that has taken our freedoms away.

Can you really say, are you ready to say, “Give me liberty or give me death” for the right reasons?

Stan Ginish is a retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class and lives in Weston.