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Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 14 May 2022, 13:26
by Robert Obikanyi
After reading My Enemy in Vietnam, it made me wonder why did people of color go to war fighting for a country that didn't want them, didn't want to accept them? Assuming there was no enforced conscription, would people of color have volunteered to fight in the Vietnam war?

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 15 May 2022, 14:09
by Cocobutta
Personally, Considering the discrimination, racism, and horrible way people of color were treated, I honestly doubt they would have fought willingly. However, we would never truly know if there would have been one or two who would have been willing.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 16 May 2022, 06:39
by George Baker
If it was willing,I think some would have, but not as many as those who joined when it was enforced conscription.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 16 May 2022, 11:34
by Aeesha Bashir
I believe people of colour would have still volunteered to fight in the war because love for country goes beyond reason sometimes, and as humans, loving someone or something doesn't change based on whether that thing or peson reciprocates the love or not.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 18 May 2022, 17:37
by Oluwapelumi Rachael
No I don't think most people would have joined. Even while volunteering, they would still have been treated unfairly.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 21 May 2022, 09:55
by Oluwasogo Familusi
With the way they were treated, I doubt that most will join. But some will join for one reason or the other.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 21 May 2022, 10:52
by Robert Obikanyi
Oluwapelumi Rachael wrote: 18 May 2022, 17:37 No I don't think most people would have joined. Even while volunteering, they would still have been treated unfairly.
I am sure you are right. There were many who had the same opinion as Ali at the time against the war

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 21 May 2022, 10:55
by Robert Obikanyi
Scouser Crispin wrote: 16 May 2022, 06:39 If it was willing,I think some would have, but not as many as those who joined when it was enforced conscription.
I think you are equally right. I think societal class has as much to do with the result as race. Richer African Americans may or may not have shown more interest in volunteering than their poorer counterpart. This roughly translates across all ethnicities.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 22 May 2022, 03:18
by Sandradozie1995
I don't think most people will like to join, be it blacks or whites. War is evil.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 22 May 2022, 14:09
by Ibunyi
Willingly, some people of colour would have volunteered and overlook the racism and discrimination that existed at the time, for the love of their country and to earn some income too. However, most of the able- bodied people of color wouldn't want part with a war with "their oppresee."

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 22 May 2022, 14:09
by Ibunyi
Sogzy d_Optimist wrote: 21 May 2022, 09:55 With the way they were treated, I doubt that most will join. But some will join for one reason or the other.
I think mainly to earn some income to elevate their social status.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 23 May 2022, 03:23
by Meenahhhh
I don't think it's possible to speak for all people of colour, because every person is different. However, I do not think that a considerable number of people of colour would have joined willingly.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 23 May 2022, 11:25
by Damis Seres Rodriguez
would anyone enroll themselves into war if they were not forced to? Some would for sure, some wouldn't. I don't think this specific matter has anything to do with the skin color.

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 23 May 2022, 17:43
by Judyread
I don't think anyone would have fought any war if it weren't forced on them. Who would want to switch from a peaceful life to a life where they are always at the point of death?

Re: Would People of Color have Volunteered to Fight in the Vietnam War If There Was No Enforced Conscription?

Posted: 25 May 2022, 15:53
by Terryl Vahsholtz
I think that people of colour would have volunteered to fight. If we look back in history they were many times when people of colour fought. These individuals have a great love of country and would volunteer as much as anyone else.