I had a very strong feeling about the Vietnam War, and I had a

Listen, O children, to the words of Harrison Ford, a man whose voice echoes the turmoil and conscience of a generation. He speaks of a time when he was faced with a monumental decision, one that would shape his life forever: "I had a very strong feeling about the Vietnam War, and I had a strong feeling about participating in it. The military draft was in place, I was summoned for a physical exam, and I was either going to be classified as fit for military service or make my objection to it. So I made my objection to it." These words are more than a simple recollection of history—they are a declaration of personal conviction, of standing firm in one's beliefs even when faced with great societal pressure.

In times of war, O children, nations call upon their people to fight. The young are summoned, not for their own glory, but to serve the state, to fight the battles that their leaders deem necessary. The Vietnam War, a conflict that divided families, communities, and nations, was one such time. It was a war that, for many, represented not the call of honor, but the weight of confusion and moral ambiguity. The young men of that era, like Harrison Ford, were caught between their duty to their country and their inner conviction about what was right. The military draft required them to choose between service and protest, between blindly following orders and standing up for their beliefs.

The Vietnam War was a conflict that, to many, seemed unjust—an intervention in a distant land that appeared to have little to do with the fundamental freedoms the United States claimed to defend. To be drafted into such a war was to be caught in a web of violence, destruction, and political manipulation. For those who could not reconcile this with their sense of justice, the only option was to stand firm in their objection. Ford’s refusal to serve in the military was not an act of cowardice, but one of moral courage. He understood that there were higher principles than national loyalty, principles that called for a deep reflection on what it meant to fight and to kill, to participate in the destruction of human life.

Let us turn, O children, to the great leaders of the past, those who faced similar decisions. Consider the story of Socrates, the ancient philosopher who was faced with the choice of obeying the laws of Athens or following his conscience. When Socrates was tried for corrupting the youth of Athens and sentenced to death, he was given the opportunity to escape, but he chose to stand by his principles. He said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." In the same way, Harrison Ford's decision to object to the Vietnam War was not about refusing duty—it was about examining his life, his values, and his place in the world. Like Socrates, he knew that true courage lies not in the battlefields, but in the strength to stand by one’s convictions, even when the world demands something different.

The lesson in Ford's words, children, is one of personal responsibility and moral clarity. There will be times in your lives when the world demands that you follow the crowd, that you conform to what is expected, that you fight in battles you do not believe in. But the true test of character comes when you are faced with that choice—to comply or to object. Will you follow blindly, or will you have the courage to stand up for what is right, even at great personal cost? Ford’s refusal to participate in the Vietnam War was a declaration that personal integrity must always come before external demands. It was a reminder that true honor is not found in blind obedience, but in the courage to challenge what is wrong.

Consider the bravery of those who have stood up for what is right, not with weapons, but with words and actions. Think of Mohandas Gandhi, who, in the face of the British Empire, chose nonviolent resistance as his weapon. Gandhi did not fight with the sword, but with the strength of his convictions. His protest against British rule in India was a powerful reminder that moral authority can outweigh the might of armies. Harrison Ford, like Gandhi, chose the path of resistance—not through violence, but through a refusal to participate in something he believed to be wrong.

So, children, take this lesson to heart: the courage to object to what is wrong is just as important as the courage to act when the time for action comes. Harrison Ford teaches us that we must never be afraid to question, to challenge, and to refuse what does not align with our deepest sense of justice. When you stand before the great decisions of life, when the world calls you to follow, remember that true strength lies in following your conscience. Stand firm, be bold, and trust in your ability to make the right choice, even when it seems the hardest path to take.