Question

The excerpt from "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" is about events that took place during the 1960s. Although entertaining, do you think Goines's narrative essay is relevant to readers today? What points does Goines make that would have an impact on today's youth? In a paragraph of at least two hundred words, answer these questions. Support your answers by describing main ideas or details that Goines uses in his essay. Then clearly show why his points are or are not relevant in present times.

Answer 1

Answer:

I do not believe that "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" by Goines's is much relevant in any major way to today's reader's due to there not being any type of war or conflict that is brewing in the United States. Although no major relevancies can be drawn by me i can notice emotions or thoughts that can draw comparisons or differences between certain readers. Some of the readers may wonder and feel like they would feel the same way as someone in "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" feels about drafting wars. Other readers may start to vision themselves in the same situation of emotions thats going through someone who is going to be drafted in the essay by Goines's called "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. So although no major relevancies could be drawn by me I did see other emotions or discovered comparisons and differences. One difference i can think of is someone young in the United States trying to relate to being arrested for not wanting to be drafted or trying to relate to being drafted into the army unwillingly because i just do not see that happening in the current day.

Answer 2

Answer:

Goines's narrative essay is relevant to readers today because its pacifist (anti-war) message, even though inspired by the Vietnam war, is a universal humanist statement.

Explanation:

Admittedly, today's youth may not be very interested in the particularities of the Vietnam war. However, they could very well relate to civil disobedience, social injustices, as well as the humorous and sarcastic tone that Goines employs when he recounts his resistance to the political establishment. For example, Goines's witty account of tampering with the bureaucracy to delay his conscription for as long as it takes for them to lose his file could be very appealing to today's young rebels at heart. Today, when there are no drafts, young people could have a hard time trying to understand the political intricacies of the 1960s and early 1970s. Still, the urge to resist war, especially when it comes at a cost so great that even the young have to pay it, still exists. This chapter is also relevant because it could help the young reassess or even redefine their definition of patriotism: am I a greater patriot if I go to fight in a war on behalf of my country or if I resist its unreasonable foreign and domestic policies?