Decisions can be made in many ways, and they often serve to shape the remainder of one's life. During 1968, Tim O"Brien made the most consequential decision of his life: whether or not to enter the war. "On Rainy River" documents Tim's difficulties in making his decision and his basis for ultimately deciding. Tim's final decision proves both immoral and cowardly for his superficial reasons and failure to abide by his morals.
"The draft notice arrived on June 17, 1968," which forced Tim O"Brien's to make the greatest decision of his life (41). Just out of college, Tim held the world at his fingertips. With pronounced plans for the future and an ideal life, Tim believed he "was too good for this war. Too smart, too compassionate, too everything,"(41). Furthermore, he felt he had been "drafted to fight a war [he] hated,"(40). Accordingly, it seemed as if avoiding the draft would certainly be the right choice for Tim. However, "the only certainty that summer was moral confusion," and Tim had a difficult time making his final decision (40). He simply "couldn't make up [his] mind. [He] feared the war, yes, but [he] also feared exile,"(44). Moreover, there "was the raw fact of terror," and Tim "did not want to die,"(44). Although these reasons should have pointed Tim toward the right decision for himself- avoiding the war, he fails to recognize what he should ultimately do. Tim finally is compelled by his fears, forgets his opinions, and abides by the draft. .
Although some might view Tim's decision as being patriotic and brave, "it had nothing to do with morality. Embarrassment, that's all it was,"(59). The main reason for Tim's decision was based on the expectations others had for him. Over the course of the summer, escaping to Canada seemed to be the best moral choice for Tim. But since he "couldn't endure the mockery, or the disgrace, or the patriotic ridicule," the decision became merely based on a socially acceptable action (59).
