MovieChat Forums > Mulan (1998) Discussion > Fa Zhou's Health, + The Conscription

Fa Zhou's Health, + The Conscription

posted 11 years ago by dbzgal04
6 replies | jump to latest

As we all know, Fa Zhou was being drafted to fight against the Huns, despite his health issues.
I'm not trying to start a political debate, argument, etc., but I need to vent about something, so here goes: the fact that Fa Zhou received a conscription notice, even though he had those medical problems, is one major reason why I'm very anti-draft (and anti-Selective Service). Someone may be sent to fight in a war, who shouldn't even be there. In fact, my 2nd cousin whom was killed in the Vietnam War was drafted, and it turns out he shouldn't have even been in the military because he had poor eyesight. I wasn't here yet when he died, but nevertheless it's a sour subject.
Anybody see where I'm coming from?

[–] Doc80 11 years ago

Considering that they did in fact do physicals for people who were drafted, while your cousin may have had bad eyesight, it must have been good enough for them at the time, otherwise he wouldn't have been sent.

[–] dbzgal04 11 years ago

If they did give draftees physical exams, they didn't do a good job with my 2nd cousin. My dad is an optometrist, and that's the exact same job he had while in the Army, which was about 4 or 5 years after my cousin's death. So of course he examined soldiers' eyes, and was well aware of the qualifications regarding eyesight. From what he told me, our cousin didn't even qualify, but because he was selected by the draft...ugh! Like I said, even though I wasn't here yet it's a sour subject nonetheless.

[–] Doc80 10 years ago

As I said, it must have been good enough "at the time." Unless your dad was doing that job at the time that your cousin was drafted, then what he says about qualifications at the time mean precisely nothing.

[–] J_Howlett1886 10 years ago

I think this fictional version of ancient China might not be the best example to lend legitimacy to you're anti-draft argument. Plus there is no more draft and everyone knows it's wrong now.

[–] dbzgal04 8 years ago

Even if the draft isn't used anymore, there's still the Selective Service for "just in case."
I've met and spoken with many people that they or someone they know was in Vietnam, and while a lot of the draftees may have been "good enough at the time" they still didn't belong there. The standards were way too lenient.

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 8 years ago

I think Chi Fu was being a grade A dick for drafting Mulan's father even though he was too sick to fight. I know Chi Fu's character was suppose to be unlikeable (like the Dursleys from Harry Potter per se) but drafting someone who was in no condition to fight in a war and would be pushing themselves if they did so was really pushing it.

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