They did not submit to the obvious alternative, which was simply to close the eyes and fall. So easy, really. Go limp and tumble to the ground and let the muscles unwind and not speak and not budge until your buddies picked you up and lifted you into the chopper that would roar and dip its nose and carry you off to the world. A mere matter of falling, yet no one ever fell. It was not courage, exactly; the object was not valor. Rather, they were too frightened to be cowards. Tim OBrien
About This Quote

How many times have you been told to “shut up and fall down,” by a bully? The best defense against being bullied is to not be a coward and stand your ground. In order to stand your ground you must be brave. Sometimes that bravery takes the form of being a good person. When you help someone who needs help, you can be brave without being a coward.

Source: The Things They Carried

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