Prompt: Examine the Vietnam War through the eyes of American civilians. Summarize how many Americans felt about American involvement in the War and how they made their opinions known. Were protests concerning the Vietnam War legitimate, or were their actions un-American?
Task:
1. Write one blog post responding to all of the questions in the prompt. Your response must be at least two paragraphs long and include supporting evidence and details to bolster your opinions.
2. Write two comments responding to the posts of your classmate. You must write two total comments, each one on a different classmate's original post. Each comment must be well developed and address the assertions made by your classmates. Each comment must be one paragraph in length.
Due Date: Friday, May 15th.
The Vietnam War was widely disliked in the United States for several reasons. On some occasions, the enemies were Vietnam individuals who didn't even want the US there, which made enemies unclear leading to even more deaths. Also, many of Americans opposed to entering another war after the cold war as well as adding onto the issues in the United States; many believed that there was no true purpose as to why we were involved. In addition to this, there were many individuals who were forced into fighting for a cause that they had no genuine motivation for. Furthermore, the majority of the population that was being forced into the war consisted of mostly working class men and not those young men who were going to college which outraged many however they were stuck between facing jail time for not abiding to their drafting responsibilities or forced to flee the country. Many were not willing to do either of these things; as a result men began burning their draft cards in protest. This form of protest could cause the individual to be placed in jail. Although seeming un-American, at a time of desperation when it seemed as though they were just being thrown into war to come home in a body bag, their reasons were justified. Following these protests, the lottery form of drafting came into effect, targeting all young men rather than simply the working class. The angered students erupted leading to the Kent State University incident which happened in Ohio in 1970. The protests began peacefully but escalated quickly into violence. The protests became un-American when the result became the death of 4 innocent students moving from class to class.
ReplyDeleteFrom that point on, the protests against the war were slowly evolving and targeting the wrong people. In fact, upon the prolonged return of soldiers in Vietnam, instead of welcoming the return of the soldiers, people were turning their anger toward these soldiers. When word spread about the killing of several innocent villages because of the basic mindset of “kill first, ask later”, Americans back home were outraged even chanting at Johnson “how many kids have you killed today?”. Soldiers returning home after just fighting to stay alive for so long faced the glares of and nasty remarks of many Americans for their innocent mistake, those killings were simply where they were led. This form of presenting their disgust with the war was completely un-American considering many of the soldiers did not even want to be fighting for the war effort; their anger and displacement with the war was being directed at all the wrong people.
Even though I had a different viewpoint in regards to the protesting, you brought out some very valid points. Yes, Americans were angry about the war and wanted to get their point across, but it did come to a point were it was getting out of hand. I do agree that the treatment of soldiers was very wrong. I like how you mentioned that many of the soldiers did not even fight in the war since a handful of them were drafted into the war. This is why, like you mentioned, the anger of many Americans was being directed to all the wrong people.
DeleteI agree that American involvement in Vietnam added even more unnecessary tension to already existing issues in the US. I also think your opinion justifying the burning of draft cards holds validity. You also made an important point in describing the mistreatment of veterans as entirely un-American. Your opinion that citizens are not justified in protesting is easy to agree with, especially since you explained how the protests eventually escalated and were pointed towards the wrong people.
DeleteThousands and thousands of non volunteered young men and women were sent to Vietnam and all of them thought they were fighting a war to protect their country. It soon became clear to them that Americans should not have entered into the war in the first place. Instead of admitting to a war that should have never been entered into, troops were kept over in Vietnam and many more lives were lost. As a result of being forced into the war, many of these civilians took out their anger by burning their draft cards. Although this could cause them jail time, they were willing to do whatever it takes to prove their frustration.
ReplyDeleteMany different forms of protests were then constructed during this time. In addition to the burning of draft cards, there was also a major incident that happened at Kent State in 1970. This involved the shooting of 4 unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard. It was after this point when protests only grew worse. After soldiers began to return home from war, people blamed them for the many civilian losses. This only seemed to make situations worse for them. After finally feeling a sense of relief to return home, they were interrupted by the frustrated remarks of Americans outside of the war. This was another form of protest directed towards the war and soldiers fighting in it.
The war was filled of a time of frustration, especially when men who did not want to participate in the war were forced to go to combat. These men would go against the law and burn their draft cards. A risky move, but it showed their resentment against the war. When it came to the men coming home from battle was a shock. Many were expecting a warm welcoming and were given cold shoulders and dirty looks. I agree with how you said the citizens blame the veterans for causing civilians death, when it was actually the government and leaders of the war. Also, I agree with how the citizens ignoring the veterans was a form of protest because they were going against the traditional have respect and honor for the veterans.
DeleteMany people questioned the tactics and goal of the U.S. as they entered the Vietnam War. You clarified the frustration that many American civilians were feel and why. It is true; they were burning draft cards to symbolize their frustrations, they protested in order to gain the attention of the U.S. government and alter their decisions about the involvement in the war. It was significant that you touched base on Kent State. The incident was a very major turning point at the time and widely affected the opinions of American civilians.
DeleteAs thousands of men were drafted into the war, outrage sparked amongst scared friends and family members during the time of the Vietnam War. Dismay towards the war grew rapidly as the purpose of the war seemed to become more vague through the months. The only noticeable difference was the significant number of deaths that America was struggling with. The purpose for America’s involvement was unjustifiable, with little news being reported to the public. This led to the people protesting the war, which led to many challenges.
ReplyDeleteIn efforts to make their point known, people began protesting in several ways. Marches were organized with signs portraying their desire for peace, draft cards were burned so that the evidence was gone, and returning soldiers were treated very poorly. Instead of appreciating the soldiers for their efforts, the public snarled at them and disapproved of their homecoming. Failing to realize that it was not their decision to leave, considering that more than half were draftees, the citizens did not appreciate the Vietnam soldiers until years passed. This disgusted reaction to their arrival made the soldiers begin to question everything they had left to do, which led to more questioning as to what America was doing being involved in the Vietnam War. Although the citizens actions were sometimes inappropriate, their goal of making those in power understand their hatred towards America’s involvement was successfully relayed.
I thoroughly agree with your opinions regarding how Americans felt during the Vietnam War. Especially when you mention how the sole purpose of American’s involvement in the war began to seem vague. I still feel that there was no reason for us to be in the war. Also, I do feel the death toll was very high, 58,000 lives were taken for no true justification. It seemed that the country truly had no need to be involved in another war. “...their arrival made the soldiers begin to question everything they had left to do…” is such a vital point. Not only did the citizens question why the nation was in the war, the men who fought began to wonder as well. This is evident after the citizens started to treat the veterans so poorly when they returned from war.
DeleteI agree completely that there was no true purpose for the United States to get involved. I like how you mentioned that the purpose of the war seemed vague as time went on. The war just seemed like a game of killing; there was no true purpose behind it since the winner was determined by the body count. This is why much protesting began, just like you mentioned. And yes, even though the action taken by Americans were inappropriate at times, sometimes that is the only way to get a point across.
DeleteThe Vietnam War started when the Vietnamese wanted independence from France. The United States wanted France as an ally and wanted to support any government that was fighting communism. Thus, the nation entered the war. There was no real justification for the country entering the war and that brought upon anger among Americans. Since several people resisted the war a draft was created in order to supply the battlefield with men. Many people argued the draft would give unfair deferments to students who mainly consisted of white upper class men. The draftees usually came from the poor, working class background and African Americans. Americans felt the involvement in the war was completely unnecessary. They made their opinions known through rioting and violence. The uproar of the violence was so intense that it almost moved the Democratic National Convention from Chicago to Miami for the safety of the presidential candidates.
ReplyDeleteThe protests consisted of burning draft cards and rioting against the war actions that were broadcasted on national television. At Kent State University, around May 1970, four students were shot by National guardsmen during a school protest. A similar confrontation was at Jackson State University in Mississippi that left two students dead. Some protests that started to occur were counter protests where people agreed with the actions of America over in Vietnam. Eventually these protests began to target the wrong people. Americans against the war started to blame the soldiers and veterans. These men were forced into combat and when they returned, their welcome was not pleasant. Many were ignored, avoided, and disrespected. It would take years until the veterans were acknowledged for their sacrifices. These actions done by the protestors are completely un-Americans. To not support and respect men who served in battle to keep everyone’s life safe is not morally correct.
I completely agree with your point of view; entering the way had no specific intentions and the style of drafting was unfair. Drafting targeted the middle and working class along with specifically African Americans who were placed in the front lines. Your analyzation was well thought out and detailed. Your last statement was especially important to the justification that their actions were un-American.
DeleteI strongly agree that the involvement in the war had no good reason and that is caused intense violence. Your example of the consideration to move the Democratic National Convention is a good example for that intense violence. The disrespect towards the soldiers shows the hatred of the Americans which resulted in riots and protests. Even though I don't have the same exact viewpoint I agree with your statement due to your support and references.
DeleteThe Vietnam War is known as the most opposed and most pointless war to date. Therefore, the actions of American citizens during this time period begin to appear justified. With a lack of a formal declaration of war and an unclear purpose, motivation from soldiers and those at home were at an all time low. As a result of this, draftees outnumbered the amount of willing young men to defend our country. At this point, however, there was not a distinct 'who' that the United States were fighting. The lengths at which the Vietnam War went to contain communism overstepped the boundaries of nearly all Americans.
ReplyDeleteOutlash against the Vietnam War could be seen in riots, disrespect towards veterans, and protests. One of the most prominent protest involved over 100,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial. Around 30,000 of these people went on to march on the Pentagon. The blatant disagreement with the nation's actions provided a strong message and a sense of the overall angst of the people. Those against the war also went as far as to shun veterans of the war. This action goes against everything today's society believes in regarding veterans. This tension between citizens and veterans was worsened by the fact that most veterans were forced to face the horrors of war by their own government.
Due to the unclear justification for entering the war, unclear determination of who was 'winning', and unclear overall result of the war, the actions of the American people during the Vietnam War were legitimate.
Being that I chose to take the opposite point of view stating that all these actions taken by Americans were un-American, it was interesting to see how you considered them to be legitimate. I have to agree that to an extent Americans were justified in their actions against the government however when innocent people are injured because of violent outbreaks such as the one at Kent State University and targeting soldiers who didn't have a choice is very un-American. I completely agree with your emphasis that there was no purposeful reasoning to enter the war and Americans have a right to be angered about this, but the reaction at some points are not justifiable.
DeleteDefinitely have to agree that there was little to no motivation for soldiers to enter the war. Also your point that the US may have taken excessive measures to resist communism is extremely valid. It is also evident that the soldiers did not deserve the harsh treatment when returning home from their brutal efforts in Vietnam; which is ironic since they were fighting to protect the people who end up criticizing them. At first, I decided right away that the people's actions were un-American. However, after reading your statements about how the people's views were unclear, I can better understand the justification of their actions and why you believe them to be legitimate.
DeleteThe Vietnam War was unfavored by many Americans. The United States got involved in the war since the nation wanted France as an ally and, also, feared the domino theory which is the belief that if a close by country falls to communism, it's neighboring countries will fall as well. There was no pure or just reason as to why the United States needed to join the war; this is once again another example of the United States getting involved in external affairs. Also, many Americans did not support the war due to the way it was televised and available for all viewers to see. Old and young had access to watching the war; this caused many children to have thoughts about whether or not their parent would return home and other negative thoughts. American's made their opinion known by how they treated the soldiers who returned home from the war. The usual soldier would receive respect from civilians. However, soldiers returning home from Vietnam were given the "cold shoulder" and did not receive any respect from Americans. This was due to the fact that during the war, many innocent civilians were killed by American soldiers. Americans also protested the war as well. It started on college campuses. It then grew to big anti-war demonstrations with 100,000 protestors.
ReplyDeleteEven though the protests did seem "un-american", the protestors had a purpose. The war was very unclear and also unfair. Many of the soldiers who fought in the war were not volunteers, they were drafted, being separated from their families and fighting in an area that no one was familiar with. Also, throughout the war, a clear winner was not known. In this war, the winner was based off of the body count instead of how much land was taken. This is why there were so many deaths in that war. Therefore, the protests by Americans were legitimate.
I couldn't agree more with your standpoint on the live television coverage of the war and the negative impact it had on all age groups. Portraying the full extent of the horrific scenes which war entails did nothing but add fuel to the protesters' fire. Your reasoning for viewing the American's actions as legitimate coincide with mine, therefore I agree with them. The basis of the United States of America was built on the people standing up for what they believe is right. Through this definition, the protests against the Vietnam War go along with the basic principles of this country.
DeleteProtests against the Vietnam War in America were growing exponentially during the 1970s. The first protests came when the draft was increased. Many civilians were angry at the fact they had to sacrifice themselves for this “pointless” war or had to see their loved ones have to give everything up to be drafted in the war. Those who had a required excuse from being drafted had the privilege of stay at home, not being involved in the war, but this was not the case for many poor working class young men. Tearing up or burning your draft paper became a common occurrence and was seen to be the first of the protests against the Vietnam War.
ReplyDeleteU.S. involvement in the war was understated to the American public. Many people did not actually know the true horrors of the war. At first, Vietnam was seen as an easy victory for the U.S. Our nation would come in with all of its supremacy, wealth, and power and would easily drive over Vietnam, but I reality we were unprepared for the war. Protests were at an all time high when the death tolls of drafted soldiers continuously increased. The war that had been sold to the US public as one where victory was guaranteed was in reality taking many young lives. For example, the infamous My Lai massacre was a broad symbol of the true devastation during the war. My Lai highlighted to the US public the struggles frontline troops were experiencing against a supposedly inferior enemy. To civilians, America was not only sacrificing young draftees but the government was also conducting the deaths of children in Vietnam by bombing raids.
Along with that, the world’s media also played into this. US television brought into perspective of all US citizens what war was actually like. The Vietnam War was the first to actually receive broadcasts that clearly influenced the American opinion on war as a whole.
I definitely agree with your position on the distrust and uncertainty of the time period. I liked that you mentioned that the war seemed pointless it was definitely one of the leading factors as to why people were so angry. Your point about the way the war was presented was also really good. The broadcasts definitely had a bigger impact on the support for the war, unlike how it may have been if no one had know the struggles that were met everyday for such a lost cause.
DeleteI strongly agree with your opinions of how the Vietnam War was viewed in the eyes of citizens. Failing to be fully prepared definitely played a major role in the outcome of the war, like the death tolls. The reference about the massacre at My Lai was a great example on this position. I also agree with your outlook on the role that media played towards the war. As you discussed, media showed the true horrific colors of the war.
DeleteI strongly agree with your explanation of how Americans reacted to the war in Vietnam. Although the actions were uncalled for, the media, as you stated, played a large role in having Americans feel the way they did. The different actions that were taken should not have been brought to that high of an extent.
DeleteAmerican civilians reacted in different ways toward US involvement in the Vietnam War. The government’s stance was to join forces with the South Vietnamese to fight the communist North. As Johnson escalated United States involvement, Americans became dissatisfied with the nation's war policy. Some “hawks” argued that the United States should use maximum military force to quickly win and end the war. Others, who were "doves," argued that the United States had no right to interfere, and agreed more with Vietnamization. Some critics of the war believed that American use of bombs and chemicals put too many civilian lives at risk. The My Lai massacre caused much controversy over the way in which the war was being fought since an entire village of civilians was destroyed. The soldiers being sent to war were not willing, and there were more draftees than volunteer soldiers. Also, the war was unpopular with the people due to the Credibility Gap of the information from the Pentagon Papers versus the news and media.
ReplyDeleteDemonstrations were held in the United States, especially in 1969 and 1970, to protest the war. One way the American public made their opinions known was the men who were burning their draft cards. Also, citizens mistreated soldiers when they returned to the US from Vietnam, in disgust towards the civilian massacre. In addition there were many riots held by Americans, some in which citizens were killed. The incident of 4 college students being shot by National Guard members caused disapproval amongst the public as well. Over all, I believe the actions taken by American citizens in response to our involvement in Vietnam was un-American. Even though some were confused or in disagreement with the country’s decisions, I consider their treatment of veterans and inappropriate protests to be un-American.
Your numerous examples as to the negative aspects of the Vietnam War were very insightful and detailed. I agree with your opinions on how the event in My Lai changed outlooks on the war, because it definitely ruined many people's hope for success. I also found your reference about the credibility gap very important since that certainly shaped many negative opinions as to what America was doing in Vietnam. The examples of how Americans showed their dismay about the war were strong and eye opening, due to some actions being quite drastic.
DeleteI strongly agree with your viewpoint on the effects on American society. The Americans showed their dislike towards the war by riots and protest. The death of the 4 college students by National Guards strengthen their beliefs. Many Americans thought the moral of the war was not the same anymore because the soldiers killed innocent citizens in Vietnam as you mentioned the example of the My Lai massacre. I also agree with your reference about the many draftees and how the soldiers reacted. It shows again the big dislike towards the war and that the soldiers are not willing to volunteer.
DeleteI agree with your stance on how the treatment of the Veterans was un-American. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult for the soldiers to differentiate who was on their side. Although the war tactic of "killing first and asking later" was not very humane, the soldiers really did have no other choice - their own lives were at stake and the success of the war was based upon body count. Moreover, your several points implemented into your response amplify the un-American decisions made by the civilians. It's upsetting how people were treated in such a way that they did after fighting a war they didn't even want to be in in the first place.
DeleteI completely agree with your point of view on whether or not the reactions to the war were un-american. The several actions taken to go against the were were uncalled for. For instance, the four deaths that you mentioned showed a large change in how Americans reacted. Violence was used initially with protests, but not to the point where people were being killed. I strongly support your idea of how Americans felt on the overall purpose of the war and about the leaders causing different events to occur.
DeleteSeveral Americans were drafted into Vietnam without volunteering. This idea is only one of the many that escalated the hatred that Americans had for the war. They had no say in whether or not to stay and avoid being sent to war. In addition to the drafting, Americans began to lose trust in different American leaders due to the decisions made during the war. It was revealed that innocent civilians were killed in Vietnam by Americans. Not having a reason for this caused Americans to become concerned about what else was being hidden. They began to be concerned about what the overall purpose for the war was. They felt as if there was nothing to strive for, leading to not having one country win something or lose. This credibility gap weakened American relations with their government.
ReplyDeleteAmericans took action in different negative activities to assure that their hatred for the war was recognized. For instance, they started different protests in which signs were held about opposing drafting and the war’s unknown purpose. Relating to drafting, people began to burn their own draft cards. Knowing that this action could cause different consequences, Americans still followed through with it. Another way they showed their dislike of the war was by disrespecting veterans of the war or anyone involved in it. Not only did veterans feel unappreciated for their life risking accomplishments, but they were also violently harmed or killed. An instance at Kent State University provides an example of the tragedies that people went through. This was the site of a confrontation between students and National Guardsmen. This resulted in four college students losing their lives due to their positions in the war. Over time, different acts relating to American involvement with other countries were passed, calming the anger of most Americans.
I agree that the large felt hatred towards the war was mainly because of the restrictions held against the American people. Many draftees did not have a say and their opinions were basically irrelevant to the U.S. government. The fact about people still burning their draft cards in knowing of the consequences was largely considered a way for American civilians to get their voice back and to have a say. The questionable war brought tension to the American people and caused many more protests to stop U.S. involvement. Even after the war, as you mentioned, veterans barely received any recognition for their sacrifices. I agree wholeheartedly that Americans took action in several ways in order to end the unnecessary war.
DeleteThe way in which you presented your opinion was effective due to the use of hard hitting examples. Focusing on the faults of the United States government sheds light on the motivation behind the outlash of the people. Specifically, the revealing of the full effect of strategies used in Vietnam, involving the murder of innocent civilians, depicts the turmoil within society. I do understand your position regarding the escalation of the demonstrations and the level at which the tension between the people and the authorities grew to.
DeleteWar is almost never a popular subject; however, Vietnam was despised even more than other wars in American History. One of the major components in this hatred was the draft. American families were losing their sons involuntarily to the war, not to mention that it was a war many people believed we had no part being in. The war involved a conflict between an anticommunist South Vietnam and communist North Vietnam and many American's believed this was a local conflict between the two nations. Among all the other things occurring in the nation, war was another addition that made matters worse. Communist trials were taking place at home, the Korean War, segregation and civil rights conflicts and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy all happened within the time frame of the Vietnam War. Towards the soon-to-be end of the war, Americans discovered several hidden truths about what was taking place in Vietnam; American soldiers killed innocent citizens in the village of My Lai in Vietnam and the government had been lying about the involvement, and American progress. This distrust stemming from the credibility gap caused an even deeper dislike for the government and the war.
ReplyDeleteProtests against and for the war were legitimate and were expressed through demonstrations, rallies and marches. The foundation of American principles are the freedom of speech and expression and this is exactly what the people were doing; a policy and major event occurring involving their country was not something they stood for and believed in so they made their voices heard. Some among the bunch were probably ex-patriots or un-american, but the reason most of them were protesting was because they were fighting for what they believed the country they loved represented.
I agree with what you are getting at, your points are really well supported. I like that you first understood that no war is particularly enjoyed, but that this one had specific values that made it hard to see any real reason to support it. Involving other issues outside of the war to explain the rising tensions in America was a really good point. By talking about international and domestic affairs validated the common response to the war and that it wasn't just random outburst of anger and opportunists looking for a reason to cause havoc. Adding in that the protests, and demonstrations were not only legitimate, but also the rights of Americans was really powerful. By making this argument a matter of rights solidified your argument for supporting the protesters.
DeleteThe Vietnam war was largely disliked among Americans and less than half the country supported the war. The war had many reasons to cause every individual in the country distress. The chance of being drafted and torn away from the life you knew against your will was one of the largest factors in the growing of the antiwar movement. The Vietnam War was a time of unrest among Americans resulting in the protests and riots that caused the chaotic time to become even more confusing. Although these protests caused numerous problems including the death of students in events such as the Kent State incident, they were necessary in changing the course of the world and may have aided in ending the war earlier than if they had not made their opinion heard. The escalating riots were demonstrated to make the government, president, and all supporting the war understand that the war was not only unfair, but not necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe height of the war consisted of extreme riots that even veterans of the war took part in. A group called Vietnam Veterans Against the War would throw away their medals during riots, further proving that even those who were honored had no interest in supporting the war. The Vietnam War was also highly disliked because it added on to the many other problems America was facing at the time. The Cold War was still being fought, the assassinations of Martin Luther King jr. and Kennedy, and largely the Civil Rights Movement. By the time Nixon was elected president it was obvious that the war was a lost cause and it had no more momentum concerning support. Americans had been pushed to the brink and although there was a loss of lives it was a necessity that this level of anger was exposed to the public to ensure the country got to the point it needed to be.
Your response incorporates a lot of the emotion I imagine the
Deletesoldiers felt. The point that the protests aided in the end of the war is
very important. I think that's why people did what they did and why protests
continue to prove to be effective. I learned about the Vietnam Veterans
Against War from your post and although I knew about Veterans who would
take part in things like this, I did not know their name and specificities.
It was a good decision to take a stance and agree with the Veterans and
other protestors' actions.
The Vietnam war weakened the U.S. military moral and made many Americans deeply suspicious about the government. It was the first war which was being reported in full detail by the media which allowed the Americans see the horrible times the soldiers went through. The reasons why the U.S. fought in the war, made the Americans to dislike the war and made that known by anti-war protests and the disrespect towards the veterans once they came back. Many soldiers got drafted and they showed by burning their draft cards their dislike of the war. They also had mentally issues afterwards because of the war and how the enemy was fighting against them. Many soldiers suffered from PTSD which is the feeling of helplessness, worthlessness, dejection, anger, depression, insomnia, and a tendency to react to tense situations by using survival tactics.
ReplyDeleteThe war also brought trust issues towards the government because they were telling them wrong facts or did not say everything they knew. Americans started to demonstrate and protest causing a chaotic time in America because a lot was going on outside of the war. The civil right movement was one of the major event in the US during the war and it caused more tension because the African Americans were more likely to fight on the front line where the death casualties are the highest. So the ratio of the death casualties due to the skin color was uneven. The protest of the citizen were legitimate because the U.S. had no good reason to fight in this war and the fact that the government lies to their own people makes it even worst.
I agree with your argument that the Americans were justified in protesting for legitimate reasons, such as African Americans being more likely to fight on the front line as well as burning their draft cards. Not only was the government unjust to revealing the truths about the Vietnam War, but it was also unjust in the way in which the war was fought - people of color had a higher death ratio than white Americans. Your mention of PTSD is a very good point, it validates the negative effects of the war and qualifies your statement on Americans being exposed to the horrible experiences that the soldiers had to go through.
DeleteAfter being exposed to the images of the Vietnam War, Americans quickly lost any support that they had for the war. The United States joined the war to maintain allies with the French as well as to prevent the spread of communism. However, none of the civilians really knew the reason for why America was at war or even in the war. Several things that were carried out during the war angered Americans. Drafts were implemented due to the lack of interest of joining to fight in the war. In addition, the war was televised so Americans were able to see what really occurred during the war. People lost their trust in the government when finding out the truth; such as the My Lai village massacre and the success of the United States in the war. These events led to several outbreaks at home that expressed exactly how the Americans felt.
ReplyDeleteA lot of young people and students rioted against the government. People burned their draft cards or moved to Canada to prevent from being in the war. At Kent State University, four unarmed students were shot. Moreover, when soldiers returned home from the war, they were disrespected by civilians, many verbally or physically attacked. Some of the protests in the war were justified, however the treatment of the soldiers was rather un-American. Protests to the drafts as well as the tactics used to fight the war were understandable. On the other hand, many of the disrespected soldiers that returned home didn’t want to be in the war in the first place - nor was it easy to determine which Vietnamese was on their side. Despite some unjustified protests, the angry Americans were able to portray their emotions to the government, creating a need for change.
I agree that a big problem was that Americans did not agree or
Deleteunderstand why they were at war. The televised aspect of the war was so
crucial in how Americans responded. I did not think about the fact that the
treatment of the soldiers were un-american. I like your flip perspective on
the prompt. Your concluding sentence was a summary of it all: the protests
created a need for change.
The Vietnam War was extremely disliked by many Americans, it tore families apart because of the chance to be drafted into the war. It tore you away from your life and it was very unfair. The war was televised and disturbing everyone was able to see what was going on in the war. It made families depressed and filled with anxiety waiting to see their loved one home. The government was not informing everyone of the truth, it caused people to question and not trust the government.
ReplyDeleteThe people started protesting and it brought not deserved deaths. Americans did not know the difference between who they needed to kill and normal civilians, so they had to kill and go with their gut interest, they had blood on their hands of innocent people. American was already going through a rough time with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, and Kennedy which upset attitudes were already coming from this and just adding to it even more.
I agree with you Allie, the drafts were really affecting the war because people felt it was unfair to not be given a real choice, it was just enforced. The rioting and the incident at KSU was terrible, how those students were killed it just shows how terrible everything was during the war.
ReplyDelete