Vietnam War Essay, Research Paper
The discussion of the Vietnam War and its affect on Americans. In this regard, the
opinions and experiences of those who fought in the war, as well as those who stayed at
?home? were taken into account. In addition, the ?purposes of the war outlined, and the
war?s effect on the indigenous people was assessed.
The Vietnam War officially began for the United States with the Presidents order
to send troops into Vietnam, although there was no official declaration of war (As was his
right as stated in the Constitution of the United States). According to politicians, the
reason the U.S. had to become involved was because this war to be a war on Communism.
In afterthought, what was the possibility that North Vietnam or any other Communist
country would actually invade America? The logic at the time was that if the Communists
were not stopped in Vietnam, they would then invade the shores of the U.S.! In reality,
the Vietnam War was a war that was fought for no real purpose.
The Vietnam War was unique in that it was the first war in which the media played
a significant role. During the war, television and radio news programs both aired scenes
from the ?front?. Americans were able to see, firsthand, the death and destruction being
carried on in Vietnam. The media?s depiction of the war was not glorified in any way. On
the countrary, many Americans were given the opportunity to witness the true horrors of
war. More importantly, Americans at home were able to see who their ?boys on the
front? were truly fighting. Sadly, these ?ruthless? enemies were often young children and
innocent bystanders, not ?yellow monsters? bent on world domination. The media?s role
in the Vietnam War helped to play a large part in the development of various groups who
vehemently opposed the war.
The ?Resistance? groups were bands of individuals who truly felt that there was no
purpose to the Vietnam War and that Americans should not be there. These groups
consisted mainly of young men who showed their opposition to the war by holding rallies
and protests, and by refusing to be drafted. These groups were made up of individuals
form a myriad assortment of races and ethnicity?s. In a sense, the war helped quell the
strife, which existed between the races, at least for a short while. People of all colors and
creed joined together in a common goal, that being the opposition of the war.
Just as the media helped the American people at home by fueling their impassioned
resistance, it proved to be detrimental those fighting the war for the United States, and
forever changed the image of the American soldier. Gone for many was the proud young
man waving Old Glory as he marched valiantly into battle against any threat to the
American way; to be replaced by a viscous murderer of innocent women and children.
Many soldiers, upon returning from Vietnam, were forced to face abuse and assault from
the American people. Instead of being welcomed home with open arms and ticker tape
parades, they were greeted with a hail of profanity and a shower of spit. These were those
veterans that came home and simply signed up for another duty, just to escape from the
land they once called home. Yet there were also many that stayed to oppose the war
alongside those in the resistance. At the same time, they also pleaded for forgiveness with
the American people. ?Don?t condemn us. Remember those that died?. Throughout all
this, the ?purpose? of the Vietnam War became lost in the controversy. Yet, when is there
really any true ?purpose? for war?