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?