The Vietnam War Era Of American History - 1700 Words

Stanley Karnow describes the Vietnam War era of American history as â€Å"†¦a tragedy of epic dimensions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 1 and it is fair to postulate that this is no understatement. One of the more pertinent ramifications of the Vietnam War was the deconstruction of fundamental, if somewhat illusory, American conceptions and ideals. The war shattered America’s hitherto unshakeable â€Å"confidence†2 in its political hegemony, military prowess and assumed authority in world order, i.e. â€Å"†¦its moral exclusivity, its military invincibility and manifest destiny†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 3 The war that was never officially declared is one that American society and culture would rather unofficially forget. Karnow argues: â€Å"†¦in human terms†¦the war in Vietnam was a war that nobody won - a struggle between victims†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 4, moreover to augment this standpoint, I would argue that another significant and concurrent victim of the Vietnam War was, and still is, the truth. Memory is an intrinsic and integral facet of human existence, crucially affecting every aspect of our character, actions, emotions and experiences. Furthermore, as Marita Sturken suggests, â€Å"†¦memory establishes life’s continuity†¦and provides the very core of identity†¦.†5, furthermore cultural memory is â€Å"†¦memory shared outside the avenues of formal historical discourse yet is entangled with cultural products and imbued with cultural meaning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 6 Therefore, it would be logical to assume that American cultural memory innately presupposes American cultural identity. In theShow MoreRelatedBlack Boy By Richard Wright1597 Words   |  7 PagesEdison Yip Professor Beirich History 202B 8 December 2015 Paper Assignment Throughout history, African Americans have gone through numerous experiences, both good and bad, that have shaped their community to show that they are more than just a race. Some periods in time such as the segregated South and the Vietnam War have shaped and changed the lives of many African American families. Black Boy, a memoir by Richard Wright, talks about his youth and experience in the segregated South. BloodsRead MoreWhat Role Did the American Media Play in the Vietnam War1741 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: The American media is a vital resource for coverage on national and international affairs. They keep the public informed and report on matters that the United States is involved in so the American people can form their own views and opinions on them. Notably the media simply cannot report on every event that involves America so, they also have the job of picking and choosing between what is most important and what is newsworthy, alongside the task of reporting news reports that willRead MoreDuring the Vietnam War Era1109 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the Vietnam War era, the United States and other democratic and free nations were fearful of communism spreading to more parts of the world. They fought two world wars to protect freedom, and to contain the communist movements. The foreign policy of the United States evolved to that of a pre-emptive type strike on the possibility of communism surfacing and threatening free countries. Harry S. Truman began to theorize that if a communi st nation took over a non-communist state, then neighboringRead MoreOf the many historical eras, the 1960 era is regarded as one of the most controversial eras ever in1200 Words   |  5 Pageshistorical eras, the 1960 era is regarded as one of the most controversial eras ever in the history of America. However, this was not the anticipation that most of American citizens had. At the very beginning of the 1960s, many believed that this was perhaps the most promising era yet. They even dubbed this era the golden age. The expectations of the people intensified in 1961 when John F. Kennedy took the office of the president. His charisma and enthusiasm won the hearts and trust of the American peopleRead MoreHow to Tell a True War Story by Tim Obrien1124 Words   |  5 PagesThe â€Å"Baby Boom† era occurred between the years of the late 1950s thru the 19970s and shaped America and its culture into the type of country it is today. It helps to understand these times to prevent his tory from repeating itself while better understanding how people were feeling during that time. Also, to better understand what was happening during that time by reading the literature that was written during that time period. Through Tim O’Brien’s â€Å"How to Tell a True War Story† to Ursula K. Le Guin’sRead MorePresident Lyndon B. Johnson Essay1478 Words   |  6 Pagesthe biggest blunders in the United States’ history was the decision to involve the nation in the feud between North and South Vietnam known as the Vietnam War. It is safe to say that the United States might not have gone to war if American citizens did not support it. History has shown that there were many indications that this was a poor decision so why did the American people initially support their government’s aspirations to fight communism in Vietnam? The 1960s were a time where the U.S. federalRead MoreEssay on Protest Songs Throughout the Vietnam War1445 Words   |   6 PagesThroughout all the anti-war protests and marches during the Vietnam War, it is interesting to note the changes in the music of that time. From the beginning of the war, where support and loyalty from Americans was present in songs, to the end of the war, where anger and distrust was evident in musical lyrics, American’s opinion changed about the war. This change in opinion was easily recognized by the altering of musical lyrics about the war when Americans grew tired of the constant sending of URead MoreThe Vietnam Era Essay1135 Words   |  5 Pages The Vietnam Era HUMN-303N: Introduction to Humanities Professor Stacey Donald DeVry University During the decades prior to the eighties the two most important issues the U.S. was facing were the war in Vietnam and civil rights. This era changed the way the public was able view the events, there was television and photography which allowed the world to see for the first time what war was about and journalism was not always unbiased. This era was an era of advancementRead MoreEssay Similarities Between the War in Iraq and the Vietnam War831 Words   |  4 PagesSimilarities Between the War in Iraq and the Vietnam War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As time passes, every society endures situations which stress its very fabric. Each societies history is sprinkled with these situations. One such situation which the United States underwent was the Vietnam war. For years this particular event has been hotly debated. Hardly anyone who was present at the time agrees on any point concerning this war, except that they regret it. It has become the greatest American foreign policy calamityRead MoreLosing Vietnam On The Home Front1672 Words   |  7 PagesNick Smith U.S. History A Mr. Nance March 23, 2016 Losing Vietnam on the Home-front Forty six years have passed since the United States officially stopped their involvement in Vietnam. Not since the Civil war had the country been so torn. Every American family was impacted, losing husbands, sons, and daughters. Over fifty thousand Americans were killed and many more still suffer deep physical and emotional scars . Veterans took their own lives, were treated as social outcasts, or ended up on