Death At Vietnam
Essay by 24 • March 28, 2011 • 698 Words (3 Pages) • 1,171 Views
It wasn’t before wasting 118 billion dollars, 56000 American lives, and 16 years that the war in Vietnam ended on April 30, 1975. I served for one year in Vietnam before being killed in an explosion. After my death in the spring of 71, I became more aware of what the United States was fighting for in its multiple wars. Tensions erupted and called for something to be done, the American government complied as it saw fit, but I still wonder if they were right. The establishment, the counterculture as well as the fight to protect democracy against communism caused significant issues throughout the years 1959-1975, the Vietnam War.
I share a story with many Americans of these the stormy sixties. I vehemently opposed the war in Vietnam. I was fortunate enough to go to college in New York City and due to my location; I was subjected to a lot of different views on the war. With my submersion into subversion, I dropped out of school and spent most of my time at peace rallies and anti- war demonstrations. We preached love and peace, and for some reason our words led to violence. I was still so young; I had only just turned 21 when I was drafted into the war. I tried to think of different ways to avoid the fighting, but as so many other kids found out, no matter our outlook on the situation, the government only cared about sending bodies over.
The hardest thing for me was the fact that I couldn’t understand how the government could be willing to put me in the heart of a civil war, a target for attack, in a battle that only their own people could fight(Doc 2G). Americans have been entered into wars they should not have been sent to, due to imperialism and foreign entanglements. For the future, limit foreign engagements and retreat back to an old policy of staying out of the business and troubles of other countries. Through over analyzing the activity of foreign countries, the American government attempts to step ahead, while in reality, causes it to stumble backwards. We have brought humiliation upon ourselves in Vietnam. We are no longer secure on our position of being a leading world power. The only foreign agreements we should engage and be fully committed to are the ones that will bring a promise of a lasting period of dÐ"©tente. The government needs to dedicate itself completely, and to be entirely loyal to the conditions set forth in the agreements that will hopefully prevent and future
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