Compare And Contrast Essay On The Vietnam War

Changed Perspective

Throughout history various countries have tried to govern Vietnam. In the beginning, when Vietnam was unstable countries like Japan, China, and France tried to dominate, but being that Vietnam was a communist country, the United States wanted to stop the spreading of communism around the world. Furthermore, the US then helped Vietnam overcome this obstacle of countries trying to control them and lead Vietnam to be free but over the years the US proposed to Vietnam that if they wanted to become a capitalist country which, unfortunately they declined and because of this the Vietnam War began. In the first stages of the war Americans were care free but after a few unexplainable things, they became more aware of the war. Various

Americans began to be against the war which were called Doves, but numerous were not which were also known as Hawks.
The United States first had about 20,000 soldiers on duty but then throughout the years numbers increased to an outrageous 500,000 soldiers.

Numerous Americans were scared of losing loved ones and unfortunately some soldiers did die, which then various were contemplating the war more as time progressed. The death of U.S troops was due to the unfamiliar, new terrain, along with the conditions that followed. It all became dangerous and difficult because it was nothing like they have practice back at home, it was a learning stage on the battle ground. The climate and the heavy weapons became horrendous, as they traveled through the vast lands that may contain booby traps. “ The air rushed in like poison, hot and choking….I was not prepared for the heat.” (TCI 2012-2013) In every part of the world, many have ask why were we involved in the war, the United States never answered this question which made numerous begin to questioned everything that LBJ was doing. “The reason for the loss of public support for the Vietnam War was that the United States never had a convincing case for intervention in the first place.” (Doc M) Various Americans realized that the US not at all had a real reason as to why they should enter the war; this made a majority of the Americans begin to be against the war. Although, they wanted to stop the spread of communism, Vietnam is still communism today. In comparison, to what the US believed they were going to accomplish and what they did accomplish is very different Vietnam did not change and remained to what they were in the

past.

“Vietnam was brutal, ugly, dangerous, painful, and sometimes inhumane.” (Doc J) Vietnam was a danger zone for anybody visiting or living there. The American destroyers fired the North Vietnamese naval bases, this occurrence was called the “Maddox Incident” that was ordered by President Johnson. This event lead Johnson to have an increase in popularity, however, numerous questioned the war and its brutal tactics. “The Vietcong aren’t the only ruthless ones. We have to be, too. Have to. You’d be surprised to know that a guy you went to school with is right now shooting a nine-year-old girl and her mother.” (Doc O) The United States showed Americans another perspective on the war but when Americans began knowing that killing children under the ages of thirteen were involved suddenly the perspective on war had changed.
“Specifically authorized the President to take whatever steps he felt necessary to resist further aggression…we are committed to resisting communist aggression. That is what is all about.” (Doc D) The Lai Massacre, was the assassination of 500 innocent Vietnamese civilians, including women and children. “This was driven home to those who stayed home perhaps more forcefully than ever before because the war lasted so long and because they saw so much of it on television in living, and dying, color. Many who were seeing war for the first time were so shocked for what they saw.” (Doc J) The Americans who were tuned in at home began to view their own country as the enemies. Through this it sparked many conflicts at home that sprung up protest to end the war with Vietnam. Nonetheless, the Napalm bombing was a dangerous weapon, that wiped out forest and destroy any of the enemy's schemes. “Television newscasts emphasized a credibility gap - the difference between the reality of war and the Johnson Administration’s portrayal of it.”(TCI) It gave America a new perspective which was that war isn’t what most expected it to be. Americans were beginning to see what everyone else outside of America was seeing. Violence and deaths were uncontrollable during the war which made various switch their opinions and finally be against the war.

In conclusion, the United States helped Vietnam overcome the problems that were being faced and lead them to be free. Unfortunately, many things had escalated and lead to war. In the first stages of the war Americans were careless and didn’t fear anything about it. Several years past and various Americans began to be against the war, as soon as war had come to their living room. Throughout history, the United States have always tried to make a countries better but all it has done is create more damage and poverty. Americans have come to a conclusion, as to why if the United States did not change anything in Vietnam today why were they involved in the first place.