Week 14 Reflection: A War with Vietnam

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When I always learn about the Vietnam War, I tend to imagine this scene in Forrest Gump

  This week reflection is about the Vietnam War and Americans input on it. The Vietnam war first started because of Communism, Americans did not like Communism so they fought for Communism in North Vietnam so it can go away. This war is considered the longest war in US History, going from the year 1955 to 1975. This war had many traps, and tactics along with new productions coming from both countries. The Vietnam War resulted in the US losing 58,000 soldier lives and 350,000 casualties while the Vietnamese lose between one and two million deaths (including non-soldiers).

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A Monk on fire during Vietnam Protest against Communism

  Back in high school, while learning about the monks setting themselves on fire as a way to protest I was first horrified with the pictures but now I get their point. Now not to sound crazy, but what we have to realize is that protests can go to the extreme just to cause worldwide awareness. The monks were setting themselves on fire because of the Communism, it was to free themselves from other people control. The monks also sacrificed themselves to help others.  

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Anti-War and Draft Protest 

  Now talking about the protests for soldiers not to fight in the war is very controversial, even till this day. I didn't like how soon as a boy had turned 18 they could easily get drafted. Some would who were drafted would go to college, become (or act) homosexual, and even escape to Canada just so they won't go to war. When I think about the young men escaping to Canada, it made me think about the movie "Girl Interrupted," (which is a good movie I recommend to watch). Although the times were sad for these young men to be force into War and Americans protested for them, you would have to think about the reason why not fighting made modern Americans mad. Doing the American traditions, of doing what your elders say and fighting for your country instead of backing out, had made the older Americans, especially Veterans look at drafters in disappointment. I feel bad for the many soldier who died fighting in the Vietnam War which was a war most didn't want to fight in to begin with. Including the innocent Vietnamese people, even kids, that were killed by soldiers who could still be living with PTSD till this day. Soldiers come back to America remembering all the events that took place in Vietnam, many injured and not respected when coming back to America. Although this lesson was short I had a lot of passion for the soldiers, the ones who had enough courage to fight in war and the ones who had enough courage to get away from fighting.