farah_ruff88
New member
The Vietnam Era
The Vietnam Era must have been a different experience for everyone. I can only describe my limited opinions of it since I did not experience the actual era, only the aftermath of it.
The Vietnam Era marked a complete turn around in the culture of the United States. Previous decades were all about being obediant while this era was all about rebellion. Teenagers came out from under the control of their parents and society and became their own person. They were not hindered by what they were supposed to be or what society expected of them. No one expected "hippies" to amount to anything, therefore they didn't experience the pressures that their parents had. During the Vietnam Era, there was often a division between parents and their children because of the vast differences in opinions and lifstyles. "Hippies" contradicted everything their parents based their lives on. Many parents didn't understand their children or know how to deal with them. My father had a friend named Leif who was a hard core war protestor and hippie. His parents were very important people in their town and very conventional. His parents viewed him as an erabarrassment and sent him to a psychiatrist. his parents didn't try to understand him, they just gave up. They were more concerned what other people thought than what he thought. Many parents could not understand their kiRAB because their lives were so different. It was more than just a gender gap. The generation of the Vietnam Era changed the way our contry worked. They changed the dress codes, the music and even the laws.
Hippies lived by the concepts of free-love, racial equality and peace. These principles marked a great change in society. The spirit of the Vietnam Era lives on today. This generation experienced what no other had ever gone through or has since. The Vietnam Conflict was on the television daily and is often known as the "televison war." They watched their frienRAB and family being shipped off to fight in a war when there was no direct threat against the U.S. Many people dodged the draft by going to college or by fleeing to Canada. My father told me stories of his frienRAB that dodged the draft. One of his frienRAB tattooed "f*** you" into the side of his hand so it would face front when he saluted, and he was rejected by the army. Another friend of my father's shot himslef in the foot to avoid the draft.
The Vietnam War was the most important event in the Vietnam Era. For many, the Vietnam War and the conflict, changes and divisions it caused in the U.S. was the defining event of the later part of the twentieth century. It caused a great division in society between not only those who were for the war and those who were against it but between the U.S. government and the American people. It created a distrust of the government that has carried on into present generations. Not only hippies and war protestors distrusted the government. The American soldiers and their families also became wary of it. People began to see and question the lies that had been forced upon them. The Vietnam War also caused a division within families. Parents and children often disagreed over the war. The Vietnam War caused a rift in public opinion that led to social unrest and violence. Many war protests resulted in violence and death. They began as peaceful demonstrations but police often attacked protestors becase they disagreed with or misunderstood their intentions.
The U.S. intrvention in Vietnam had a disastrous effect on Vietnam. We did not stop the spread of communism or preserve democracy there, as was intended. All we did was kill thousanRAB of people, not all soldiers, and destroy a way of life. The U.S. claimed to be helping but they weren't. The Vietnamese culture deteriorated under the American influence. THey were introduced to the corrupt American ways, such as prostitution. The general population of the U.S. knew little about the history, culture, religion and values of the Vietnamese. This led to the torture, rape and murder of the vietnamese at the hanRAB of soldiers.
This was the first time serving in a war was not viewed as heroic. Men often had to explain why they served because so many were against the war. There waslittle support for either the soldiers or the war from the general population of the U.S. Veterans were not respected or admired and were often called "baby killers." They could not readjust to society because of their experiences in Vietnam and became social outcasts. Very little emotional support was offered to soldiers returning home. Thye experienced isolation, loneliness and anger and suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome. Many felt guilty for surviving the war and acquired a death wish. Veterans often became alcoholics or commited suicide. Disabled veterans faced the worst problems after the war. They were often severely disabled and had to live in hospitls. In these places, tehy were nglected and abused. They often went without medicine or clean linens because of neglect and overcrowding. The hospitals, like everywhere else, did not help the soldiers deal with the stress of the war. Veterans had no one to turn to because no one understood what they had been through in Vietnam.
The Civil Rights movement was at its height during the Vietnam Era. Protests by hippies and non-hippies alike helped to end legal segregation and ohter discriminatory laws. It changed the idea that blacks and whites led separate lives. It began open interracial daing, although it was still not accepted by many. They overcame tremendous barriers. The Vietnam Era also helped change the role of women on this country. They became more independent and didn't all turn out just like their mothers. It furthered the idea that women don't only belong at home.
The Vietnam Era was a time of peace, violence, rebellion, revolution and ideallism. It has forever changed the way we lead our lives.
The Vietnam Era must have been a different experience for everyone. I can only describe my limited opinions of it since I did not experience the actual era, only the aftermath of it.
The Vietnam Era marked a complete turn around in the culture of the United States. Previous decades were all about being obediant while this era was all about rebellion. Teenagers came out from under the control of their parents and society and became their own person. They were not hindered by what they were supposed to be or what society expected of them. No one expected "hippies" to amount to anything, therefore they didn't experience the pressures that their parents had. During the Vietnam Era, there was often a division between parents and their children because of the vast differences in opinions and lifstyles. "Hippies" contradicted everything their parents based their lives on. Many parents didn't understand their children or know how to deal with them. My father had a friend named Leif who was a hard core war protestor and hippie. His parents were very important people in their town and very conventional. His parents viewed him as an erabarrassment and sent him to a psychiatrist. his parents didn't try to understand him, they just gave up. They were more concerned what other people thought than what he thought. Many parents could not understand their kiRAB because their lives were so different. It was more than just a gender gap. The generation of the Vietnam Era changed the way our contry worked. They changed the dress codes, the music and even the laws.
Hippies lived by the concepts of free-love, racial equality and peace. These principles marked a great change in society. The spirit of the Vietnam Era lives on today. This generation experienced what no other had ever gone through or has since. The Vietnam Conflict was on the television daily and is often known as the "televison war." They watched their frienRAB and family being shipped off to fight in a war when there was no direct threat against the U.S. Many people dodged the draft by going to college or by fleeing to Canada. My father told me stories of his frienRAB that dodged the draft. One of his frienRAB tattooed "f*** you" into the side of his hand so it would face front when he saluted, and he was rejected by the army. Another friend of my father's shot himslef in the foot to avoid the draft.
The Vietnam War was the most important event in the Vietnam Era. For many, the Vietnam War and the conflict, changes and divisions it caused in the U.S. was the defining event of the later part of the twentieth century. It caused a great division in society between not only those who were for the war and those who were against it but between the U.S. government and the American people. It created a distrust of the government that has carried on into present generations. Not only hippies and war protestors distrusted the government. The American soldiers and their families also became wary of it. People began to see and question the lies that had been forced upon them. The Vietnam War also caused a division within families. Parents and children often disagreed over the war. The Vietnam War caused a rift in public opinion that led to social unrest and violence. Many war protests resulted in violence and death. They began as peaceful demonstrations but police often attacked protestors becase they disagreed with or misunderstood their intentions.
The U.S. intrvention in Vietnam had a disastrous effect on Vietnam. We did not stop the spread of communism or preserve democracy there, as was intended. All we did was kill thousanRAB of people, not all soldiers, and destroy a way of life. The U.S. claimed to be helping but they weren't. The Vietnamese culture deteriorated under the American influence. THey were introduced to the corrupt American ways, such as prostitution. The general population of the U.S. knew little about the history, culture, religion and values of the Vietnamese. This led to the torture, rape and murder of the vietnamese at the hanRAB of soldiers.
This was the first time serving in a war was not viewed as heroic. Men often had to explain why they served because so many were against the war. There waslittle support for either the soldiers or the war from the general population of the U.S. Veterans were not respected or admired and were often called "baby killers." They could not readjust to society because of their experiences in Vietnam and became social outcasts. Very little emotional support was offered to soldiers returning home. Thye experienced isolation, loneliness and anger and suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome. Many felt guilty for surviving the war and acquired a death wish. Veterans often became alcoholics or commited suicide. Disabled veterans faced the worst problems after the war. They were often severely disabled and had to live in hospitls. In these places, tehy were nglected and abused. They often went without medicine or clean linens because of neglect and overcrowding. The hospitals, like everywhere else, did not help the soldiers deal with the stress of the war. Veterans had no one to turn to because no one understood what they had been through in Vietnam.
The Civil Rights movement was at its height during the Vietnam Era. Protests by hippies and non-hippies alike helped to end legal segregation and ohter discriminatory laws. It changed the idea that blacks and whites led separate lives. It began open interracial daing, although it was still not accepted by many. They overcame tremendous barriers. The Vietnam Era also helped change the role of women on this country. They became more independent and didn't all turn out just like their mothers. It furthered the idea that women don't only belong at home.
The Vietnam Era was a time of peace, violence, rebellion, revolution and ideallism. It has forever changed the way we lead our lives.