Argumentative Essay: Controversy Over War Photography

Walter Dean Myers once stated that “One of the lessons learned during the Vietnam War was that the depiction of wounded soldiers, of coffins stacked higher than their living guards, had a negative effect on the viewing public. The military in Iraq specifically banned the photographing of wounded soldiers and coffins, thus sanitizing this terrible and bloody conflict.” The Vietnam War, fought in 1955 to 1975, was the longest war in American history. This war was a conflict between the Communist North Vietnam and its ally Viet Cong, and South Vietnam and its ally the United States. During the Vietnam war, tensions in the United States were extremely high. Increasing opposition to the war was causing major division amongst the American people, and many feared that Vietnam could potentially see a victory. This war was by far one of the most unpopular wars to the American people that ended with the withdrawal of the United States, and the unification of Vietnam under Communist rule.

The big failure America in the Vietnam War is the shameful history of tragic scene for arrogant American, whose pain is still difficult to ease. The crucial event also had a profound impact on today 's international situation. It is believed that the failure included political, economic, military and cultural background and other aspects, which are that common. When it comes to the controversial subject, I hope to put forward some fresh views from where I stand.

The Vietnam War was a war the United States should have never been involved in. The

“Mary Tsukamoto once said ‘I knew it would leave a scar that would stay with me forever. At that moment my precious freedom was taken from me’” (Martin 54). The Betrayal. The attack on Pearl Harbor. Freedom being ripped away. Loyalty being questioned.

Prior, to the emergence of America entering World War I the era of Industrialization had finished and continuous conflicts between the ideals of the United States remaining in isolation were brought amongst by President Woodrow Wilson. However, this idea of Isolationism was challenged by the idea of expanding the nation 's borders, also known as Imperialism these two ideas conflicted greatly with each other. Towards the early 1900’s President Wilson was in office when Germany sank The Lusitania in which the United States had a decision to make by choosing to go into the war, around this time film was making an introduction into the world whether it being in the newly built film palaces or somewhere else. When the United States had announced

War is a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different ups within a nation or state. Like several wars the United States has fought, this war had its strong supporters and its critics. Three reasons why the United States was NOT justified in going to war with Mexico are: President Polk believed in Manifest Destiny while others didn’t believe in him or God. U.S. should have never crossed when Mexico didn’t give permission. Slave owners brought slaves even though it was Slave-free land.

When citizens of the United States stare up at their national flag - the 13 stripes and the 50 stars that represent the freedom their ancestors fought tooth and nail for - they probably fail to remember the lessons they were taught in school about the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the world wars. In these wars, men fought for their country’s freedom, tossing their own life behind them. Should the country that is being protected by brave men and women ignore their efforts and their struggles? No, and if they were to, they would have to hold no pride for their country, and even less for the struggles of their ancestors.

The Civil War was a bloody, well fought war that lasted 4 years between the Union (the Northern States) and the Confederacy (the Southern states.) This war would determine what type of nation it would become. Would the Union be split instead of preserved? Would the Union be free while the Confederate states had slaves? The bloody, gruesome war lasted four years and involved many men, women and children. Photographers captured the truth about the war. Matthew Brady, a famous photographer, took many photos that had a lasting impact on people’s perceptions of the war.. The photos of the Civil War affected the American people as a whole. The publication of Civil War battle photos affected the opinions of the

America treaded the path towards World War II with trepidation, until its people were convinced that action must be taken when the incident of Pearl Harbor occurred. From that point on, American citizens began mobilizing to aid their nation in hopes for victory against the Axis Powers. In order to keep up morale certain measures, such as the use of false advertising, were imposed. The influence of American propaganda during World War II led to an exploration of government authority through the use of censorship, exploitation of women, and incentive to contribute to the war effort.

The war in Vietnam to do this day has gone down as one of the influential and controversial wars in United States history. The war lasted from 1955 to 1975.The nation as a whole began to uproar over the war and the major consequences of the war. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. Public opinion steadily turned against the war following 1967 and by 1970 only a third of Americans believed that the U.S. had not made a mistake by sending troops to fight in Vietnam (Wikipedia). Not to mention, many young people protested because they were the ones being drafted while others were against the war because the anti-war movement grew increasingly popular among the counterculture and drug culture in American society and

Born in Chicago in 1931, military strategist Daniel Ellsberg helped strengthen public opposition to the Vietnam War in 1971 by leaking secret documents known as the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times. The documents contained evidence that the U.S. government had misled the public regarding U.S. involvement in the war.

The purpose of this investigation is to explore the question: How did the Tet Offensive change American public opinion on the Vietnam War? The focus of the investigation will be on the years 1965-1970 in order to allow for analysis of American public opinion from the beginning of American involvement to the years following the Tet Offensive. Sources analyzing the Tet Offensive as a whole and American public opinion on the Vietnam War will be used to accurately determine the effects of the Tet Offensive on American public opinion.

“Is war ever justified?”, is a question with its solution first originating from Christian theology. Saint Augustine was the first individual to offer a theory on this, and introduced the “Just War Theory”, which was later revised by Saint Thomas Aquinas, creating just 3 criteria to be met in order for a war to be just: “War needed to be waged by legitimate authority, have a just cause, and have the right intentions”. Since then, the “Just War Theory” was been used by many to justify their wars, however, there many other factors that were not taken into consideration that could be used to justify a war. I feel that war is justified and will be looking into points that are for the justification of war.

Focusing on the early discussions, to the point where the U.S. entered World War II and began their debate about how to fight the Germans. A coalition force, planning and fighting as a team led to many advantages and disadvantages that ended many times with compromise. The sometimes heated planning conferences and meetings that led to debate and arguments about how to successfully fight and defeat the Germans was tenuous at best. The road was filled with obstacles, but the Allies navigated their way to a victory over the German led Axis Powers.

War brings loss to both soldiers and civilians, which establishes many difficulties for people long after the war has passed. War is relative to the person experiencing it; a war that ends with a peace treaty for one could be a life long mental fight for another. Jobs, homes, and loved ones are subject to loss during times of war. As resources and goods are shipped overseas, people living on domestic home fronts suffer the backlash of the fighting. The ones who inevitably experience the most loss are the soldiers fighting within the war. Experiencing things such as the loss of comrades; the will to fight; mental fortitude; and the will to live. War may bring solution to a problem and bring about peace, but war is always a losing battle in which