Essay On The Vietnam War Movement

The U.S.'s involvement in the Vietnam War is a highly controversial topic. George Kennan called the Vietnam War “the most disastrous of all America’s undertakings over the whole two hundred years of its history” because of great impact it had and left on America. Thousands of Americans were forced to fight and lost their lives. Some Americans believe it was the duty of the nation to defend other nations from the threat of Communism. Others believe it was not the U.S.'s place to get involved and that it was a costly mistake. Regardless of the numerous points of view, there is no arguing the significant place it holds in U.S. history or its impact on American society. The Anti-War Movement plays a key part in the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam
Less educated and less wealthy Americans also had little chance to avoid being put in the draft and ultimately drafted to fight in the war. When it came to being drafted it was by the luck of the draw meaning that it they drew the stick with a number that matches your birthdate then you were drafted to fight in the war. For example my birthday is on May 5th so if they drew the number 364 then I would be drafted to fight in the war. The organized effort to encourage noncompliance with the Selective Service System began in San Francisco in 1997 which lead to the public statement of purpose being issued by a semi-underground called Resistance in advance of Stop the Draft Week, held October 14-21, 1967. (We Refuse, The Draft Resistance, 1967, 307). Through this you can see that many Americans as well as college students were getting tired of the draft and how it was forced upon them with many of them having no say so in whether the wanted to continue the educational career or go to the army instead there were just forced into the army by these drafts. Many Americans believed that war was not the answer and that the government was not heeding to