Anti War

   Thoughts on Anti-War Beliefs: The Discussion of the Vietnam Protests

    War has plagued our history books, plays, music, and art for as far back as we can trace. It is an atrocity that is unavoidable in today's day in age. Most people can agree that war is devastating and losing loved ones to it is something no one should have to go through. I personally hold a strong Anti-War stance but it seems that the news and higher uppers deem it as a necessity or that it is for the betterment of our country. Belittling the voices of those in disagreement. Today we will discuss the most prominent times that U.S. citizens were silenced because of their Anti-War beliefs. Let's talk about it!

    One of the most notable times when citizens were against war was during the Vietnam War. Thousands of people protested all over the country, from San Francisco to New York City, even in the capitol itself, Washington, D.C. in demand for the government to leave Vietnam and to stop the war. Why were so many people opposed to the Vietnam War? Each person had they own belief behind them, whether it was on a moral grounds or because they felt it lacked any purpose. A small, yet notable, group of Vietnam Veterans walk alongside picket sticks and they referred to themselves as the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). They gave their full first-hand experiences of the horrors of what they witnessed in their time overseas. 

   Though the Vietnam War started with President Eisenhower's administration, it was under President Kennedy's administration when military officials assassinated South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, shortly after Kennedy himself was assassinated. It was President Johnson who had the fear that with Vietnam's weaken government they to fall fate to the Communist Party. By 1973, under the Nixon administration all sides agreed to a peace agreement. The war spanned from November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975 and costed over 100 billion U.S. dollars. It wasn't until President Johnson when the protests began at wide spread. 

    The first peaceful demonstrations began in 1965 but April 15, 1967 is a day that many will remember. The Largest anti-war demonstration in U.S. history with about 400,000 participants marching from Central Park to the Untied Nations, lead by Martin Luther King Jr. New York had some of the largest antiwar organizations but it effectively divided the city. Again on October 21, 1967 over 100,000 protesters gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, and 30,000 marched to the Pentagon. 

    Music was a huge aspect of this movement, artists such as Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, and John Lennon wrote songs that were commentaries on the war. Country Joe and the Fish's "What Are We Fighting For?" had blunt lyrics about the situation at hand which can be striking when compared to the rhythm and southern soulful sound of the instrumental. I see this as a way to show that the situation is much more serious then our government is letting us on to believe, harsh truth hidden behind politicized speeches. John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" released in 1969 became an anthem for protestors and continues to be a psalm for peace and unity.  

    Well after the Vietnam War we still see anti-war movements and citizens asking their government to end their involvement with wars and conflicts that don't directly involve them. In the most recent history we saw peaceful demonstrations demanding the U.S. government to end their funding to Israel at college campuses and in the streets. These protestors are being met similarly to how the protesters of the 60's and 70's were. The conflicts between Israel and Palestine aren't new but with in the past few months it came to the attention of many across the world after a bombing from Hamas. 

    

   War rages on and all we can do is continue using our voices to stop the hate, stop the violence, and to bring unity with one another. Not only on the picket line, but as well as at the polls. Voting for a representative that shares your values gets your voice heard at a higher level. Anti-war voices should no longer be ignored, the people have a voice and should have a say in where their tax dollars go and the future their children will live in.