There has never been a war in the United States that was protested so much as the Vietnam War. Opinions and theories on the Vietnam War are never in short supply. It is an interesting topic to discuss because so many of those who fought in Vietnam are still alive today.
As with most American conflicts of the era, this war began as a result of an American policy to fight the spread of communism. America ventured into Vietnam to fight against the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The war later ended with a cease-fire between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. However South Vietnam was later invaded by the North and unified under communist rule.
The Vietnam War was controversial to begin with as many opposed a United States invasion there. Protests by American civilians were commonplace as they attempted to voice their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to enter the war. The draft only complicated the matter more, leading many civilian men to protest the war and to flee to Canada to avoid being drafted.
One of the worst comments made about the War in Iraq was when it was compared to the Vietnam War. Such a comparison could only be made by someone ignoring the facts of each war. 1.4 million people were killed in the Vietnam War. However, only six percent of these people were American soldiers. The death toll in Iraq is nowhere near as much as it was in Vietnam. The basis for the comparison between the two wars is a result of our motives for entering each war. Members of the senate have lobbied charges against President Bush of staying in a war that has no concrete objective or purpose. It is on this thought that people have concluded that the war in Iraq is like the Vietnam War.
What do you think about such a comparison? Do you see any similarities between the two wars? Whatever your thoughts or opinions are, we appreciate hearing them. Thanks for your contributions.
