The U.S. Should Not Have Fought in Vietnam - Essay Example

In examining the United States' presence in Vietnam, I have come to the conclusion that the United States should not have fought in Vietnam.
"We fight because we must fight it [the Vietnam Conflict] if we are to live in a world where every country can shape its own destiny. And only in such a world will our own freedom be finally secure" (1). Johnson's statement intended to stir up fervor for the 'cause' was nothing more than rhetoric and was far from the truth. To understand this claim, one must look back into the not so distant past. In 1954 Vietnam was given its independence from France. This country had for years been in internal conflict with a division between embracing Socialism in the north to favoring a democratic society in the southern part of the country.
During the ensuing years Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Socialist movement in the country, was gaining popularity. The end of French colonialism in Vietnam led to the call for free elections by the Geneva Convention. The United States blocked that.

A lack of Respect  “To Build a Fire” by Jack London is a short story about a man traveling along the Yukon River in the bitter winter weather.  While warned against traveling alone in the frigid cold, he ventures out to meet his companions at a remote camp many miles away, with only his dog.  Overcome by nature’s power, he eventually perishes along the way, leaving his four-legged partner to complete the journey alone.  The story displays how the forces of nature can surprisingly overwhelm even the most confident of men. The traveler, or also referred to as a chechaquo, is the main character of London’s tale.   He is a quick and alert man, yet lacks imagination to see things in the big picture.  We know that he knows the ways of the arctic environment, but it becomes obvious that he has never experienced a situation like this.   The man is observant and quite resourceful, exemplified when he coaxes the dog to walk ahead of him across the ice, in case of soft spots.  A combination of arrogance and confidence are apparent with almost every thought he has.

+ Recent posts