Role of the US Government in Vietnam War

The United States government is the protector for its country. It is there to defend the country when matters are aggravated by foreign enemies and criminals, as well as defend citizens whose lives are in jeopardy. It also help to keep order and allow people to live together comfortably. However, during the 1950’s to 1960’s the government struggled for racial equality in addition to gaining peace for its country. During this era people turned violence into a solution for situations along with foreign enemies. For this reason, strategies were put forth by the government to help aid the issue. In this paper I will be discussing the approaches exercised by the government to benefit America to achieve civil rights, equality, and peace. I will do so by connecting three pieces of readings we've reviewed throughout class. The three readings include, Robert Kennedy -“ The Mindless Menace of Violence”, Lyndon Johnson -“Peace Without Conquest” and Ray Bradbury - “ There Will Come Soft Rains”.

Violence is the “ behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something”. The Robert.F.Kennedy speech “The Mindless Menace of Violence” was delivered on April 5th, 1968 one day after Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination. Kennedy was able to grab the attention of many Americans. Mainly by focusing on the negative aspects of violence to make it a bit harder for those who are waiting to react over King’s death to have a reason for their actions. He seeked to hinder the build up of riots and disorder emerging throughout U.S cities, and respond to the growing issue of violence. Even though he didn’t though he didn’t present no precise solution, he rather discussed people people to attain change in order to bring change for the future. For example, Kennedy explained “ No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorder. A sniper is only a coward not a hero, and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice for madness not the voice of the people.” He stressed, the american people and its government has been violent for way too long and if they too want to bring an end to inequality they must stop fighting. He tries to convey America that killing one another would not solve situations, instead, cause more bloodshed and heartaches. And that the only way to cease the fighting and inequality is for everyone to come together to fight as one nation. Therefore, Robert Kennedy “ The Mindless Menace of Violence” was his way in pursuit to obtaining the government's american dream to ensure Americans peace and safety, and eliminate any future violence.

In addition, considering the pain of the circumstances when Kennedy gave his speech he found a way to somehow conjure the country to a sense of harmonization, a job which was made painless due to his political history and fame within american society as a popular white politician, the black community may have had suspicions because of the way they were treated by white majorities over the centuries. However , Kennedy did have an understanding as a champion of civil rights. He had strongly attended this plan throughout his time as his brother’s attorney general while at the same time carrying out the course of his short lived presidential campaign. Kennedy’s action granted him integrity within the black community as a friend who was well trusted and as a president who had been on the front line of civil rights and would uplift their cause.

On the other hand, “peace is to obtain tranquility and freedom from disturbance”. Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Peace Without Conquest” was one of the most important speeches of the 20th century. This televised address was delivered on april 7th 1965. It gained about 60 million views across the united states, including countries outside the U.S. and U.S military troop drafted for the vietnam war. “Peace Without Conquest” was Johnson’s band-aid for america's involvement in the war. He discussed the capacity to be living in a world where countries have a right to dedicate their own lives is a responsibility left on america's compliance to fight for this right. For example, for America to be strong everyone must believe in one another. America first must win the battle within itself before choosing to fight other countries. America has to strengthen itself from the inside to be considered a strong country or at that aid another country.

However, after the fail attempts of negotiating with north Vietnam Johnson assures that the only way to secure a state of freedom is to use force. Johnson states “ There may be many ways to this kind of peace: in discussion or negotiation with the governments concerned; in large groups or in small ones; in the reaffirmation of old agreements or their strengthening with new ones.” Johnson was an anti violent, he wanted to end the Vietnam war by negotiation. He believed that ‘the pen is stronger that the sword’.

In his speech, he proposed to access peace within both the United States and Vietnam must sit and come to an agreement to help one another. He recommended that both country provide goods to one another. That instead of fighting they should help each other rebuild. For example, “This war, like most wars, is filled with terrible irony. For what do the people of North Vietnam want? They want what their neighbors also desire: food for their hunger; health for their bodies; a chance to learn; progress for their country; and an end to the bondage of material misery. And they would find all these things far more readily in peaceful association with others than in the endless course of battle.”

Moreover, Bradbury’s short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” was published May 6th, 1950. The setting of the short story takes its setting in the year 2026 inside of an unoccupied revolutionary house where everything is controlled by a smart computer that is effectively unaware that the house is empty. Since the computer is unaware that the house is empty it continues to do its programmed routines. The computer is programed to cook, clean, play music, water the lawn and so forth. Little does the house know. Everything around it has been wrecked. An unknown catastrophic event has took place, and has left only the ashes and shadows of every possible living thing to ever live.

Bradbury creates a very dramatic, spine crawling, and sorrowful atmosphere, which makes this short story very interesting. He mimics a manner that is scary, but yet so graceful, and only completes it by adjusting the words and tone of the story. For example, the house caught on fire and tried to save itself . It tried to do everything in its power to put it, but the more it tried to out the fire the more it grew. For example, “ The house tried to save itself . Doors sprang shut, but the windows were broken by the heat and the wind nlew and sucked up the fire…. Scurrying water rats squeaked from the walls, pistoled their water, and ran for more. And the wall sprays let down showers of mechanical rain. ” This part of the story rose me in fear and panic, because the house itself was in a panic. It had me to the edge of my seat, because I was hoping that the houses would be able to save itself. Unfortunately, it was too late. The house gave up and everything burst and sizzled into flames.

The reason for incorporating this short story is because it creates an illusion where it leaves you to design an imagination for yourself along with a depiction for the future. The story begins mello, calm and very soothing, but then escalates into a panic that makes you anxious to know what is going to happen next. The story is very clear and clever. The words contain a deeper meaning. It is not only until the end of the story that i realized the drawing Bradbury was trying to accomplish. Only then i realized what really occurred, the catastrophic event that took place was not just a simple house fire, but in fact a house fire to the U.S.... to the world. Bradbury’s beautiful, poetic and melancholic vibe to his short reading “There Will Come Soft Rains” leaves us (human beings) with one wide perception for the world, which is the fate of our future.

The significance of this short story was, and still is a message to warn people about what is destined for the future. The result of a nuclear war is what is destined for the future. For that reason, Robert Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson plan to enforce change. Hence the fact that Bradbury’s short story was published during the same era of the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam war. The message of the short story is for everyone to change their ways before it’s too late.

“The Mindless Menace of Violence”, “Peace Without Conquest” and “There Will Come Soft Rains” were all published or delivered during the same period. The time where the civil movement was at its peak and . Despite the number of deaths, Kennedy and johnson speech was to aspire hope. It was to give hope to the american people that there will be a solution and that there is no need for more death. Both the Vietnam War and Martin Luther King’s death arose a lot of terror and panic. The Vietnam War and the fight for Civil rights caused sufferings to the family members of those who died. It completely upset the social balance of a large number of people. Because, Properties, along with peace, balance, order, and trade were destroyed.

Kennedy’s speech affected the mood of the United States in a good way, many saw hope for a chance at peace, Kennedy won the hearts of many, but after his assassination it left many devastated. Schools, work, people, and televised programs all came to a stopped. The hope for peace was left up to johnson. Although, johnson did not receive the same impact as kennedy. Reasons being, he received various criticism about the american troops in the war. People complained that too many american troops were dying and no change was being made.

People didn't understand was that if kennedy removed the U.S. military out of vietnam that America will perish. The government would fall and everyone would live under the surveillance of North Vietnam. The United States of America would have turned to communism. There would be no independence, freedom, peace, civil rights, equality, etc... And despite the fact that not many people agreed with his plan it worked.

In today's world people are threatened by the alarming inventions of science. But the actual threat does not arise from science, but from people who crave power and abuse the influence of science. This is a lesson and a message to people that violence does not conquer all problems. Violence never seems to be a solution to any problem. Violence usually makes more violence. War is not the solution to problems in countries. Non-violent responses would constantly be better. What a different world it would be if everyone pledged to nonviolence. Millions of dollars would be freed to help those in need. In addition, lives would not be wasted. People would find the light of God in one another and work together to make a better world. It is one thing to keep a nation strong and active, and is another to inspire spirits of aggression and destruction into it.

Moreover, LBJ explained “ the guns and the bombs, the rockets and the warships, are all symbols of human failure. They protect what we cherish. But they are witness to human folly.” sometimes the use of firearms are necessary. They are the last resort for when all resources fail. The war of guns and bombs only brings destruction and no solution. It infers that if we as human beings have to always use tactics of the sort to gain power we will never achieve a world of peace and nonviolence.

Therefore my proposal for future references is for human beings would agree to not use violence to solve our issues. If we could agree to do this as a species, then we could live without the military. Then we could divert the funds we now spend on the military to feed, clothe, house, educate, and provide healthcare to every human being one the planet. Peace means to have complete freedom from disturbances, destruction and death. It refers to those times when there is no war or fight. And once the world begin to see that war is unnecessary and agree to overthrow it, then the acceptance for peace and harmony will then take its place.   

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