The Vietnam War Essay - 1163 Words

Vietnam War In the 1950s, the United States had begun to send troops to Vietnam and during the following 25-year period, the ensuing war would create some of the strongest tensions in US history. Almost 3 million US men and women were sent thousands of miles to fight for what was a questionable cause. In total, it is estimated that over 2 million people on both sides were killed. This site does not try to document the entire history of the Vietnam War but is intended as a picture essay, illustrating some of the incredible conditions under which soldiers from both sides lived, fought, played and ultimately died. Almost all of the images shown were taken by the legendary combat photographer, Tim Page; they are nothing short of†¦show more content†¦During WWII, the Japanese government took control of much of the area and set up a puppet regime that was eventually forced out by the Vietnamese at the end of that war in 1945. ---After WWII and until 1955, France fought hard to regain their former territories in the region, but with a poorly organized army and little determination among the troops, their efforts soon collapsed. The French were finally defeated at Dien Bien Phu on the 8th of May 1954 by the communist general Vo Nguyen Giap. The French troops withdrew, leaving a buffer zone separating the North and South and set up elections in order to form a government in the South. The communist regime set up its headquarters in Hanoi under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. Many North Vietnamese left the country and fled south where the self-proclaimed president, Ngo Dinh Diem had formed the Republic of Vietnam. ---Between 1955 and 1960, the North Vietnamese with the assistance of the southern communist Vietcong, tried to take over the government in South Vietnam, and in November 1963 President Diem was overthrown and executed. The following year, the North Vietnamese began a massive drive to conquer the whole country aided by China and Russia. ---Fearing a communist takeover of the entire region, the United States grew more and more wary of the progress of Ho Chi Minh and the Vietcong. Communism had become the evil menace in the United States and with expansion of Soviet rule into Eastern Europe, Korea andShow MoreRelatedThe War Of Vietnam And The Vietnam War1525 Words   |  7 PagesThe war in Vietnam is The United States and other capitalist bloc countries supported South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) against the support by the Soviet Union and other socialist bloc countries of North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and the Vietcong of war. Which occurred during the Cold War of Vietnam (main battlefield), Laos, and Cambodia. This is the biggest and longtime war in American history during the 1960s (Best 2008). It is also the most significant war after World War IIRead MoreThe Vietnam War On Vietnam1725 Words   |  7 PagesThe War on Vietnam Many believe that the way Americans entered the war against the North Vietnam communists was unjust. The United States got into a war that they had no clue on how to win. â€Å"The Vietnam War was a long, costly armed conflict that pitted the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The divisive war, increasingly unpopular at home, ended with the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973Read MoreThe Vietnam War : Vietnam1170 Words   |  5 PagesBeyond Vietnam. The Vietnam War is one of the most traumatic episodes in the history of the United States. Not only because it ended with a defeat for the United States Army, but because unleashed the largest wave of protests in the country, in which the government lost support. Extended over more than a decade, between 1959 to April 30 of 1975, although the US intervened in 1965, in which American soldiers experienced in firsthand scenes of destruction and death. During the Vietnam War clashedRead MoreThe Vietnam War Of Vietnam920 Words   |  4 Pages1940’s Vietnam was trying to break free of French reign over their country. During this time period Vietnam was split into two parts, north and south. The Japanese had decided to take over Vietnam in 1942. They couldn’t capture all of Vietnam, so they decided to retreat. North Vietnam proclaimed independence on September 2, 1945 as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The State of Vietnam declared independence on June 14, 1949, but rema ined under French rule until August 1, 1954. South Vietnam was theRead MoreVietnam And The Vietnam War1711 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' The Vietnam War was one of the bloodiest wars in the history of Vietnam. Vietnam use to be a peaceful country until the idea of communism started spreading across Vietnam. Many wanted to stay democratic but saw what happened to the Germans and started to lean towards communism. Many also wanted to stay democratic and still had it hopes high that it will soon get their lives and economy back on track. It later exploded into a huge argument and then leads to a civil war spurring between NorthRead MoreThe Vietnam War Of Vietnam952 Words   |  4 Pageswords that describe the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War had 240 days of combat in one year. World War II had forty days of combat in four years(Interesting Facts). That statistic shows how rough the Vietnam War was. The fighting was constant between the two sides. This war was fought over politics and had many gruesome battles. Before the Vietnam war, Vietnam was in a revolution because they did not want to be ruled by France. Vietnam wanted to be independent right after World War II ended in 1945. JapanRead MoreThe Vietnam War Of Vietnam1534 Words   |  7 Pages The Vietnam War began November 1st, 1955 and ended April 30th, 1975. It was a long costly war that involved North Vietnam and their Southern allies, known as Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its main ally the United States. This war was very unpopular at home and would end with the withdrawal of the United States and the unification of Vietnam under communist control. Many think of war as something that just men are involved in but very rarely do people think of the role of women in the warRead MoreThe Vietnam War Of Vietnam1573 Words   |  7 PagesA. The Vietnam War occurred from 1955-1975, this included the North and South fighting over government structure of the newly independent state of Vietnam, having recently become independent f rom France. However, the USA was in Vietnam as a sort of protection for the South Vietnamese people, who had a weaker army force, but only a few thousand Americans were in Vietnam for that purpose at the time. On August 7, 1964, the USA entered the war for the purpose of fighting the North Vietnamese due toRead MoreThe Vietnam War Of Vietnam2003 Words   |  9 PagesThe Vietnam War in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia lasted from November 1st, 1955 to around April 30th, 1975. The war was split up between two sides, North Vietnam, who were allied with the Soviet Union, China, and most of the communist countries during this time period, and South Vietnam, who were allied with the United States and many countries that were against the belief of Communism. Although the United States did not necessarily have to get involved in the war, they believed that they had too soRead MoreVietnam And The Vietnam War1987 Words   |  8 PagesIn 1945, at the end of WWII, Vietnam started their war for ind ependence against their colonial rulers, France. Nine years after the start of the First Indochina War, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu which led to a peace conference in Geneva. At the conference, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam received their independence from France. However, Vietnam was divided between a Communist North and a Democratic South. In 1958, Communist- supported guerrillas in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, began

The Power of Music in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues Essay

The Power of Music in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues At first glance, Sonnys Blues seems ambiguous about the relationship between music and drugs. After all, the worlds of jazz and drug addiction are historically intertwined; it could be possible that Sonnys passion for jazz is merely an excuse for his lifestyle and addiction, as the narrator believes for a time. Or perhaps the world that Sonny has entered by becoming involved in jazz is the danger- if he had not encountered jazz he wouldnt have encountered drugs either. But the clues given by the portrayals of music and what it does for other figures in the story demonstrate musics beneficial nature; music and drugs are not interdependent for Sonny. By studying the†¦show more content†¦The battered barmaid also needs music to insulate her from the perils of her life. She dances to something black and bouncy playing on the jukebox, keeps time, smiling, and when she smiles the reader can see both the innocent and joyous little girl she will always be and the woman still st ruggling for life and dignity, even though these two personalities are hidden underneath the face of a semi-whore (412). She is quicksilver when the music plays; there is still life in her that can be coaxed to the surface. She watches the jukebox in the pause between songs, waiting for the music to begin again, to renew her life and energy and hope. Music reveals this woman as she really is, not as she has become, not as her environment has made her. Just as it is for the whistling schoolboy, music for this woman is a small salvation. Many more moments like these are worked into the story. The mother hums a hymn under her breath; it comforts her while she watches for Sonny, who is out on the streets (419). The narrator whistles to keep from crying after Sonny refuses his attempts at reconciliation (428). These bits of music are tiny but significant; small musics performed by non-musicians demonstrate how music creates good feelings. The mother may be singing off-key and the narrator probably whistles flat, but because of their nature as song these tunes are suffused with bits of happiness, and by making the music, theShow MoreRelatedJames BaldwinS Sonnys Blues713 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Harrisons Blues There can be little doubt that the characters who are the most similar in James Baldwins short story Sonnys Blues, and in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.s short story Harrison Bergeron, are the title characters of each respective work. They both embody conceptions of youth within each story Sonny as the younger brother of the nameless narrator in Baldwins tale, and Bergeron as the son of the George and Hazel Bergeron. In their own way, each is antisocial and engage in practices thatRead MoreSonnys blues literary analysis2558 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Jane-Clare Dauito Professor Thorstensen English Composition 2 11 December 2013 Within The Blues James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† is a story of how a distant and conflicting relationship between two brothers is saved by the powerful message within music. In â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† the music portrays a very powerful message. The story begins with Sonny being arrested for heroin use. Sonny’s older brother is a school teacher and did not want to believe that the news was true, â€Å"I didn’t want to believe thatRead More Mending the Relationship of Two Brothers in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues1292 Words   |  6 PagesMending the Relationship of Two Brothers in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues According to Liukkonen, James Baldwin is well known for his novels on sexual and personal identity, and sharp essays on civil-rights struggle in the United States. Sonnys Blues is no exception to this. The story takes place in Harlem, New York in the 1950s and tells of the relationship between two brothers. The older brother, who is the narrator and a participant in the novel, remains unnamed throughout the storyRead MoreAnalysis Of James Baldwin s Sonny s Blues 916 Words   |  4 PagesJames Baldwin’s story â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† tells the tale of two African-American brothers trying to survive in 1950s America. Both struggle with darkness in their lives, from drugs to bottling up emotions. The following sources were found Literature Research Center’s website. Each of the four sources will be evaluated for the quality of their information, as well as their usefulness on the topic of darkness in â€Å" â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†. Flibbert, Joseph. Sonny s Blues: Overview. Reference Guide to ShortRead MoreThe Meaning of Jazz in African American Culture Particularly in Harlem During the 1950’s2384 Words   |  10 PagesParticularly in Harlem During the 1950’s In the Baldwin’s story, Sonny’s Blues, the author portrays African -Americans in the urban life. Even though he writes about reconciliation of two brothers, who are trying to overcome their differences and to come to understand each other, the story shows the meaning of Jazz in African American culture, particularly in Harlem during 1950. The urban life in Harlem has being described by many authors, including James Baldwin. The life of an African American manRead MoreIf Beale Street Could Talk and Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin1128 Words   |  5 PagesIn If Beale Street Could Talk and â€Å"Sonny’s Blues,† author James Baldwin shows that embracing suffering, rather than being trapped by it, leads to growth and enlightenment. â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† introduces two brothers who have differing mindsets about how to best cope with suffering. The narrator is Sonny’s responsible, unnamed older brother, who follows a very ordered path, using military service, marriage and teaching math to gain stability and escape the downward pull of Harlem. In contrast, youngerRead MoreAnalysis Of Sonnys Blues By James Baldwin956 Words   |  4 PagesJames Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924, to a single mother in Harlem. After his mother married his stepfather David Baldwin, who was a Baptist minister, he was adopted by him. Growing up, he didn’t feel as if he was accepted the way his other siblings were, though. In some of Baldwin stories, they often have a similar story line where it seems he is the less favored child over everyone else. In â€Å"Sonny’s Blues,† a similar scenario is presented in some ways. While the unnamed narrator often speaksRead MoreSonnys Blues1061 Words   |à ‚  5 PagesIn James Baldwins Sonnys Blues the symbolic motif of light and darkness illustrates the painful nature of reality the two characters face as well as the power gained through it. The darkness represents the actuality of life on the streets of the community of Harlem, where there is little escape from the reality of drugs and crime. The persistent nature of the streets lures adolescents to use drugs as a means of escaping the darkness of their lives. The main character, Sonny, a struggling jazzRead MoreJames Baldwin s Sonny s Blues2994 Words   |  12 PagesINTRODUCTION Sonny, from James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues,† is portrayed as a sufferer. He struggles with his stagnation in Harlem, his unfulfilled dreams and the disconnect between himself and his only family, his brother. However, not all hope is lost. He serves as a teacher for others, full of knowledge of how one can truly suffer and still triumph (Norton 47). Only when he is finally able to connect with his brother through music, are his â€Å"blues† finally heard and he affirms his individualityRead MoreRole of Music in Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin1345 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The Role of Music in Sonnys Blues Sonnys Blues, by James Baldwin, explores the strained relationship that two brothers the unnamed narrator and Sonny have and how the narrator slowly begins to recognize Sonnys relationship with music. While the narrator is initially baffled by Sonnys dream to become a musician, towards the end of the short story, he recognizes that Sonny depends on music and that it is a driving force in his life, possibly one of the only things that keep him alive.

The Who free essay sample

Once upon a time, The Who was considered the loudest bandon Earth. Although they no longer retain that title, they are still one of thegreatest bands in the world. Even after performing for 30 years and suffering thedeath of drummer Keith Moon in 1978, The Who has been able to keep sounding asgreat as they did back in the ?s. The concert I attended began early inthe evening and lasted until after eleven. Every minute was spectacular. Thefurious guitar playing of Pete Townshend and the wonderfully familiar voice ofRoger Daltrey combined with classic songs made for a very entertaining show. TheWho performed their most famous songs, My Generation, BehindBlue Eyes, Wont Get Fooled Again and Who Are You,as well as less well-known ones such as Substitute. Throughoutthe show, lead singer Roger Daltrey did his signature move of throwing hismicrophone around the stage and over the audience, while Pete Townshend playedthe guitar like a madman and swung his arms with every ounce of energy he had. We will write a custom essay sample on The Who or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Bassist John Entwhistle perhaps the most reserved member of the band had hisown way of standing out. He wore a colorful jacket with a giant insect on theback. And last but not least, filling in for the irreplaceable Keith Moon was ZakStarkey, son of former Beatle Ringo Starr. At the end of the show, theband didnt destroy their instruments, as they might have done in their youngerdays by smashing their guitars or putting explosives in the drum kit. I thoughtthis concert was very impressive, though; I was very fortunate to see it. If youwant to see a great show and some of the most magnificent legends of rock androll, see The Who.

Travelling Has Great Educational Value free essay sample

Travelling has great educational value. It increases the frontiers of our knowledge. While travelling, a person comes across people of different races, religions, castes, regions, etc. He also visits different places. Each place has a historical importance of its own. Many colleges and schools arrange educational tours for the benefit of their students. Young boys and girls of western countries have a great passion for travelling. Travelling is also a source of great pleasure. It gives us respite from our dull and dreary routine. It relieves us of our worries. It affords us an opportunity to meet our near and dear ones who may be far away from us. It enables us to meet new people and know their customs, habits and traditions. We can also know the different kinds of food eaten by people belonging to different regions. Of course, we can get to know about the people of other countries by reading travel books. We will write a custom essay sample on Travelling Has Great Educational Value or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But when we personally visit these countries, we can get first-hand knowledge of such countries and their people. Knowledge thus obtained by visits has a personal touch. It lasts longer than the knowledge attained by books. By travelling, we can visit historical places like Agra, Jaipur, Jhansi, Hyderabad, Nalanda, Mysore etc. We can also visit places of religious importance like Hardwar, Ujjain, Varanasi, Allahabad, Ajmer, Amritsar, Vaishno Devi, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Rameshwaram, etc. Travelling also enables us to go to hill resorts like Srinagar, Kulu, Manali, Dalhousie, Nainital, Darjeeling, otacamund, etc. and escape from the scorching heat of the plains. Bacon was of the view that â€Å"travelling in the young is a part of education, in the older, a part of experience. † In fact, young boys and girls derive immense gain from travelling. They can know about the local customs, language, culture, tradition, etc. Travelling enables a person to mix with other people and forge social relationships. It teaches us to rise above narrow considerations of caste, colour and creed. It enables us to broaden our outlook. A person who rarely travels remains a prisoner of his own thoughts and prejudices. His position is that of a frog in the well. Travelling liberalises our outlook. It cultivates the spirit of tolerance in us. Travelling plays a crucial role in national integration. It unites people of diverse castes, cultures, languages, dresses, etc. The major social evils of our country are casteism, communalism, etc. Travelling removes these evils. It brings together people of different races, religions, communities and regions and affords them an opportunity to mix and understand each other well. It creates a feeling of brotherhood among them. Travelling to foreign countries promotes universal brotherhood. It gives us pleasure and enriches our experience. By visiting other countries, we can know about their development and progress. We can also get acquainted with their culture and civilisation. The one way to solve the problems of universal peace and progress is to remove all barriers in the way of free travel. Lack of communication is the root cause of misunderstanding and conflicts among various countries of the world. Travelling is, therefore, a unique experience. It affords us an opportunity to acquire first-hand knowledge about our own country as well as about foreign countries. It develops the spirit of â€Å"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam† i. e. , the whole world is one family. It increases our power of observation. It makes us social. It trains our mind and spirit. The hobby of travelling is thus a boon for the young.