So do I. Excellent input.
Nadi: thank you for clearing up the intention of the assignment: "its not a research paper. it's what the instructor is trying to talk about in my class" That makes a big difference.
Vietnam did indeed have a huge impact. It was a war and an era that blew apart all the myths America had harbored in innocence regarding government, what they tell us and what they don't, what they say their motives are for going to war and what those motives really are. It asked, even demanded, that we become involved, that we question, that we expect accountability. This is exactly what John Kerry did when he returned from his service there, and for that, some labeled him dishonorable, just as some people try still to label dissenters, those who question, as dishonorable, as un-American. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kerry's service and his dissent were both very American, very honorable. To question our government, to expect the truth, to expect accountability, all of this is very American and very honorable.
Vietnam was extraordinarily painfil, loss of innocence always is, but we emerged healthier, I believe.
And as far as labels go (liberal, conservative), understand that they are just that, labels.
Some "conservatives" would like you to believe that only conservatives can be fiscally responsible, "liberals" are the spenders. Well, George Bush certainly has put that myth to rest.
Some "conservatives" would like you to believe that only they understand family values, that "liberals" all tend to be borderline immoral. Does that one even make sense? Of course not.
Perhaps worst of all, some "conservatives" would like you to believe that only they can love America, and be truly patriotic, that "liberals" hate America and make America weak. This is, IMO, the biggest lie of all. People from all political persuasions in this country love America, are willing to fight for America, are willing to work for better schools, health care, etc. Neither political ideology can claim a monopoly on patriotism.
Of course, there are differences between the two largest political parties. If you watched the two recent conventions, you saw clear differences in their approaches. At this point in time, the Republican party is dominated by its extreme right wing, people who are arrogant and divisive, people who took us to an unjustified war, alienated our allies, pandered via tax cuts to the extremely wealthy, and most ashamedly, used and continue to use cultural differences to create bitter divisions among Americans. Of course Americans are diverse, (race, religions, sexual orientation, etc), but the beauty, the essence of America has always been inclusion of all people, celebration of differences, and unity from our common ideals of equality, justice and freedom. To choose, instead, to use our cultural differences to divide us is what I personally detest most about George Bush and his cronies.
(And, believe it or not, I voted for him 1st time around. I believed him when he said he was a uniter, not a divider. I was fooled. It won't happen again.)
Well, I did go off somewhat. This is a political thread, and that does happen.
Good luck with your coursework. Please come back for more discussions.
I have a question myself. If we learned so much from the mistakes we made in Vietnaum than what are we doing in Iraq. The military has conceded that the rebal Iraquies control most of central Iraq. Smells just like Vietnaum to me.
Fallujah and Sadr City hardly constitute most of central Iraq. If I had my druthers, they'd just MOAB both areas and be done with it.
Dont argue with me about it. Talk too the military who declared this as fact.
Angie
Angie! Your post says it all! In fact, you could not have said it better!
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=896973#896973
I want to keep this link!
thx all for this great info... wow!! that made it lot easier to understand what was going on in class....American politics are so complicated, probably that's why i chose to major in Political Science. I knew it's gonna be way too hard for me, but it seems worser than what i thought
Re: Important
Nadi wrote:Describe the develoopment of US politics philosophy from WWII to the present
in what ways did it change ....to the better or to the worse?? or is it still the same
what was the impact of the war on the US
plz i hope to get information about this subject
One basic idea which governed US conduct in the 50s which you probably will not get in today's PC history courses:
Given the necessity of containing the soviet union and worldwide communism, there were three methods one might have used, one horrifically expensive and the other two much less so. The expensive option, and the last thing in the world Ike wanted any part of, was a repeat or extension of WW-II with millions of men in uniform and fighting on a 4000 mile front.
The two less expensive options and the ones which Ike gave priority, were nuclear weapons and covert operations.