Critical Thinking about Vietnam Conflict - Research Paper Example

Research Paper Insert A Time to Break Silence This is a research paper about the Reliability of the of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Speech on the subject “A Time to Break Silence”, during the clergy meeting in Riverside Church in New York on April 4th, 1967. The paper is aimed at critically analyzing the speech and the corresponding issues to explicitly deduce the consequences of the involvement of the USA ijn Vietnam War. Martin Luther King Jr. who was a vicious orator with inspirational words that left most people pondering afterwards. The reliability of the speech could be vividly illustrates following the situations that were experienced in the Vietnam by then. Through inspiration he could not hold any longer the perception the war was not in favor of Americans (McNamara 37). Through the meeting of concerned individuals on the Vietnam conflict, he was aware that the US government and its representatives especially in Vietnam would not be amused of his speech. However, it was true that the Americans were not able to contain the Vietnam War against the communists due to enormous support that the Northern Vietnamese government received from fellow communists from other states (Karnow 10). The US government at last involved the clergy in determining the fate of Vietnam situation. However, Martin Luther King Jr. could not hold the truth just to favor the demands of the US government and the intention to involve the clergy in resolving the strife at last. He reiterates that men prefer not to assume tasks that oppose their government; this was a repetition of the speech subject “A Time to Break the Silence.” Considering a situation that the American soldiers’ realized that Diem, a Southern Vietnamese leader was not able to strictly follow the American commands in Vietnam, he was assassinated by his own soldiers under the influence of US command. This was meant to enable the Americans take full control of the Southern Vietnam Army (Martin 21). The issues binding Vietnam to US were more perplexing causing dreadful conflicts which would have been avoided had the Americans consulted before the war commenced. However, some of the brave people who ever defied and corrected the US publicly had always face agony. He stressed that despite having vast knowledge of the security concerns, they had to speak the truth oblivious of the dangers that were associated with such concern (McNamara 41). Martin Luther King Jr. affirmed that despite the risk concerns they had to speak with humility which was appropriate to their limited vision. The repetitions in King’s speech confirmed his anger on situations faced by the poor, women and children in Vietnam at the expense of their leaders and the US army. However, he stressed that they must enjoy as well because time and place does not matter but every plan should be in accordance with God’s plan unto us (Martin 24). He warns the US that things were not in order as it was the first time in American history that a large number of religious leaders decided to move beyond prophesy to go as far as being political activists. Martin Luther King Jr. prayed that should a new spirit come their way, their inner beings may be sensitive enough to comparatively evaluate spirits so that they could find a new leeway beyond the darkness that abound them (Karnow 27). Americans ignored Martin Luther King Jr. s’ speech and critiques just to realize as the war progresses that things were not in accordance with their perception that they could win the war. A lot of questions were raised as he was speaking about the war raising concerns that at no time did the civil rights and peace share platform. In his comment, Martin Luther King Jr. stated that those who criticized him never knew the world they lived in; also he reiterated that from the queries raised that did not have any idea whom he was (McNamara 56). The clergy had realized the tragic misunderstanding between the Southern Vietnam and US army; however, in order to achieve victory the host country should create a good rapport with the supporters for instance during then Vietnam, US who were the main supporters of the Southern Vietnam should have embraced the strategies of the host country to gain more secrets about their opponents who were majoring on the misunderstanding between the US and the Southern Vietnam soldiers to win the war between the communists and the Democrats (McNamara 79). However, the Vietnam War magnified to an extent that the clergy had to organize and intervene. As a clergy, I had to passionate plea to the US having loved my country. Some would perceived that the plea was to the Chinese and Russians, neither was it aimed at overlooking the ambiguity involved in collective information about the war but to assist in resolving the Vietnam War. However, Martin Luther reiterated that the plea was not meant to make the National Liberation Front or Northern Vietnam Paragons of virtue and/ or their role in resolving the Vietnam War (Martin 29). The reason which forced the King to intervene on the matter was heightened by the suspicion that Americans had good faith, history and life through the eloquent testimonial speeches due to the fact that a conflict would not be solved without adherence and trustful give and take agreement between the warring countries or nations (Sherwood 15). During the night speech, he decided to speak to the National Liberation Front and the Hanoi who had great responsibility in concluding the issue of war which derailed and drastically caused heavy losses to the continents concerned (Karnow 39). I suppose that the US government should have learned from Martin Luther King Jr. despite the racial factor. As a Christian I also empathize with the sufferings that both the Vietnamese and the American servicemen underwent despite following commands from their army generals. The US should consider the opinions of other countries and individuals before making their final decision on issues relating to international peace which is the main reason as to why the Geneva Peace Accord was signed. According to my personal analogy it is not the first time that Americans engage in wars and issues that were not meant to be handled through violence, Martin Luther King Jr., criticized the Vietnam issues; two years before his demise he could not hold the burning issues in Vietnam and called for departure. It was wrong that the Americans denied the truth to concede defeat as it would have been obvious about speech. We should be able to accept defeat to be able to live and fight other wars otherwise we can perish in one meaningless war. Significance of War As a preacher by virtue of occupation, Martin Luther King Jr., it was not surprising that he had an obligation in seven different reasons to declare the Vietnam War as a catastrophic issue that required a lot of concern at the back of his moral mind (McNamara 82). Before the war erupted it seemed to be some hope for the poor through the poverty programs despite the experiments and hopes for a new beginning. When the war builds up was experienced in Vietnam. The numerous resources involved in the war were distress to the poor Americans who would have benefitted from the resources used during the war. In addition, the level at which economic development was deterred during the war was alarming hence the peace organizations including the clergy should team up to defend the poor who are the casualties during such wars and determine an amicable ways of solving the issues that are alt hand in order to lower chances in compromising global security at the expense of individual counters fighting to gain fame in the global perspective (Sherwood 23). Martin Luther revealed in this report that perhaps the most tragic situation was realized when the war to more than expected as the Americans stumble in poverty and high living standards that most of the citizens could not adhere to at the expense of the communists who were out to overcome the democrats in Vietnam (Martin 33). The war Compelled Martin Luther to an extent that he perceived it to be an enemy instead of the Americans who got involved in the war which was not meant for then just to be defeated by the communists in the Northern Vietnam. Such situations should ethically symbolize signs of disintegration among the communities and states. Americans should strive to bring the countries together instead of causing disintegration among states (Sherwood 26). The church is meant to unite citizens and nations likewise to the super powers instead of exercising their powers to gain fame. Martin Luther just like other clergymen fought for the poor and the marginalized citizens instead of creating supremacy within the church. Any warring situation is likely to cause alt of problems to the poor especially on racial grounds with both children and women included. Through collaboration between the Northern Vietnam and the Buddhists, it is evident that the church should intervene in such situation to assist in supporting and protecting the rights of the poor and incapable individuals in the society (Karnow 75). Ethically, Martin Luther King flashed back on the long term war in the US between the Negro and the white boys on both media. Considering the misuse of the poor and blacks at the expense of the greed leadership to obtain their selfish desires instead of considering the poor and other suffering groups which includes but not limited to women and children rendered Martin Luther King junior no other option than to speak out his mind in relation to the concerns (McNamara 107). Martin Luther king Jr. had to walk through the Ghettos witnessing cases of desperate poor emaciated young men suffering with rifles, signs that suggest lack of consideration and care for the American troops by the super power. Through compassionate and sympathetic comfort, Martin Luther convinced the soldiers that in order to receive a meaningful social change it would be wise for the government to exercise a nonviolent means to achieve a real true change (Martin 42). From his critiques, Martin Luther king drew the attention of the suffering youths in the ghetto. They further questioned King about the war in Vietnam oblivious of the US perception about Martin Luther King. However, to achieve the real objective of breaking the silence, Martin Luther King could not raise his voice without mentioning the chief purveyor of hostility globally, the US which was also his government as a Negro. The speech was meant for the ghetto boys, the US government and for the hundreds of thousands vacillating under the brutality, he swore not to relent on the matter (Karnow 73). When asked about the position as a civil leader, he reiterated that he was, but that would not hinder him from being involved in a movement that would guarantee peace. He reminded the youths of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that was held in 1957 with a motto: “To serve the souls of America,” the clergy (Martin 53). In the speech, Martin Luther King Jr., Repeatedly brought out the connection between Christianity and peace which is one of the various ways through which the countries would use to embrace peace and understanding instead of engaging in war. Considering the ethical effect behind engaging into war as a way of peacemaking to the process through which Martin Luther chose. Preaching peace is of more value compared to the option of war in calming the warring territories (McNamara 108). The US government was adamant to Martin Luther’s speeches although he knew that good news was meant for all nations and he spoke against the war. Ethically it did not make sense to deny a church leader freedom to speak while there were Buddhists in the Southern Vietnam who joined the communists to fight against the democrats in the Southern Vietnam. Through Martin Luther Jr.’s speech which was meant to break the silence, it was relevant to talk about the war so that the Americans could understand the world had recognized that the US army suffered loss in the Vietnam war which they did not win despite being among the global super powers (Martin 61). Vietnam gained independence in 1945 from the French, according to Martin Luther, Vietnamese never intended to be recolonized. They expected the Americans to follow the Geneva agreement in resolving the Vietnam War which was between two political affiliations, the Communists and the Democrats. Despite being a democrat, Premier Diem was a colonialist who ruthlessly routed out opposition in Vietnam. According to the speech by Martin Luther King Jr., supporting a dictator and a colonialist was a sign of coordination between the super power and the dictator (Karnow 104). Through the increase of the number of US troops in Vietnam, Americans seemed to have some interest in the country instead of focusing on the peace process which was the key reason as to why they were engaged in the Vietnam War. As peace makers, Americans were answerable for the prolonged war led to loss of many lives (McNamara 114). The consequences of the Vietnam War impacted negatively on the supremacy of the US. However, from Martin Luther King Jr., s’ concern America should not assume that winning a war is the key issue as to the American government they get under pressure when they failed to win a war. Imagining of the global economic state, the US should embark on building the economy that deteriorated during the wars of fame which later turned into disgrace and regrets. Consequently, it is time to speak the truth despite the numerous threats that may come our way. As Martin Luther‘s speech that it was “a time to break the silence” , if every country and individuals would have voiced their anguish about such wars the US would not have lasted that long in the Vietnam war at the expense of the poor and innocent citizens and foreign investors who lost their lives in vain. Peace should be embraced globally to avoid political and power monopoly especially in the American case during the Vietnam War. My personal critique Critically, through the involvement of the clergy in the Vietnam War America had already realized that the whole world knew that the war was not in their favor. However, in order to look powerful they organized for the death of the South Vietnamese leader Diem so that they could fully control the South Vietnamese together with the American soldiers to reconsider winning the War. When this never succeeded they resorted to secretly withdraw from the war to avoid shame instead of conceding defeat. I think that America should also accept the advice from other people and countries as well. Should they have used the Vietnamese in a humble way they would have gotten the tactics that the communist used against them but due to pride as the super power they burred their own hatchets. Critically, I can reiterate that the death of Martin Luther King Jn., resulted from the American defeat during the Vietnam War due to the fear that he would continue to enlighten the US enemies about the US conceding Vietnam War. Through laid ambush the US government planned on how to shoot him dead to reduce shameful situations that America would have faced. This would have resulted into a full blow to the US army and government in power by then. However, no matter how powerless or how tin a country is, another country should not preempt and undermine their ammunition and warring tactics, through the Vietnam War a lot of lessons should be learned so that we do not undermine our fellow friends and colleagues from other capacities. Conclusion According to Martin Luther King Jr., the long battle that went through to the reign of President Nixon was not a mere battle, but considering another way of solving the conflict. Negotiation would have not led to the thousand casualties and wounded soldiers and civilians. The speech entailed information that suites the US government following the perception that Americans are the super power. Martin Luther king Jr.’s speech was relevant to the situation experienced in the Vietnam where many poor people suffered innocently while the US government tried to gain fame on power supremacy globally which failed. It is within my critique that a global super power should be awarded to a country with ability to stop wars through dialogue through embracing peace and reconciliation. Work Cited Karnow, Stanley. Vietnam: A History. New York- USA: Penguin Books, 1983. Martin, Luther. I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches that Changed the World. Harper San Francisco, 1992. McNamara, S. Robert. In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam. New York- USA: Vintage Books, 1995. Sherwood, J. Darrell. Fast Movers: Jet Pilots and the Vietnam Experience . New York- USA: The Free Press, 1999. Read More