Anti-War Movement and Women Liberation Movement - Research Paper Example

Anti-War Movement & Women Liberation Movement The antiwar movement arose out of America involvement in Viet sewar. America had been prompted by several factors to the war. First, the administration in America was against the spread of communism (King Web). The administration concern was that increased presence of communism in the north would spill to the south where America had a strong interest mostly for commercial reasons (King Web). Moreover, Vietnam was a place America viewed as strong in terms of its economic and military expansion. The fear had arisen due to communist victory in countries neighbouring Vietnam. Moreover, the country considered France weak in stopping the influence of communism in the region. Therefore, the administration viewed that France needed help to overcome the influence of communism from countries such as Japan and USSR (King Web). Moreover, the achievement of Vietnam independence in 1945 was seen as a threat of French existence. Initially, Ho Chi Minh had led the Vietnamese people to gaining independence from French and Japanese occupation (King Web). However, the French was not satisfied but willing to regain the lost colony. However, due to various challenges, the French sought the help of United States. In the speech, King notes,” Even before the French defeat we encouraged them with massive financial and military supplies to continue the war even after they had lost the will” (King Web). On the other hand, the government impression was that Vietnamese people were not prepared for independence (King Web). As a result, the government was against the establishment of a genuine form of government established out of revolution. The government had been established without the assistance of China but indigenous forces and remnants of communists. The peasants had faith in the new leadership in implementing land reforms. On the other hand, the United States intended to control the administration of Vietnam. In fact, United States had a notion that Ho was not fit to unite the already divisive country. Therefore, United States ensures installation of their man Premier Diem (King Web). Diem became authoritarian, non-reformist, and failed to accept oppositions. Consequently, there were various revolts against the rule. As a result, the troops came in the country to quell the revolt against their chosen person. Moreover, military dictatorship of the United States continued after the toppling of Diem from power. However, in the United States, people were promised that military intervention was furthering the course of democracy and land reforms. Most, the message was delivered in terms of leaflets to the people. Additionally, United States deemed National Liberation Front as communist. As a result, the revolution was viewed as an enemy of the United States. Moreover, United States linked the death of Diem with communist activities in the region. Therefore, military advisors were sent to quell the groups of communism in south as well as the rebel movement. Moreover, the involvement was meant to curtail “aggression from the north” (King Web). In the 1960s, there was a rise of a new generation of students. Most of the students developed a culture of non-conformist. In fact, they resisted most of the ideal of America. One of the significant forms of resistance was organised in Berkley students against the House Un-American Activities Committee (Kitchell Web). They were against United States oppression of political freedom. There was also establishment of a radical student movement known as SLATE to inform Student on various issues regarding the country. As a result, there was increased interest in politics. Moreover, student participated in off-campus issues such as civil rights, nuclear production, and apartheid. Civil rights inspired student activism and helped students with rigorous objection. This was prominent among student of Morehouse College as opined by King (King Web). Victory in free speech and civil rights encouraged the student to engage in stopping war in Vietnam. Students began to ask themselves what America was doing in Vietnam. College students played a significant role in changing public opinions on Vietnam War. The first attempt to changing public opinions was done through sit-ins. The practice began in the University of Michigan and spread to other campuses. As a result, the protest in leading colleges and universities attracted enormous public attention. The protest aims were to put pressure on the policy implementers as they viewed them as going against the will expressed by the voters (Kitchell Web). Consequently, the public came to understand fully on the consequences of the war though the sit-ins. Most of these seat-ins engaged on debate and forum in which public participated. In fact, the influence was so immense that Johnson campaign was run on a peace platform as the public was against the war as influenced by the student free speech movement. On the other hand, the student movements helped Americans to understand the consequences of the war. The student’s movements questioned the moral authority of bombing people in North Vietnam together with their property (Kitchell Web). Moreover, the movements highlighted the heavy load the war was putting on United States economy. As a result, there was increased public interest on what the war meant to other sectors of the economy. For example, they questioned reduction on welfare programs and health sector due to increased spending towards military activities in Vietnam. As a result, the increased public concern led to halting of bombing in the northern part of Vietnam. Furthermore, the student organizers passed their message through interfering with hearing on Vietnam. The organizers joining the Inter-University Committee for a Public Hearing on Vietnam usually did the intervention (Kitchell Web). Consequently, the committee began a plan of teach-in on all over the country. The process was carried on television and radio, and a lengthy debate took between protestors and government administrators. As a result, some of the government official resigned such as McGeorge Bundy (Kitchell Web). Moreover, the debate on a public forum made it more acceptable to the people, and most of the people respected the antiwar effort initiated by the students. Furthermore, opinion of the war was passed to the battleground. The effect was seen as armies began embracing peace instead of war. In fact, the combat troops began to put banners calling for peace in the region. Moreover, the soldiers could flash peace signs and salutes identified by the movement in United States (Kitchell Web). Moreover, the unrest by the college students attracted national attention. Most of the headlines captured war in the streets and campuses. One of the Riots significantly covered by the media was in Detroit. The riot and events questioning the morality of the war led to highlights that the war was unpopular in the domestic scene. Moreover, by the middle of 1967, most of the people became aware of a costly mistake of America involement in war (Kitchell Web). In fact, the increased unrest had an impact on society. For example, public opinions showed that few people approved on the handling of the war by the regime in 1968 (Kitchell Web). Lastly, most of the radicals managed to change rules in the institution. On the other hand, the radicals in the antiwar movements helped in the transformation of society. The women of the Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM) were against oppression on women during their period. In this period, they identified various forms of oppression. The first form of oppression that they identified was sexual abuse. In this time, most of the women were denied control of their own bodies. It was not their responsibility to decide about sexual issues or to have children. Their role in the society was believed to be sex partner and mother. Moreover, they were supposed to submit to man even if violence is committed toward them. For example, women have been defined in terms of what pleases men and thus has led to lack of understanding of women biology (Koedt 1). In fact, once women become mature, the male society believes that women should transfer hub of orgasm to the vagina (Koedt 1). The notion shows that men treat women as object and believes that their body is subject to any form of manipulation. In addition, the concept of foreplay has just been created for the purpose of a man only. However, the concept is detrimental to women it leave the woman both aroused and unsatisfied (Koedt 1). On the other hand, women were viewed as objects. The society had a notion that their value in the society is determined by their ability to attract, please, and hold man. For example, absence of frigidity in women is seen as failure to adjust to their role as women (Koedt 1). The society, therefore, perceives them as sex objects that are supposed to satisfy men at all cost. However, the effect arises out of male weakness. For example, failure to stimulate the clitoris by men leads to frigidity in women. However, the increasing male supremacy resulted to women being vilified as failing in their roles to satisfy men sexually. Moreover, they define oppression as a woman is supposed to sell her entire life, talents, interest and dreams to a man. In the society, women are not encouraged to pursue success and achievement but rather are taught to be submissive to men (Koedt 1). Furthermore, women are viewed as inferior to men. Failure for women to achieve organism during coitus was perceived as being an anti-male phenomenon. In fact, the society view was that a female was suffering from a psychological disorder. Additionally, men have chosen not to see women as separate human beings. Men in the society define women only on how they reinforce men's lives. As a result, any contrary act to society perception was seen as a person with independent desires. Therefore, anything about women was put across by the society to benefit men. The society has been inclined to furthering of male interests. In fact, women were not organized to form a resistance to male experts in the society. Consequently, women were oppressed as they were denied to have a say in society on their overall lives. Moreover, a woman has been exposed to various forms of sexual violence. One of such violence has been raping. Doctor, father, neighbour, uncle, and close friends commit most of the rape (Griffin 26). In fact, the increased rape incidents have been blamed on women. The society tends to exonerate men. For example, the society believes that woman has a role to prevent being exposed to rape. The society suggests they should not walk alone in the night, or leave their cars unlocked. Moreover, men do not view raping women as a problem. This is seen as inspector wonders why the writer is so obsessed with writing about rape as it is not an urgent issue. The author notes, “Rape is held to be natural behaviour, and not to rape must be learned” (Griffin 27). As a result, the society has justified high number of men involved in rape as having an inborn characteristic that makes them likely to be involved in rape. On the other hand, the culture seems to acknowledge aggression from the male and at the same time call for docile nature from the female. According to the perception of the society, all women secretly want to be raped (Griffin 27). The notion arises from the fact that the victim provokes much of rape. The society makes a man enjoy the existence of rape and believes it helps in confirming the enormous sexual potency that he secretly knows to be his own (Griffin 28). Consequently, the various forms of oppression faced by women led to the rise of liberation movements. The movements aimed at disconnecting women from the patriarchal male society and dominance. Works Cited Griffin, Susan. “‘Rape: The All-American Crime’.” Unz.org. Web. 12 December 2013. < http://www.unz.org/Pub/Ramparts-171sep-00026>. King, Martin Luther. “‘A Time to Break Silence’.” Youtube.com. Web. 12 December 2013. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC1Ru2p8OfU>. Kitchell, Mark. “Berkeley in the Sixties.” Youtube.com. Web. 12 December 2013. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjmZVe4cISQ>. Koedt, Anne. “The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm.” Uic.edu. Web. 12 December 2013. < http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/CWLUArchive/vaginalmyth.html>. Read More