American Dream and Reality: The Vietnam War - Literature review Example

American Dream and Reality: The Vietnam War American Dream and Reality: The Vietnam War Introduction America remains a superpower among nations for its pride in the ideals of its dream. It equally prides in the culture of exeptionalism and military prowess over other nations. In the nation’s history, there were instances that its dreams were subject to reality for unfulfilled ideals. Te Vietnam war was a defining moment in the country’s history and its pride the ideals embedded in the American dream. According to Duong, 2008, it was a moment when America lost its national honor. In his statement during the launch of Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1980, President Ronald Regan said the loss initiated the “Vietnam Syndrome” among most Americans (Hagopian, 2009). Over time, America’s historic loss in the Vietnam War influenced its cultures. Its exeptionalism culture, for instance, was subject to challenges after the historic loss. The Americans Evacuation Saigon Photograph America’s failure in the Vietnam War was an epitomic moment in the nation’s military history. Some critics highlight failure of Lyndon Johnson to manage the war in the desirable way and, therefore, its failure (Wiest, Barbier & Robins, 2010). Captured by a Dutch photographer, Hugh Van Es, the America’s evacuation Saigon photograph depicted defeat of the American military, during the Vietnam War, and subsequent withdrawal from the south (NBCNews, 2009). It shows a group of Americans struggling to escape the War-torn Saigon through a CIA helicopter in April 29, 1975. The photograph depicts American policy failure and desperation that caused the withdrawal from Saigon. Shot from the American embassy roof, the photograph is epitomic of the defeat that American soldiers experienced during the war in 1975. Source: NBCNews. (2009). Photographer Behind Iconic Saigon Image Dies. NBCNews. Retrieved from: ( http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30755090/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/photographer-behind-iconic-saigon-image-dies/#.U8wgE_mSybQ The Fall of Saigon America’s war with the Vietnamese might have ended in 1973, after signing of the Paris Peace Accords. American military, however, continued its mission in South Vietnam for nearly two years. America’s intention of military engagement in South Vietnam was to uplift the region to continued financial support. Ultimately, America intended to ensure South Vietnam maintained its independence (Englar, 2009). Marines in American military remained to secure their embassy in Saigon and military offices in other areas including those of Consul Generals. Other officers of the military formed the Defense Attaches’ Office, known as the DAO (Gitlin, 2010). Transition of events, however, caused a sudden change in status quo in Southern Vietnam in 1974. South Vietnam collapsed in 1974. Other historic occurrences including the 1973 war between Israel and Arabs caused a serious fuel crisis and economic huddles. There was a growing reduction of political support among Americans with many opposing continued aid of the war in the south of Vietnam. In response, the congress passed a resolution to end all aids that supported South Vietnam. Because of uplifted aid and support, Army of the republic of South Vietnam faced shortage of weaponry to engage their Northern counterparts. North Vietnamese planned missions to attack the south that faced challenges of inflation and shortage of arms in 1975 (Vietnam Center and Archive, 2014). North Vietnamese military slowly raided the south prompting Americans and Vietnamese civilians to evacuate safely out of the country. Because of the valuable relations Americans had with civilians in South Vietnam, they resorted to evacuate them, as well. Failure to evacuate the local people would make them vulnerable to hardship and imprisonment by the North Vietnamese soldiers. American soldiers conducted the evacuation plan in four levels. Level one involved use of commercial airlifts from different airfields near Saigon. Level two involved evacuation using military airlifts. Level three involved evacuation through boats from ports in Saigon. Level four involved evacuation by use of helicopters and further to American navy ships. The mission ended in April 29, 1975 after bombing of the runways in Saigon by North Vietnamese soldiers. April 30, 1975 marked the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese soldiers. The American Dream and Vietnam War The Vietnam War and American identity are two correlated issues. Since the civil war and unification of its states, America prides in a superb military might and prowess that prospers in nearly all its foreign missions. America dedicated its mission to win the war from its commencement, a dream that it never attained. From August 5, 1965, when the war started, to May 7, 1975 when it ended, nearly 9, 087, 000 military served in the war. Despite their perseverance during the war, American military soldiers lost. The loss initiated, among Americans, the trauma of failure that influenced their identity. It was a time when most Americans experienced humiliation of their hopes to triumph in the war. America lost nearly 58, 220 military soldiers in casualties during the war (National Archive, 2014). Among the military casualties, 40, 934 died at the battlefield in action. There was a recorded 382 casualties out of self-inflicted causes. Nine hundred and thirty-eight (938) military died of illness. The number of casualties caused by accidents were 9, 107. Nearly 5, 299 military died of wounds and 1, 201 others declared dead. The war caused 236 homicide cases. During the war, critical mistakes committed undermined America’s power to win the war. Despite their might and military prowess, American military did not anticipate a spirited and determined military of the North Vietnam. The extent of determination and resilience displayed by the North Vietnamese soldiers against Americans were unanticipated. The resistance, therefore, demeaned America’s efforts to ensure an independent South Vietnam. That was the reality that American soldiers faced while at the war in Vietnam, an operation in which they had to withdraw their soldiers. The American dream vests in its military pride and ability to win, contrary to the situation that occurred in Vietnam. While North Vietnamese civilians faced a brutal war against American military, they maintained high morale. That was contrary to the morale of Americans and their continued lack of support for the war in Vietnam. In1974, the U.S. congress resolved to stop all aid and fund to the Vietnam War in response to reduced public support. At a similar time, the northern Vietnamese military approached the south that was under the American military control. That was the reality that America’s congress responded to, a reduced public support for the war, and a factor that contributed to failure of the American dream. Loss of public support among Americans was a serious cause of withdrawal of the military in the south, a decision that did not uphold the ideals embedded in the American dream. Changes in the Picture’s Meaning through Time and across Different Cultures The image brings forth, a diverse set of interpretation from among the U.S. citizens and the government alike. It serves as a reminder of what happened in the historical American endeavors as the perceived world’s superpower in wars, socio-economic and socio-political influence. When the picture depicts a desperate giant in the name of America trying to flee desperately from a perceived lost war to the adversaries, many would remain wondering about what could have happened across years later. Of course, one assertion would stand the test of time. That the meaning and belief that emanated from the scenes of the photograph and among the initial viewers of the image has since changed across decades to a completely new perspective and or dimension of thoughts. Even though the U.S. under the administration of President Richard Nixon had earlier on started withdrawing its troops from the southern Vietnam as from 1969 in an attempt to evade an oncoming humiliation, the question of America’s involvement in the war altogether remained engraved in the public domain of the whole world. At the fall of Saigon, it was still justified that the superpowers lost the war altogether. The stage was all set for America to eat its humble pie and accept the humiliation. Today, whatever happened then remains mere history in the whole world, not only among the Americans. Throughout four generations, there are absolute chances that a majority of those who existed then to witness the incident either may be living as extremely old folks or are already dead. A little of first-hand experience remain to be told to the present day generation of what exactly happened. This scenario points to an undisputed possibility of the present day generation having either completely different view about the 1975 Saigon fall or no view at all regarding the event (Wiest, 2009). To many, the picture is just a mere photograph of a seemingly normal evacuation event. By looking at the picture, most people especially those who came into being during and after the wars may not have the emotional empathy and touch of historical pain that they fellow citizens endured in the course of the wars prior to the shameful termination of the same. During then, America’s history was written on a different script, one engulfed with political and economic power greed amid challenges and failures. Failure of the American troops to advance and achieve their political and military objectives in Vietnam painted the nation on a different script. The world and the American citizens put the U.S.’s military prowess to questions of competence and superiority, an image that would stay on for long before eraser thereafter. Today, the country’s military has rebranded and attained its utmost form. The military has not yet suffered humiliating defeats in the near pasts in the wars it has had. Probably, a similar loss could be a reminder to the world and its citizen of the 1975 culmination of defeat and desperation in Vietnam. The reality and the expectation conflicted sharply at the war. While America was supposedly supporting South Vietnam to remain independent, their main agenda that they pursued then could most probably be different. The humiliating failure presented a reality that contradicted their expectation sharply. Today, it has almost faded from the public. Most Americans have little and almost lost memory regarding the events that unfolded contrary to the expected scenarios (Chan, 2006). One of the first impressions of the picture was a desperate and dilapidated Vietnam that could barely afford a reconstruction of their country after the wars had subsided. In fact, even the U.S. that could have offered them economic growth and development aid also appeared helpless and desperate then. Today, Vietnam is one of the countries that are developing on a substantial economy, able at least to support the basic needs of its population. As such, the earlier version of the meaning accorded to the photograph has since diminished leaving a completely new meaning of a worst beginning with a brightened future after all (Hall, 2009). Comparison with the American Culture of Exceptionalism The American Flag: An epitome of exceptionalism Beinar, P. (2014, February 3). The End of American Exceptionalism. The Atlantic. Retrieved on May 24, 2014, from http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/02/the-end-of-american-exceptionalism/283540/ Since independence in 1776, America’s flag has remained its symbol of pride and uniqueness among other world nations. The culture has made Americans view themselves as being way above the rest of the world in terms of all dimensions of life. They strive to maintain their ego through display of military and socio-economic prowess. Furthermore, American policies revolve around maintenance of the exceptionalism culture. Form the events that unfolded prior to those of the photograph, this maintained ego faced a constraint and challenge in the face of the world. The picture portrayed a contrary view to this culture. By default, America should not act desperate and defeated by any other country in war, economically or politically. The event dismissed the U.S.’s long-standing ego. However, the current interpretation of the image does not derail the culture of exceptionalism. The current generation does not have adequate knowledge of what exactly transpired the Vietnam War. By looking at the picture, they get no message and interpretation of what transpired. Furthermore, the picture does not explain any occurrence owing to its appearance as one of the normal evacuation scenarios being executed by the soldiers. Today, it does not reflect much in the undertakings of the normal U.S. activities. Policy interventions were recommended and affected to curb such cases in the future. Besides, America has had competent military personnel that keep using to maintain the world peace. Despite the humiliation felt at the Saigon fall, the U.S. military has managed to rise against all the doubts and odds to maintain their pride as the world’s superpower. The culture of exceptionalism still takes toll on its citizens and the military. This is contrary to a possible view and assumption that the country took long to recover from the losses. It could probably be true. However, one fact remains that America has had a rebound from the humiliation and still control the world’s military support base while also maintaining their culture of exceptionalism. References Beinar, P. (2014, February 3). The End of American Exceptionalism. The Atlantic. Retrieved on May 24, 2014, from http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/02/the-end-of-american-exceptionalism/283540/ Chan, S. (2006). The Vietnamese American 1.5 generation: Stories of war, revolution, flight, and new beginnings. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. Duong, V. N. (2008). The tragedy of the Vietnam War: A South Vietnamese officers analysis. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. Englar, M. (2009). The fall of Saigon. Minneapolis, Minn: Compass Point Books. Gitlin, M. (2010). U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Hagopian, P. (2009). The Vietnam War in American memory: Veterans, memorials, and the politics of healing. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. Hall, M. K. (2009). Vietnam War era: People and perspectives. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. National Archive. (2014). Statistical Information about Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War. Retrieved from: http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html Source: NBCNews. (2009). Photographer Behind Iconic Saigon Image Dies. NBCNews. Retrieved from: ( http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30755090/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/photographer-behind-iconic-saigon-image-dies/#.U8wgE_mSybQ The Vietnam Center and Archive. (2014). April 30, 1975: The Fall of Saigon. Retrieved from: http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/exhibits/saigon/evacuation.php Wiest, A. A. (2009). The Vietnam War, 1956-1975. New York: Rosen Pub. Wiest, A., Barbier, M. & Robins, G. (2010). New Perspectives on the Vietnam War: Re-examining the Culture and History of a Generation. New York, NY: Routeledge. Read More