The
impact of the Vietnam War on American culture, politics, and individuals is ongoing even today.
I think you could easily make a claim that the war was a turning point for Americans as a
people, and we are still processing its effects on the psyche, politics, and culture of the
countrynot to mention on the thousands of Vietnam War veterans, many of whom struggle to find
meaning in their experience of the war.
Coming on the heels of a righteous
and successful war effort during World War II, the Vietnam War could not have been more
different. Young men, whether volunteer military or draftees, went abroad to fight in a kind of
warfare they had not experienced before. The enemy was often unclear, the style of fighting was
more guerilla battles than army-to-army conflicts, and the reasons for the war were fuzzy and
unclear. In all, it made a less than compelling reason for many American GIs, who were reluctant
to fight. Then, when they came home, these young men experienced the opposite of a joyful
welcome. Many Vietnam War veterans are victims of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), a
condition that affects a persons entire life.
Many American civilians also
became disgusted with a perceived lack of honesty or transparency about the war. They felt
deceived by the government. People no longer trusted that the government was truly looking out
for their best interestsa legacy which continues to this day. The government now has to convince
people of their goodwill, rather than it being assumed.
On the other hand,
during this war, many Americans, especially youth, truly mobilized for a shared purpose. There
were marches and protests in the streets against either the war or the government itself. This
tradition, too, continues to be a strategy used by civilian groups in the United States today.
The act of gathering in protest really came to maturity during the Vietnam War
years.
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