American Public Reaction to the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was one of the critical moments in the history of the United States of America. This event brought significant changes to the country’s foreign and domestic policy. At the same time, it claimed many lives, which left a strong imprint on this historical period.
However, of particular importance is the consideration of the Vietnam War from the point of view of the Americans and how they reacted to the loss of the troops of the United States of America in this confrontation. The Americans’ response to the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam provides a better understanding of what role public opinion has in the history of the country and how this event affected people in general.
When considering how the American public met the loss in the Vietnam War, the book by Kathleen Belew, “Bring the War Home,” has value.” In this work, the author speaks about the white power movement as one of the main negative consequences of the Vietnam War. This is because the movement under discussion presented this battle to the public as extremely dangerous, cruel, and terrifying.
In addition, it is noted that various sources of information promoted a picture of how soldiers betray their colleagues and the country, including its political leaders. Belew (2019) wrote that “this narrative facilitated intergroup alliances and increased paramilitarism within the movement, escalating violence” (p. 3). Thus, the white power movement had a sufficiently large influence on the opinion and views of society initially, which is necessary when understanding the consequences of war.
Emergence of the White Power Movement
After the withdrawal of the American army from the Vietnamese territories, the public, represented by the white rights movement, began to behave quite actively. The main goal of this movement was to restructure the government, which it was dissatisfied with. A characteristic feature of this organization was the racist worldview that underlay it.
Discontent caused by the policies of the United States of America led to the white rights movement declaring war against the government in 1983. Initially, more emphasis was placed on attacking through infrastructure and killing, but particular emphasis was placed on promoting the company and attracting people. Thus, the activists of the movement under discussion attracted people through various sources of information, primarily through political companies, talk shows, and radio programs. Belew (2019) stated that “these activities both disseminated a common set of beliefs, goals, and messages to the movement faithful and worked to recruit new members” (p. 4). These companies and actions contributed to attracting people to the movement while also fulfilling the function of informing individuals.
Expansion and Organization of the Movement in the 1990s
Due to the extensive media and information campaign, the white rights movement began to involve and accept an increasing applicants. However, this led to the problem of too many followers. Thus, it was decided to make a more thorough and organized approach to who can become a participant in the movement and get into it.
The militia period of the 1990s is characterized by the most remarkable rise of the white rights movement, which had almost five million followers. Belew (2019) underlined that “that number certainly represents the upper bound of possibility, and it is likely that the white-power-identified cohort of militia members and sympathizers was significantly smaller” (p. 5). The number of followers attaches great importance to this movement in US history.
Ideological Foundations and Societal Impact of the White Rights Movement
It is also worth noting the unique nature of the beliefs and worldviews inherent in the white rights movement. Hence, in many aspects, it could be correlated and supported by the points of view that were held in the world. Among these aspects is the struggle for the rights of the LGBT community, the right to abortion, and feminism.
Despite this, the main difference in this movement was not a commitment to political conservatism. Thus, the response to the loss of the American government was not only discontent but also a desire to rebuild the existing order in the country entirely. The only way to achieve this goal, the followers of white rights saw a revolution.
The White Rights movement continued its active participation in the political and public life of the country, which attracted a large amount of press attention. Thus, the negative attitude of these population groups to the policies and practices of the American government in the Vietnam War was widely covered and provided to people. It is stated that “sensational true-crime and undercover reporting in pulp magazines and one-source interviews in small-town newspapers kept activists safely ensconced within their cells and depicted every case of violence as uniquely senseless” (Belew, 2019, p. 12). It follows from this statement that the movement under discussion, as a direct response of Americans to the loss in the Vietnam War, greatly contributed to the development of society and its transformation. With the help of various activities and protests, it attracted many people, giving it strength and resilience.
Reference
Belew, K. (2019). Bring the war home: The white power movement and paramilitary America. Harvard University Press.