The Living Rooms Had Made Americans Essay Example

globally. The account in Source F is that of American journalist Richard Hamer, describing an assault on Vietnamese civilians during the seventh year of the conflict.

Regular reporting was necessary for this account due to the presence of Vietcong sympathizers in the hamlets, whom the troops couldn't identify. Such incidents were commonplace, prompting the journalist to question their instructions and pursue the truth about current events.

This journalist, who was a TV personality, provided ample proof of the troubling situation in Vietnam. The account was likely broadcast on American television, offering evidence to the United States that the situation in Vietnam was not positive. This underscores the significance of television as a medium for delivering news.

The American people were affected by the war as their troops entered uncertain about the enemy, resulting in unintended harm to innocent Vietnamese. This report aims to evaluate the progress of American troops in the war while also serving as anti-war propaganda, highlighting the confusion among troops concerning the identity of their enemies.

The Kent State Massacre, depicted in Source J, took place during a media-organized protest that was intentionally documented by cameras. The National Guard was deployed to manage the demonstration but ended up fatally shooting four students. This incident drew government attention.

Television played a significant role in ending the war by showing that many Americans were against it, which became evident one year into Nixon's presidency and signaled defeat for the US. This fact serves as substantial evidence of the American public's opposition to the war.

It has been reported that television was purposely utilized to propagate an Anti-war ideology and disseminate it, resulting in the promotion of the peace movement

and ultimately culminating in the conclusion of the war. The intention was to grab media attention towards the anti-war campaign and compel the government to acknowledge it. As a pivotal moment on TV, this was due to the high number of casualties.

According to Source L, TV did not win the war for the US. The source includes an interview with Don McCullen, a British photographer who covered the war and had his pictures appear on TV and in the press. McCullen's photographs initially portrayed the Americans positively, but his perspective changed as he witnessed Americans struggling and the mistreatment of the Vietnamese. He believed it was his responsibility to accurately depict the reality of the war and create anti-war propaganda.

The presented evidence is adequate as it is evident from the altered perspectives of Americans through the pictures. Protests were initiated after witnessing the occurrences. Despite disproving the reason for America's loss in the Vietnam War, several sources highlight how significant media was. An example is Source D- a North Vietnamese poster portraying American troops' failure to locate the Vietcong. This poster could deter Americans from their mission.

The intent of the cartoon was to lower the morale of American troops by showcasing their inability to engage in guerrilla warfare, as the Vietcong would often ambush them in the jungle. The Vietcong were also receiving weapons through the covert 'Ho Chi Mien Trails.'

The evidence provided is insufficient to claim that television lost the war since only US troops in Vietnam would have seen it, not the American people outside of Vietnam. The poster would have been displayed in Vietnam to demoralize American troops and convey a message

of the Vietcong's invincibility. American soldier Ronald Rodenhour's reaction in Source G describes his disgust at the troops' actions, likening them to Nazis. He states that he joined to do something brave, not to indiscriminately kill innocent Vietnamese.

The conduct of children resembling Nazis in Vietnam would have displeased parents who fought in WWII. A report about this was circulated among 30 prominent government authorities that spurred an inquiry, drawing the interest of the prominent American publication 'Life.' The controversy surrounding this incident further indicated America's lack of understanding in managing Vietnam.

Although it serves as a form of protest, the source alone cannot single-handedly bring the US to lose the war. Its intention was for Ronald to express his stance on their instructions. The motivation behind this act was to inform both individuals and government authorities that the war was not worth winning. Furthermore, this written protest may not have made it onto television.

According to Source H, there is not enough evidence to suggest that America lost the war due to the cartoon published in the British magazine "Punch" in 1967. The cartoon depicts President Johnson chopping wood labeled "A great society" on a train that is being burnt in an engine labeled "US economy" and releasing smoke labeled "Vietnam." The cartoon implies that Johnson was destroying the country to support the war. Since Britain was America's strongest ally and aware of its half-million troops, the artist aimed to show readers what he believed Johnson was doing to the country.

The cartoon, serving as a form of protest, depicts the artist's opinion on Johnson's actions towards the country. However, it is likely that the cartoon

would not have been published in Britain. Additionally, source K is an Australian opinion poll that lacks sufficient evidence to prove that TV lost the war. The poll shows that while Australians initially supported America's continuation in the war, they later changed their stance and favored their return.

Although the purpose was to show how Australians viewed the war, the poll results were not considered significant enough for television broadcasting. Thus, this source is insufficient evidence to prove that TV caused America's defeat in the war. Additionally, Americans are unlikely to value Australian opinions. Nevertheless, television played a crucial part in promoting anti-war and anti-government feelings.

At first, positive news came from Vietnam through pictures, but later the media inundated people with anti-war propaganda. After Nixon became President in 1969, he had to reassess America's position on the war due to public opposition and poor performance in battle. Sources E, F, J, and L illustrate TV's role in promoting an anti-war sentiment that ultimately led to America's defeat. The US was forced to reconsider its strategy based on public feedback. However, sources D, G, H, and K were not broadcast on American television.

Despite never being reported by the press, certain sources had an impact on soldiers fighting in Vietnam. These sources provide proof of widespread media opposition to the war.