1960's-Vietnam

This image is a pro-war rally that took place in New York 1970. It is part of the collection that was taken by Benedict J. Fernandez and is in the George Eastman House Still Photo Archive. It shows the violence that the Vietnam war brought home with it in so many ways.

The Vietnam War is part of this countries most important events because it was a cry out against the imperialistic attitude that had long been the norm since the start of the Cold War in 1945. The military action in Vietnam, tough never officially given the designation of war, was the bloodiest event since or after the end of WWII. The war was fought not because of a threat against American domestic safety. Nor was it committed with the utmost safety of American men and women in mind, it was instead fought because of stagnant policies and commitments to Cold War tactics created in a bygone era. The war had even more impact on the United States because of the out-lash of violence and anti-government sentiment it created. This backlash was in part created because of the inscription processes used to send unwilling participants to the front lines. Many would point to this event as one of the defining moments in American last century and it has been commemorated by the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.