Something I found interesting during my American Studies class's "Perilous Times" presentations was an idea Mr. O'Connor brought up about wars classified as "good" by American standards. It seems like the wars Americans tend to classify as "bad" are the ones where more of the people do not agree with America's involvement. For example, the Vietnam war was very controversial. Many people were upset by the Universal Military Training and Service Act. People did not want to be drafted to this war (in which they did not believe the US should be involved), and as a result, many people illegally destroyed their draft cards. Most people know of the Vietnam War as the most controversial war in US history. I think the controversy unglorified the US and caused shame for many people.
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On the other hand, the US won World War 2, which is classified as a "good war." I think this war was less controversial since many Americans were in support of the war because of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I think America is seen as the reluctant hero in this war, which further glorifies the country.
What do you think classifies a war as "good" or "bad?" Please comment below.
I think another interesting topic we talk a lot about in class is the idea of American heroism and mythology. If America does well in a war or wins, it is regarded as a good war because it had a good, positive result. What I think is also interesting is that even if a war has a 'good' result, does that come as a result of thousands of deaths on either side of the conflict. When lives are lost, I don't think it can be regarded as a good or bad war, even based on the results of the conclusion of the war.
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