March Against Vietnam Research Paper

After the idea of peace became a more pressing issue in the United States, many influential events started to take place. One event was the March Against Vietnam, while was one of the first anti-war protests. “Many of those gathered at the march believed that Vietnam was not the only harming the Vietnamese but also leading the American government down a path to corruption.” (Kallen 23). On October 21, 1967, the Pentagon Demonstration was held. During this protest thousands of people sat down around the Pentagon and tried to hold a teach- in with the soldiers that were guarding the Pentagon. Other individuals placed flowers in the barrels of the soldier’s guns. Flowers were a symbol of peace and harmony. Another march that was held was the

Pacifism and anti-war beliefs, along with the movement as a whole created such an influential impact, that shaped many individuals lives. “The anti-war movement was an intellectual awakening of American youth. Young people were concentrated on college campuses, where their maturing intellects had sympathetic sounding boards. Vietnam was part of that awakening. So was drugs. It was a part of the protest. You had to be a part of it. Young people were waking up as they got away from home and saw the world around them and were forced to think for themselves.” (Wheeler and Becker 295). After the Vietnam War, the idea of pacifism and anti-war beliefs very much lived on. One view of the anti-war movement and protesters was stated in Stuart Kallen’s book “The Home Front: Americans Protest the War” “It could be said of the anti-war movement that it lost every battle, but eventually won the war-- the war for America's minds and especially for its soul.” (Kallen 92). Many pacifist groups combined together to form the Committee for Non -Violent Action ( CNVA ). The CNVA strived to shine a light on touchy subjects, and how those issues could be solved peacefully. The CNVA was not the only pacifist group that lived on long after the war. Hippies still continued to advocate for peace and love. Hippies also made a huge impact on United States culture. Pacifist groups within the church are also still around today, especially in the Church of the Brethren, and the Mennonite church. These groups are generally less radical, as they live conservative