Pre-reading exercise
The Vietnam War has played a significant, if not entirely favourable, role in the shaping of American identity. In groups of four, jot down anything you can think of about the Vietnam War.
- Name any songs or films that spring to mind, and see if you find a common theme.
- Do Vietnam War films tend to positive or negative towards America?
- Why do people generally tend to be more critical towards the Vietnam War than the First and Second World War?
John F. Kennedy: Speech at the Conference on Vietnam Luncheon
Written assignment: Outline and discussion
- Give an outline of the issues presented in John F. Kennedy’s Speech.
- Discuss to what extent the speech anticipates the Vietnam War?
Noam Chomsky on The Vietnam War
- Chomsky describes the handling of The Vietnam War as a classic example of America's propaganda system. What reasons does he give?
- According to Chomsky, ”American invasion of South Vietnam" or American "aggression" in South Vietnam” is not mentioned in any mainstream journalism or scholarship. What conclusions does he draw from this?
