World History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

World History - Essay Example The country was divided as never before or since and it was seemingly the last time civilians bravely sacrificed themselves for a cause. The Vietnam War divided the nation along ideological battle lines. The older generation, the ‘establishment’, was of the WWII period and operated under a nationalistic perspective. They believed that to be a true patriot was to blindly follow the authority of the governmental powers that be, to support your ‘country’ even when you thought it was wrong. The young college protesters, the ‘new generation’, the counter-culture redefined this notion of patriotism. They believed that to be truly patriotic was to question the decisions of government and openly dissent when it was judged to be wrong. The philosophical chasm was wide and emotions ran deep on both sides. Those that protested sacrificed much. They suffered the scorn of their parents who couldn’t understand why their children were rebelling against the very foundation of their parents’ beliefs thus causing what was referred to as the ‘generation gap.’ Some war protesters were killed by soldiers of the National Guard as was the case at Kent State and South Carolina State. The protesters and draft-dodgers were thought of as anti-American by the mainstream citizenry who regarded their actions as nothing short of treasonous. This attitude makes one wonder what the ‘greatest generation’ thought they were fighting for during WWII. They fought to defend freedom on foreign soil but were very much opposed to the constitutionally guaranteed right to peacefully assemble in their own country (Bexte, 2002). The war protesters of the 1960’s had the courage to act upon their political and philosophical convictions unlike those who are opposed to the Iraq War today. The two conflicts are eerily similar on many fronts yet the public reaction has been very dissimilar. Then as now, those opposed to the war are

Life Now As a College Student and Life Before the College Essay

Life Now As a College Student and Life Before the College - Essay Example This essay discusses that many young people find that there is a huge disconnect between what is expected of college life and what it actually turns out to be. This dissonance may sometimes be traumatic. Loneliness, disappointment, and the absence of the usual familial support can make some people react in unpredictable ways. It could heighten homesickness; make you give into numerous temptations or prompt you to just dropout. â€Å"National statistics tell us that less than half of all college students finish their four-year college degrees. Slightly more than half of those who don't finish leave school before the start of their second year†. Colleges across the country are aware of this problem. And more and more colleges are focusing on helping students who are finding it difficult to make the change. Just as different people adjust to a situation differently, so too is the case in college. You will find some classmates making the change faster and adjusting better. This is no reason to feel frustrated. You are new to handling situations independently. Giving yourself more time helps. Consulting on-campus counselors also make a big difference. Life before college was a piece of cake. College, on the other hand, is a challenge in many ways. It brings new expectations, new sacrifices and a whole new load of adjustments. It is the final frontier before we set out to face the world. But the upside of this is that this is an opportunity to be an adult; to take charge of a totally new situation and eventually come out on top.