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__Criticism of society:__ John Kerry’s criticism was based on his belief that the war in Vietnam should never have taken place. He believed that the US was still reacting in very much the 1945 mood and post-war cold-war period with paranoia about the Russians. These reacting and cold-war precepts he believed were no longer appropriate. In his opinion and from his firsthand experience of fighting in Vietnam he believed there was nothing in South Vietnam, nothing which could happen that realistically threatened the USA to attempt to justify the loss of one American life in Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos. Returning from his service in Vietnam he became active in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War and rallied for the US to bring an immediate end to our involvement there.
 * John Kerry**
 * “I didn’t really want to get involved in the war. When I signed up for the Swift boats, they had very little to do with the war. They were engaged in coastal patrolling and that’s what I thought I was going to be doing.”
 * January 1969, Kerry and other officers met with the commander of US Naval forces in Vietnam, and the commander of US forces in Vietnam to report that they felt the “free fire zone” policy was not accomplishing the goal of prohibiting Vietcong supply lines.

Statements made during testimony before the Senate House Committee on Foreign Affairs “Fulbright Hearings”
 * “Men have returned with a sense of anger and a sense of betrayal because they were taught to deal and trade in violence and given the chance to die for the biggest nothing in history. They were used by the administration of this country.”
 * “In our opinion and from our experience, there is nothing in South Vietnam which could happen that realistically threatens the USA to attempt to justify the loss of one American life in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos by linking such loss to the preservation of freedom.”
 * “It is a mystical war against communism.”
 * “Most people in Vietnam don’t even know the difference between communism and democracy. They just want to work in the rice paddies without helicopters and bombs and napalm burning…want to be left in peace.”
 * “I saw firsthand how money from American taxes is used to corrupt a dictatorial regime. We saw Vietnam ravaged equally by American bombs as well as by search and destroy missions, as well as by Vietcong terrorism, and yet we listen while this country tries to blame all of the havoc on Vietcong.”
 * “We saw America lose her sense of morality. We learned the meaning of free fire zones, shooting anything that moves, and watched while Americans placed cheapness on the lives of Orientals.”
 * “We watched glorification and falsification of body counts.”
 * “Congress never passed a declaration of war and it undermines the morale of the US service men in Vietnam.”
 * “…returning vets aren’t really wanted. They are the largest unemployed group.”
 * “VA hospitals aren’t/can’t meet the demands because they don’t have the appropriations.”
 * “US hypocrisy…we are guiltier than any other of violations of the Geneva Convention in free fire zones, search and destroy missions, bombings, torture of prisoners, and killing of prisoners.”
 * “…congress should filibuster the president to force cease fire and removal of Americans from Vietnam.”
 * “Many generals and colonels who were indicted for war crimes have been freed.”
 * “The US is still reacting in very much the 1945 mood and postwar cold-war period with paranoia about the Russians. These reacting and cold-war precepts are no longer applicable.”
 * “If this country can’t respond on how to end this war, how can we find the kind of response this country needs to attack poverty, hunger, birth control, low income housing, and busing?”
 * “Another body of people that has tremendous power in this country is the press. We had a press conference and antiwar conference and people simply exposing ideas and no press showed up. The media’s response, “The news business is partly entertainment business visually, you see, and a press conference like that is not visual. The only way to get your ideas out is to stage events.”
 * “The President has been negligent on reporting, at some point because this Government of this country has not allowed them to. One reporters response when given a story by me, that should have been written, was “I can’t criticize that much because if I do I would lose my accreditation, and we have to be very careful about just how much we say and when”
 * “We have a constitutional crisis in this country now. The constitution is under test and we are failing….because the Executive has become exorbitant, because Congress has not wanted to exercise its own power.”

__Methods used by John Kerry to share his message:__ While in Vietnam, John Kerry along with others met with commanders to discuss their concerns regarding the “free fire zones” and their beliefs that they were not effective. Upon returning from Vietnam, John Kerry became a leader in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He was invited and was the first Vietnam vet to testify before congress at the Fulbright Hearings before a Senate committee. Kerry was a decorated veteran who took a stand against the government's official position; he was frequently interviewed by broadcast and print media. He was able to use these occasions to bring his ideas of his Senate testimony to a wider audience. For example, Kerry appeared more than once on //The Dick Cavett Show// on ABC television.In the //Washington Star// newspaper (June 6, 1971), he recounted how he and other Swift boat officers had become disillusioned by the contrast between what the leaders told them and what they saw. __Discussion of the methods used:__ The Vietnam Veterans Against the War was originally created to oppose the Vietnam War. Members were a small portion of the millions that served between 1965-1975. But the VVAW is widely considered to be among the most influential antiwar organization of that era. The chairman of the Committee to John Kerry: “I think you and your associates have contributed a great deal in the actions you have taken. The fact that you have shown both great conviction and patience about this matter and at the same time conducted yourself in the most commendable manner has been the most effective demonstration, although you have demonstrated in the sense that has become disapproved of in some circles. I think you have demonstrated in the most proper way and the most effective way to bring about the results that you wish and I believe you have made a great contribution. Being a decorated veteran he was asked to be interviewed and would take those opportunities to bring his message of an immediate end to the war. His peaceful ways of getting his message out was very effective.

__Evaluate his success:__ John Kerry worked diligently upon his return from Vietnam to try to get the country and the government to see how wrong the war was in Vietnam. He used his experiences in Vietnam to tell about the war crimes that were occurring. He spoke about the atrocities that were taking place toward the Vietnamese people. He used his nationally recognized popularity as a decorated veteran to be an outspoken opponent of the war and to discuss in the media his concerns about Vietnam. Unfortunately, his testimony before the senators was heard in 1971 and it wasn’t until 1975 that the war finally ended. He encouraged the congress in 1971 to take a stand against the President, however this did not occur. His hopes for the war to end immediately did not happen.

Works Cited "John Kerry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2012. . "John Kerry Testimony Before Senate." //Statement of John Kerry//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2012. . "Nixon declares Vietnam War is ending â€” History.com This Day in History â€” 12/8/1969." //History.com â€” History Made Every Day â€” American & World History//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2012. .