background: the vietnam war in the 1950's the united states began to send troops to vietnam....

Background: the Vietnam WBackground: the Vietnam Warar

In the 1950's the United States began to In the 1950's the United States began to send troops to Vietnam. During the follsend troops to Vietnam. During the following 25-years the ensuing war would cowing 25-years the ensuing war would create some of the strongest tensions in reate some of the strongest tensions in US history. Almost 3 million US men anUS history. Almost 3 million US men and women were sent thousands of miles td women were sent thousands of miles to fight for what was a questionable causo fight for what was a questionable cause. In total, it is estimated that over 2,5 me. In total, it is estimated that over 2,5 million people on both sides were killed. illion people on both sides were killed.


The anti-Vietnam War movement marThe anti-Vietnam War movement marked the first time in American history tked the first time in American history that record numbers marched and prothat record numbers marched and protested to an antiwar tune—on college caested to an antiwar tune—on college campuses, in neighborhoods, and in Wasmpuses, in neighborhoods, and in Washington. Although it did not create enohington. Although it did not create enough pressure on decision-makers to enugh pressure on decision-makers to end U.S. involvement in the war, the movd U.S. involvement in the war, the movement’s impact was monumental. ement’s impact was monumental.


It served as a major constraint on the gIt served as a major constraint on the government’s ability to escalate, playeovernment’s ability to escalate, played a significant role in President Lyndod a significant role in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision in 1968 not to n B. Johnson’s decision in 1968 not to seek another term, and was a factor in seek another term, and was a factor in the Watergate affair that brought dowthe Watergate affair that brought down President Richard Nixon. n President Richard Nixon.


At last, the story of the entire antiwar moveAt last, the story of the entire antiwar movement from its advent to its dissolution is avaiment from its advent to its dissolution is available in Antiwarriors: The Vietnam War and lable in Antiwarriors: The Vietnam War and the Battle for America’s Hearts and Minds. the Battle for America’s Hearts and Minds.

But in addition to radical protestors whose aBut in addition to radical protestors whose actions fueled intense media coverage, Small ctions fueled intense media coverage, Small reveals that the anti-war movement includereveals that the anti-war movement included a diverse cast of ordinary citizens turned wd a diverse cast of ordinary citizens turned war dissenter: housewives, politicians, suburbar dissenter: housewives, politicians, suburbanites, clergy members, and the elderly. anites, clergy members, and the elderly.

Words, Phrases and Sentence Words, Phrases and Sentence MakingMaking

approachapproach engageengage fortifyfortify mask (v.)mask (v.) retreatretreat stainstain vanishvanish come throughcome through be caught up inbe caught up in

Sentences and ParaphrasinSentences and Paraphrasingg

They were dreaming of golden beacheThey were dreaming of golden beaches and sea tides as the grey, cold spring s and sea tides as the grey, cold spring of New York of New York vanishedvanished behind them. ( behind them. (ddisappearisappear))

He sat in front of the young people, his He sat in front of the young people, his dusty face dusty face maskingmasking his age, dressed in his age, dressed in a plain brown suit that did not fit him. a plain brown suit that did not fit him. ((hidinghiding) () (Please analyze the grammaticPlease analyze the grammatical structure of this sentence.)al structure of this sentence.)


““It is,” he said quietly, as if rememberIt is,” he said quietly, as if remembering something he had tried to forget. (ing something he had tried to forget. (FoForget what?)rget what?)

Get a new guy—she’s a wonderful womGet a new guy—she’s a wonderful woman, really an, really somethingsomething—and forget about —and forget about me. (me. (outstandingoutstanding))

““And you’re going home now, And you’re going home now, not knonot knowingwing?” (?” (whether she’s got another mawhether she’s got another man and whether she would accept you.)n and whether she would accept you.)


She told the others, and soon all of them weShe told the others, and soon all of them were re caught upcaught up in the approach of Brunswick, in the approach of Brunswick, looking at the pictures Vingo showed them looking at the pictures Vingo showed them of his wife and three children. (of his wife and three children. (involved, exinvolved, excited, interested, attractedcited, interested, attracted))

Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face iVingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex-con’s nto the ex-con’s maskmask, as if , as if fortifyingfortifying hims himself against elf against

((expressionexpression) () (against possible attacagainst possible attackk))

still another disappointment. still another disappointment.


Then it was 10 miles, and then five, anThen it was 10 miles, and then five, and the bus became d the bus became very quietvery quiet. (. (Why?)Why?)

As the young people shouted, the old cAs the young people shouted, the old con slowly rose from his seat, on slowly rose from his seat, holding hholding himself tightlyimself tightly, and made his way to the , and made his way to the front of the bus to go home. (front of the bus to go home. (overjoyed,overjoyed, overwhelmed by joy overwhelmed by joy))

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions What do “home” and “going homWhat do “home” and “going hom

e” symbolize?e” symbolize? Why did the hero go with the young peWhy did the hero go with the young pe

ople?ople? Why were the young people from New Why were the young people from New

York so kind?York so kind?

background: the vietnam war in the 1950's the united states began to send troops to vietnam....

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