Antiwar Movements Echo Across Decades
In April 1967, hundreds of thousands marched in New York City to protest the Vietnam War, hoping to sway President Lyndon Johnson. Despite the turnout, Johnson escalated the war, extending U.S. military action into Laos and Cambodia. Protesters’ voices were ignored, and antiwar sentiment continued to rise nationwide, peaking with over 2 million demonstrators during Moratorium Day in 1969.
Public disillusionment grew as the war dragged on. By 1971, Gallup polls showed 61% of Americans believed the war was a mistake—up from just 24% in 1965. Although U.S. troop numbers declined after 1968, bombings and support for the South Vietnamese government persisted until the war’s end in 1975.
Student Activism Surges Against Government Policy
Throughout the Vietnam era, college students were at the forefront of antiwar activism. By the end of the 1960s, 69% of students favored de-escalation in Vietnam, contrasting sharply with general public sentiment. Youth opposition signaled a growing divide between generations and their trust in government leaders.
This generational rift has resurfaced in response to U.S. support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Young Americans, informed by historical parallels, quickly turned against the Biden administration’s arms shipments to Israel.
Gaza Conflict Draws Parallels to Vietnam War
A CBS News/YouGov poll from June 2024 revealed that 61% of Americans oppose sending weapons to Israel. Among adults under 30, opposition reached 77%. These numbers reflect a deepening belief among young voters that their leaders ignore moral arguments and popular opinion on matters of war.
Many see the U.S. government’s role in the Gaza conflict as eerily similar to its actions in Southeast Asia. Critics argue that both wars exposed the hollowness of official rhetoric and revealed a persistent disconnect between public will and foreign policy.
Political Costs of Ignoring Young Voters
The refusal of Democratic leaders to challenge presidential war policies has had electoral consequences. Hubert Humphrey’s blind support for Johnson in 1968 mirrored Kamala Harris’ defense of Biden’s Gaza policy in 2024. Both vice presidents saw a decline in youth support as a result.
Young voters once viewed these politicians as potential agents of change. Instead, their loyalty to controversial war strategies alienated a generation. Many see this betrayal not only as a political miscalculation but as a moral failure.
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From Vietnam to Gaza: War shatters illusions about US leadership
Photo by Kevin Schmid on Unsplash
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