My Lai Massacre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Lai Massacre - Essay Example Beyond the leaping jade plates of the sea was an overhand of cliffs and the sight of a valley so large it contained sun, smoke, rain, and cloud—all at once—independent quantities of color. I had been unprepared for this beauty; it surprised and humbled me†¦.† But soldiers are but spikes in the giant military wheel. The â€Å"preamble† to the massacre reads thus, as described by the authors. â€Å"The order that was given was to kill everyone in the village. Someone asked if that meant women and children. And the order was: everyone in the village†¦.It was quite clear that no one was to be spared in that village†. One can see each syllable of this order was the harbinger of the impending massacre. A disciplined soldier had no other alternative but to obey the order and be a part of the massacre. I entirely agree with the observations and findings of the authors that what happened in My Lai was a blunder. Not a military action but the massacr e of the innocents. Majority of those killed were civilians, estimated some 400-500. Policymakers and anti-war movement activists were aware that they were being briefed with doses of fiction, as part of the cover-up operations. But the findings of the authors are on unassailable grounds and they have tendered 68 primary documents and have relied upon General Peer’s inquiry findings and they have chronicled the events systematically from the pre-operations details, the actual operation and the developments subsequent to the massacre.... One can see each syllable of this order was the harbinger of the impending massacre. A disciplined soldier had no other alternative but to obey the order and be a part of the massacre. I entirely agree with the observations and findings of the authors that what happened in My Lai was a blunder. Not a military action but massacre of the innocents. Majority of those killed were civilians, estimated some 400-500. The public, policymakers and anti-war movement activists were aware that they were being briefed with doses of fiction, as part of the cover-up operations. But the findings of the authors are on unassailable grounds and they have tendered 68 primary documents and have relied upon General Peer’s inquiry findings and they have chronicled the events systematically from the pre-operations details, the actual operation and the developments subsequent to the massacre. Black and white photos add further credential to the report. Without doubt, the soldiers were in an agitated s tate of mind, but that doesn’t provide one license to shoot at the defenseless men, women and children at will merely on the suspicion that they were Viet-Cong supporters. My Lai, is a hamlet, 335 miles northeast of Saigon, supposed to be a Viet-Cong dominated territory. The early morning action of about 70 infantrymen which resulted in the total destruction of the villagers, their residences and the livestock—can it be termed as military warfare? The Charlie Company of the 11th Brigade, American Division, landed in the village with the express intent to kill. The Officers had their own reasons, and they considered it as a retaliatory action. Firstly the area was a stronghold of Viet

Interpersonal Communication Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Interpersonal Communication - Term Paper Example An understanding of interpersonal relationships is an essential element in developing good interpersonal relationships. Individuals indulge in different levels of interpersonal relationship that depends upon the person with whom they indulge into interaction. This interpersonal communication can be done both with the use of direct and indirect mediums like face to face interaction, or computer mediated interaction. For ensuring a successful interpersonal interaction, it is important the sender and receiver of the message interpret and understand the message with an adequate level of meaning and its implications. Although interpersonal communication provides communication between two or more people, it also plays an important role in maintaining the communication between two people who are in a relationship and it is said to be the basis of every interpersonal relationship. There are various principles that define the ways in which interpersonal communication is conducted effectively. One of the principles implies that interpersonal communication is inescapable. It says that even if two people do not want to communicate, this attempt of not communicating generates communication is established between them (Deams, 2007). Another principle says that interpersonal communication is irreversible, as whatever has been said cannot be taken back. It is said in a Russian proverb that once a word goes out of the mouth, you can never swallow it again. Another principle says that interpersonal communication is complicated as there is no form of communication that is simple. There are number of variables that are involved in establishing an effective interpersonal communication. It has been observed by the theorists that whenever communication is initiated there are six people who are involved: the person who initiates the communication, the person who is the receiver of the information, the thinking of the