Brewer, Ch. 4,5,6 & Conclusion

In chapter 4 four, Brewer begins by stating about the the Korean War and how President Truman sent U.S. forces into Korea to help discontinue the growth of communism there. However, Brewer also states that the U.S. had more fear in on shoulder other than just communism in Korea; Europe, Japan and the Middle East were stirring up conflict and discomfort that was making the U.S. prepare for a Cold War.  Once again propaganda was used to manipulate the views of Americans by telling them they had to go and fight communism in Korea or else everything would be "taken away" or they would be fight communism in "Wichita" instead of in Korea.  I thought it was completely interesting how Brewer stated that during the World War II, Koreans differentiated between "Good Asian" and "Bad Asian."  The Chinese had been labeled with the term "Good Asian"with associated with South Koreans and the term "Bad Asian" had been labeled as the Japanese which associated with North Koreans.

During the Vietnam war the U.S. was involved in, Brewer brought out a crucial and good point in how "propaganda" really works and it's usage.  In chapter 5, Brewer clearly stated that many government leaders had idea how to present a logic reasoning as to why U.S. troops were in Southeast Asia fighting.  Many Americans didn't know what to believe.  U.S. troops being in Vietnam was solely used at America's dispense in trying to establish a power signal to the Soviet Union.  That was America's true intentions and WHY they were in Vietnam fighting, but in the meantime, they told Americans that U.S. troops were in Vietnam because they wanted to prevent "communism" from spreading.  The Soviet Union was gaining an immense amount of power and had America paranoid.  Brewer brought up a good point that i agreed with since the beginning of the book, propaganda has been used and manipulated to America's beneficial use.  Whether lies or manipulation are being created underneath the truth, America, i believe, has always used propaganda in every war and will continue to do so.

In chapter six, the September 11th attack was brought up a lot and the "Operation Iraqi Freedom."  Brewer states how President Bush announced war on Iraq in March 2003 in terms of defense for the attack of the Twin Towers.  Many Americans were open and patriotic to the declaration of war in Iraq because President Bush informed them that this war was for America's safety and also, help Iraqis be free in their own living situation in Iraq.  This brought up a lot of memories from the Twin Towers attack.  I remember this day so vividly because i was getting ready for school that morning and then i heard my older brother yelling for my mom to go and watch the news.  Then i went to the living room and saw the Twin Towers falling down, crumbling to the ground.  About 45 minutes later, my principal of my private school, called my mother and told her school was cancelled due to the tragic event and of everything that was happening.  Many Americans were confused as to our troops going to Iraq and fighting for other reasons like helping free the Iraqis.  "The United States will use this moment of opportunity to extend the benefits of freedom across the globe" is what President Bush stated.  Americans didn't want to hear that our U.S. troops were going to Iraq and putting their life on the line to help Iraqis; Americans only wanted revenge in my opinion because many were devastated and incredibly angry because many lost loved ones in the Twin Towers.

Brewer has a strong voice and is very opinionated.  Throughout the book, i realized that Brewer wrote about many points in American history that involved war and propaganda.  She truly introduced  how propaganda was and has been used during the times of war and how political leaders use it to manipulate themes.  Whether it's our political leaders using propaganda to protect us or lie to us, propaganda has been the only tool leaders have turned to, to keep the calm and democracy intact.

Quiz Question: Who was the first President to visit China and the Soviet Union in 1972?

Research Proposal: During the attack of the Twin Towers in New York, why did many Americans become impulsive and began to segregate ALL types of Middle Eastern people as to Muslims who were all the same type as Bin Laden?