Fear at Kent State

The Kent State Massacre in Kent, Ohio happened in the midst of the Vietnam War. In 1968 the My Lai Massacre devastated the American public. The Vietcong lived in My Lai, where many had been killed weeks prior to the massacre. On March16, 1968 U.S. troops bombarded My Lai and killed over 300 unarmed Vietnam civilians including men, women, and children (www.pbs.org). Many people would escape to Canada or other countries, anything to stay out of the war (www.ohiohistorycentral.org). This was a dark age for the U.S. because of the continuous demonstrations, whether violent or not. It was the people vs. the police and it would all unravel at Kent State University.
The Kent State photo is very conflicting because on one side are protestors who appear to be calm and on the other are angry police. The demonstrators look calm but fearless when faced with adversity. The protestors are being pointed at with bayonets but they challenge the guns with flowers, as if the flowers symbolize innocence. This picture also depicts what the Vietnam War was like: innocent civilians being killed by U.S. troops. The protestors show a great amount of bravery because they are surrounded by police officers with guns. Even more bravery is being shown when the demonstrators take the protests a step further and fight war with peace by placing flowers on the tip of the bayonets. This piece of art stands for all of the brave people willing to sacrifice their life for the good of others in spite of their fear.

"Kent State Shootings - Ohio History Central - A Product of the Ohio Historical Society." Ohio History Central - An Online Encyclopedia of Ohio History - Ohio Historical Society. May 9, 2011. http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1595.

"American Experience | PBS | Vietnam Online." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. May 9, 2011. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/my_lai.html.