Research Paper On Counterculture

Submitted By ruffleve
Words: 2649
Pages: 11

The interviewed person is nearly 60 years old, being born in the year 1951. He was an immigrant from Vietnam and currently works as a factory worker for Sanden. He has had 4 years of college (bachelor’s degree), but did not completely finish high school due to interruptions from the Vietnam War. He came to America in the 1980’s, a few years after the Vietnam War had ended. 1. On March 31, 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson announced to the public that he would not be running for presidency in the upcoming election. Were you happy to hear this new? Was this shocking to you? Why? * I heard about this from the public and I wasn’t very surprise because of the increasing tension from the Vietnam War. He was also trying to change the direction of the war. 2. The 1962’s was the time period in which the counterculture began to from. People, who participated in counterculture acts, such as drug use, and other rebellious things, were referred to as hippies and such. Did you participate in any counterculture acts? Did you support it, or despise it? * When counterculture began, I didn’t really support it because at that time, I was very conservative and that’s the reason I was trying to stay for it. At that time, I wished that the movement would end soon. 3. The 1960’s had also experienced a so called “sexual revolution”, in which pregnancies could now be controlled with birth control use. Much controversy rose from whether or not its use was right. Did you support the revolution? Have your ideas changed since then? * When birth control was announced, I didn’t support it, nor was I against it, because I feel I was very tolerating of it. 4. On April 4, 1968, MLK, an African American clergyman, as well as the prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement for blacks, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. How did you learn of MLK’s death? Were you shocked in any way? * When I heard of the news that MLK was assassinated, I was very surprised. I supported equal rights. I remember people discussing it on the news every day. 5. In 1965, Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor were both created as a part of Johnson’s Great Society program. Did either of these programs affect you or anyone else you knew? What were your opinions on these programs? * I supported the Medicare and Medicaid programs because the people who were less fortunate were supported, making improvements in our society. It did not affect me very much, but I felt that we needed to share a little burden on each other. 6. During 1965, the “Black Power” movement was spreading across America. African Americans began protesting through violence under the leaderships of Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. Did you believe that violent protests were necessary for the Civil Rights cause? Did the violence make you feel uncomfortable? * The movement’s attention began to increase and violence started showing up. I did not support the violence, but I supported freedom of press. 7. In 1965, Malcolm X, the one who lead Black Muslim activists during the time, was shot and killed by an Islam gunman. How did you react to the news? Do you think that his death was good, or bad? * I didn’t know much about Malcolm X, but I believed that the Muslims were very violent and I did not approve of it. His death, I believed, relieved more tension. 8. In 1968, word had spread of the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam, in which U.S. troops went off and destroyed an entire village in Vietnam, along with the women and young children who lived there. How did you learn of this news and how did you feel about it? Did you know anyone who was involved in this incident? Did it cause you to resent American soldiers? * When I heard about My Lai, well I lived near there, so I much about it. The My Lai incident was a world issue that was blown out of proportions by politicians. The communists used this incident to slander the name of Americans as well, making them look