When we were Soldiers Essay Example for Free

When we were Soldiers Essay The Randall Wallace movie â€Å"When we were Soldiers† is a factual account of Vietnam War but with specific Hollywood aspects which one finds in majority of movies. The move takes you back to the year is 1965 and Lt. Col. Hal Moore leading the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry. The battle takes place at the La Drang Valley called The Valley of Death. This film allows the viewer to see what fighting and the what the war zone was really like in Vietnam as they experience one of the most violent battles in U. S history. The film uses images in a very important way to convey historical truth as to what really happened at Vietnam. The film uses graphic images to portray what the battle scene was really like. It shows how the American troops were outnumbered and how they were fighting literally within feet of the enemy. The images in the movie that we seen are as close to as what it was really like, because there was a photographer there taking pictures during combat. The pictures that the photographer shot during battle helped us visualize what the battle scenes were really like and the pain and anguish that soldiers went through when fighting. The images of soldiers dying during combat and the reality of the battle helps to portray the bloodiness of the battle. Some black and white photographs of the actual battle scene in 1965 were in the film so that the viewer could see real images of the battle and what soldiers had to go through to survive the combat. One problem with most Hollywood films about war is that they make war seem more heroic than it actually is. The producers of this film managed to keep that false sense of wanting to fight in a war to a minimum. The images and the plot allow the viewer to really see what is going on in the battle. The producers show how gruesome the battle really was and the small heroism there actually was in a war. The grim fighting conditions that soldiers endured while fighting in Vietnam made many Americans want to stay out of war as it was a horrible place to be. This film had a couple of weak spots in the plot. One thing was that it never really talked about why we were going to Vietnam to fight in a war. It barely touched on the subject about the controversial issues that surrounded the United States into entering this war. The battle at La Drang Valley was one of the first battles in the Vietnam War, and the American public knew little about our position in Vietnam until this battle had taken place. When this battle broke out there was no hiding our position any longer. The American public would now know that we were at war with northern Vietnam. Another part of the plot that I thought was bad was the life on the home front. I feel as the producers used Hollywood at the home front a little too much. The films most dramatic scene involving the Armys failure to properly deliver the telegrams of regret is ruined by a number of wives crying through screen doors. Also when the husband comes home he rings the door bell to provide a false sense of sorrow only to see him standing there to greet his wife and family. This hurts the films authenticity but makes up for it when the battle scenes resume. Another part of the film that was poor was the timeline of events that happened. In the movie it seemed as if the battle only took a few days where in reality the battle took over a month. It is a little bit confusing because when it returns to the home front it seems that time is going by but, when on the combat zone it is like the battle took a couple of days and then everybody left to go home. In reality the battalion that the film was following left the combat zone to another battalion and they returned back to base. The film is important because it takes a look at the first battle of Vietnam and how under equipped, out numbered and ill informed our troops really were. When they first step foot onto the battle scene they undertake heavy fire from the enemy and realize that they may be in over their heads. They never suspected that they had such great numbers in their military. The amount of casualties was tremendous, after the first day of fighting thousands of bodies lay on the battle field.

Free College Admissions Essays: My Mother had Faith in Me :: College Admissions Essays

My Mother had Faith in Me    As a child, I never thought I would be the one who would graduate from high school. In grade school, I learned that I could do well, but I was afraid of going to a higher level. As a freshman in high school, I made a decision not to be a fool and drop out. Even though it crossed my mind to drop out, I stood tall and looked up to God. Now I have an overall of 3.567.    However, each goal that I strived for, I achieved because my mother always had faith in me. She believed I could do anything that I put my mind to . For eleven years, my mother was a single parent who raised me. My biological father died before I was born. She basically raised me all alone. My mother always bought me books as a child. Every night we read books like, 'Who am I,' and my favorite, 'Wacky Wednesday,' from beginning to end. Her dedication inspired me to be the person that I am striving for today. She always had a way of showing me her love and care by pushing me towards a successful life. Regardless of the circumstances, she was the one who helped me get to where I am today. This is why I'm determined to go even further in life.    In fact, today my career goals are not a problem I know that I can get the job done to the best of my ability by furthering my education. In the year 2005, I will be a junior high school math teacher. I will teach at a school that I attended as a child to help students learn. I will teach my students not only math, but values that will help them to be successful in life. As a teacher, or an accountant, I will also be an entrepreneur. I will help the people in the community where I grew up in and that's a promise. I know that I will achieve these goals. When I get my Bachelor and Master's degree, I will make sure that I will have something to show for it. Therefore, my career goals on my agenda will be accomplished through my success.    I have participated in various extra-curricular activities. I remember back in the 9th grade, when I tried out for the pom-pom team.

Differences Between Vietnam and British Food Essay

When we talk about the differences between Vietnamese and English culture, we can think of many things, namely literature, style of music, arts, †¦ One of these highlight culture is culinary. And I will tell you some differences of the two cuisines. Initially, both English and Vietnamese have 3 meals per day, but British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish and generally served with potatoes and one other vegetable while people in Vietnam have rice, pork and vegetable as the main ingredients. Secondly, the most common foods eaten in Britain include the sandwich, fish and chips, trifle and roasts dinners, opposite to pho, banh mi, xoi in Vietnam. For example, a typical English breakfast is more likely to be a bowl of cereals, a slice of toast, orange juice and a cup of coffee but in Vietnam, people usually eat pho, banh mi, xoi or instant noodles. Another differences is eating manner. English people eat with a knife, fork or spoon (with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right one) while Vietnamese usually use chopstick and spoon. In the meal, the British usually use napkins and drink during meal meanwhile Vietnamese do not use napkins but wash their hands and their faces before and after every meal. They don’t drink during eating, they drink afterward. In addition , in Viet Nam, rice is the main starch and meat is cut into small pieces before cooking because they never use knife during meal but in Britain potato or bread is the main starch and meat is cooked in big pieces, they cut it during eating Finally, before having meal, people in England normally pray for the God because of providing them with food, however, in Vietnam, everybody (especially young people) have to invite other members having meal. There are so many differences in British and Vietnamese cuisine. The differences indicated above can show that the British culture is significantly different from the Vietnamese one. But in the trend of integration Viet Nam and Britain have more acculturation, especially cuisine. For example, there are so many places in Viet Nam selling British food such as sandwich, fish and chips and vice versa.

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare - 560 Words

A tragedy is a story in where the main character obtains a flaw that leads to their downfall. This main character, called a tragic hero, possesses qualities that cause their demise. These qualities are called tragic flaws. In Julius Caesar, both Julius Caesar and Brutus can be seen as tragic heroes. However, Brutus is the most tragic hero of the two. The qualities that make Brutus a hero are also the qualities that lead to his downfall. He cares about everyone, and makes each decision for the good of Rome. However, the fact that he is too trusting, too honorable, and too stoic, ultimately leads to his downfall. Brutus’ first flaw is that he is too trusting. He cares too much about helping others, and trusts them entirely. At Caesar’s funeral, Brutus allows Antony to speak once the conspirators leave. He believes that Antony has the right to speak at his friend’s funeral, and trusts that Antony’s speech will not poorly affect the conspirators (3.1.263-270). Brutus also holds trust in the members of the conspiracy. He believes that they are acting out of nobility, but instead they are acting out of jealousy (4.3.9-12). Brutus holds too much trust in the people around him, and that undying trust leads to his downfall. Brutus’ next flaw is that he has too much honor and too much pride. More importantly, he does not want to disgrace himself. Brutus wants to help the people of Rome more than he wants to help himself. He agrees to kill Caesar for the purpose of benefiting Rome.Show MoreRelatedJulius Caesar by William Shakespeare646 Words   |  3 Pages William Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights of all time. He has written over 30 plays that include comedies, histories, and tragedies. A tragedy is about the downfall of a tragic hero, and the tragic hero is someone of greater power or high standing obtaining a flaw. One of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies is the story of Julius Caesar. In this story, the main character, Julius Caesar, is plotted against his best friend, Brutus, and the head of the conspiracy, Cassius. After Caesar getsRead MoreJulius Caesar - William Shakespeare731 Words   |  3 Pages1. Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare a. Plot: Romans are going crazy over Julius Caesar. Even though he’s just a senator, the treatment is a bit more royal. Some of the other elite aren’t so happy that the little people like him so much. Caesar is warned, â€Å"beware the ides of march,† which he promptly ignores. Cassius, a worried upper class man, grooms Brutus, a good man, to be sure of himself and to worry about Caesar. Brutus tends to represent the morality and public opinion. The upper class learnRead MoreJulius Caesar by William Shakespeare2100 Words   |  9 PagesIn the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Mark Antony is depicted as a better leader than Brutus, due to his cunning use of rhetoric when addressing the plebeians after Caesar’s death. This essay will be divided into two sections to explore the ways in which Antony is depicted as better leader. The First section will contextualise the extracts used for analysis, and compare Brutus’s pedestrian speech with Mar k Antony’s impressive oratory. This will be done by defining what rhetoric is, andRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar1082 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Et tu, Brutà ©? Then fall Caesar† (III.i 179). The fatal stabs of the conspirators did not kill the all-mighty Julius Caesar, for the sharp butcher of Brutus pierced his heart and condemned his life to cessation. This dramatic, mood changing affair serves as the pivotal platform in William Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar. It is a compelling novel that recounts the unjust murder of Julius Caesar, an ancient Roman general. Oblivious to this conspicuous foreshadowing, Caesar fails to distinguish his trueRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar888 Words   |  4 Pagesof words? William Shakespeare, in his play Julius Caesar, demonstrates how brilliant command of the English language can convey a deeper depth of meaning than just the denotation of words. Towards the beginning of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare introduces Brutus, a close friend of Caesar, and Cassius, another honored Roman. Due to a fear of Caesar attempting to become emperor, Cassius wants to assassinate Caesar. With this desire, Cassius decides to add Brutus in his plot to eliminate Caesar, and togetherRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar Essay1833 Words   |  8 Pages INTRODUCTION The seemingly straightforward simplicity of â€Å"Julius Caesar† has made it a perennial favourite for almost 400 years. Despite its simplicity, almost Roman in nature, the play is rich both dramatically and thematically, and every generation since Shakespeare’s time has been able to identify with some political aspect of the play. The Victorians found a stoic, sympathetic character in Brutus and found Caesar unforgivably weak and tyrannical. As we move into the twenty-first century, audiencesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar1850 Words   |  8 Pages often has greater effects even than death itself. Such talented literary figures, such as William Shakespeare, recognized that a betrayal, especially that of a friend by a friend, constitutes one of the basest and darkest deeds of which humans are capable. Shakespeare was so intrigued by this concept that he instilled it in some of his greatest literary works. Although William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar provides a largely accurate and incredibly detailed record of the assassination of its namesakeRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar Essay2414 Words   |  10 Pages Christa Kiesling AP Lang Block 1 Mr. Snider 6 Nov. 2016 RA1 William Shakespeare, in his historical play Julius Caesar, makes the characters Brutus and Antony utilize rhetorical strategies in order to win the favour of the Roman people for their own purposes. These two speakers try to convince the audience of different things: where Brutus, who speaks first, was trying to subdue the passions of the mob and use logic to win acceptance for his murderous actions, Antony, who had to follow Brutus, wasRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar760 Words   |  4 Pagespeople of Rome. In Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, Brutus and Antony address the people over Caesar’s dead body. The body is brought to the town square shortly after he was murdered by the Senate. Brutus, one of the murderers, appeals to the people’s fear and patriotism. Antony speaks after and puts doubts of the justification of the murder and plays to the people’s hearts. Brutus addresses the crowd by using his reputation to support his reasons for killing Caesar. He starts his speechRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar804 Words   |  4 Pagesthe phenomenal, as well as tyrannical, Roman rulers throughout history, Julius Caesar is by far the most prominent. This fame is due in no small part to William Shakespeare and his play that bears the same name. However, although Caesar is the play’s namesake, the story’s central focus is on Brutus and Caius Cassius and their plot to assassinate Caesar. When discussing Antony’s fate in Act II scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus argues against what he perceives as the unnecessary and brutal