War is hell. And for those in the world who lack the ability to stand against the greater powers that be, its something worse. This picture is taken just after the My Lai massacre, when US troops killed hundreds of unarmed civilians and burned the village of My Lai in response to frustrations over the course of the war. This picture gave new rigor to the anti-war movement, and its easy to see why. Too often do we, as Americans, overlook atrocities of our own in war and peace, the Trail of Tears, American-Philippine War, countless massacres in central and south america, Vietnam, and now the destruction of Bahgdad in the Iraq war. We have just as much capacity for horrific acts as any other country in the world, and more responsibility not to given our overbearing military superiority. Photos like this one are vital to remind us what evils can be committed in our name, and show us the two-facedness of our government. The juxtaposition in this pictures is one too common in US foreign policy, A facade of humanitarian aid is erected and behind it unspeakable horrors are committed. The soldiers in the picture seem to be herding the children to safety, though its really from the soldiers that the children are running. Imagine how the photographer must feel, after just watching this holocaust happen and then the instigators walk coolly away from the scene, it makes one's stomach turn. The government would like us to not know about things like this, but it is important for Citizens to know what their government and military is doing on their behalf.
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