The Effect of War on Disadvantaged Groups/Minorities (Thesis Sample)

The effect of war on disadvantaged groups/minorities
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The effect of war on disadvantaged groups/minorities
America has been involved in many wars and in most of these conflicts, the disadvantaged groups such as women, children, and minority groups have suffered severely (Hixson, 2003). No matter how much opportunities the government provides to the minority groups, the effect of the war has greater negative impacts on these people. For instance, these minority groups are seldom caught up in the fighting, and are taken as hostage or act as a shield by the enemy. Since World War 2, America has fought in various wars, but the current combat is the War on Terror in the Middle East. Although this war has driven away militia groups and assisted in creating peaceful societies where minority groups have vast opportunities, the war has caused equal pain and many limited opportunities to these people. This thesis seeks to discuss the effect of war on minority people and groups during American wars.
Second World War
Women, children, and minority races often become casualties of war whenever there is war domestically, or internationally. During the Second World War, America attacked Japan with nuclear bombs at Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. The effect of these nuclear bombs is still felt up to date as people are born with physical and mental defects (Hixson, 2003). America’s nuclear bomb attack on Japan is one of the many American wars that triggered a lot of changes and pushed the world to adopt strict laws against the use of nuclear weapons (Hixson, 2003). Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings left many people dead, other maimed and nuclear bomb contaminated water, land and air. Seventy years since the end of World War 2, Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities are still facing a lot of health and economic problems. Thus, America’s wars have limited the opportunities of minority groups more than it has benefited these people (Hixson, 2003).
One of outcome and the American experience in this war was the formation of “United Nations Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons NPT” (UN.org, 1995). America changed the approach of its war tactics and pushed for other nations under United Nations to cease the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear weapons effect on Japan shows how these weapons can be fatal especially in the wrong hands such as terrorists. For instance, after 70 years, Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki communities are still experiencing health issues from the radiation in the environments, and this is a negative effect of the American war. Following these adverse effects of nuclear war, America is often in the forefront in the fight against the manufacture of nuclear weapons in Iraq, Iran, and North Korea (Hixson, 2003).
From the Second World War 2, America has refrained from using its nuclear power to protect minority groups who are affected severely during wars. For example, if America was to wage war with a nuclear power nation like Russia, the aftermath can be disastrous. It can result in social, political and economic problems, and most disadvantaged groups may suffer more. The art of using nuclear bombs on Japan may have terminated the war through the collapse of Japanese empire control in Asia. However, the effect of America’s nuclear bomb still haunts these communities even in the 21st century since Nuclear weapons have high radiation on vegetations, and water (Hixson, 2003).
The main reason American went into Second World War was to defeat Axis forces; Japan, Germany, and Italy to ensure that all nations were free. The Axis nations wanted to ruin the sovereignty of other democratic nations, and American led the Allied power to end this political, social, and economic injustices. The war ended in favor of the Allied forces and the birth of America and Russia as world super power. America has ever since pushed for world governments to uphold the sovereignty of others and respect political, social, and economic structures of other independent nations (Hixson, 2003).
Through United Nations forces, America ensures that women, children, and other disadvantaged people are protected. America involvement in the Second World War has changed a lot of things such as American supremacy in the world. Today, America and United Nations forces often get involved in civil wars to restore order and protect minority groups, as well as, to enhance political and economic balances. However, despite the noble actions, American military have in many cases been accused of getting into war for malicious intention. War on Terror in the Middle East is often termed as a cover story. Political scientists argue that the main reason for going to this war is in the interest of Middle East’s oil deposits (Hixson, 2003).
Consequently, America acts as the guardian of the world keeping law and order on world governments. For example, America took part in the Gulf War when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The rationale for America’s participation n the 1990-1991 war was to protect the people of Kuwait and avoid a bloody war. Hence, some aspects of American involvement in world wars are the same since America seeks to restore order and protect minority groups at all cost. However, there are many undesired results that emanate from these wars since most minority groups are adversely affected during wars. For instance, women, child and other minority groups die, starve and others suffer from severe mental problems due to war, and violence exposure.
America have been involved in other wars since world war 2, but the military forces have refrained from using nuclear bombs in honor of the UN Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons Treat (UN.org. 1995). In the recent War on Terror in the Middle East, America spearheaded the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other extremists who are willing to use weapons to destroy America. Middle East invasion have been highly condemned in America and has led to the withdrawal of American forces. Conversely, this war has had an impact on the politics, economy and the social life aspect in both nations.
More so, American wars have become limited since the military has a limited purpose to accomplish in their war. For instance, the during the Iraq war, one of the limited purpose was to overthrow Saddam Hussein because America viewed him as a threat. Most of America wars have changed to serve political and economic plans. The rival nations or governments are neutralized by smaller units who collaborate with allies like in the Libyan war. NATO forces worked together to defeat and overthrow the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 (Toaldo, 2013). One thing is certain in all American wars internationally, America is vocal when it comes to fighting injustices in the world. However, the approach America take differs from one war to the other. In the Cold War, America did not get involved but financed its allies to fight against Russian communists’ allies.
Cold War
This war erupted after the end of Second World War as America and Russia fought silently for world supremacy. Though this war did not entail the use of direct physical force, both sides employed a new approach of war psychology. This conflict has changed how American approaches wars without necessary engaging in military combat. For instance, America assisted ally nations in fighting against Russia’s ally nations. The outcome of the Cold War had mixed outcomes since there is no victor or loser. Rather, these fighting affected the lives of many minority groups, which the America fought to defend. Although Cold War ended with America being the only superpower, the lives of many people were ruined (Dudziak, 2000).
Thus, war has had a negative effect on minority groups because these people suffer more than they gain from the war. The best experience from the Cold War is that American government realized that for America democracy to thrive, any sought of discrimination had to end. The passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 ushered in a new era where all minority groups had equal rights and freedom irrespective their race, gender, religion, or language. The Cold War experience helped American understand more about their democratic values, and how to uphold them by ending violence and segregation on minority people (Dudziak, 2000).
However, the Cold War battles between America and Russia had a setback on American culture, and this affected minority groups. For instance, many Hollywood producers began producing anticommunist movies. These movies affected the lives of many communist refugees who had fled to America after the end of Second World War and Cold War. These minority people’s lives were torn apart by American patriots. Many lives were ruined as many minority people were blacklisted, others were fired, and their civil rights were greatly violated as a result of Cold War cultural battles (Dudziak, 2000).
The primary attitude that was reflected in this war was the need to uphold American civil rights. Democracy cannot be achieved if minority groups are segregated, and treated as unequal from white- elite groups. Today, America is one of the nations that uphold civil rights, and this social value of the cultural difference from Cold War promoted civil liberties. From the time of Cold War, America has advocated for minority rights and giving these people more opportunities in response to the Constitution. America government ensures that the rights of minority people are observed though the aspect of casualties of war cannot be avoided when there is the war.
Civil right movement -a silent war
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