The Pros And Cons Of My Lai And The Vietnam War

During the Victorian Era, classification of individuals was based on ethnography and physical appearance. If you were not perceived as being a European, then you belong to the so-called “other” group which mostly consisted of native people or people of colour. The concept of othering emerged, arguably, when Europeans came into direct contact with Indigenous people of North America. The visible difference in appearance and dialogue led to perceiving natives as being different. The language around how natives were perceived and acknowledged was greatly influenced by the concept of othering and exclusion. Terms such as uncivilized, barbarian and savage were used to define and characterize them because they didn’t fit the European standards and ideals. In international law, the core …show more content…
Tens and thousands of innocent unarmed civilians were massacred in the process (Lippman, 123). This horrendous war crime committed by American soldiers was a result of othering the civilians. The events of my Lai and the Vietnam War demonstrate how a clear categorization of these people was made. Subsequently, placing them outside the civilized periphery made it easier for Western countries, such as the United States, to act outside international law. The usage of veto power is a mechanism that is used in the international law community to differentiate between which state has more power. Consequently, international law tends to apply to states differently depending on how much power they process in the decision-making process. This may be the reason as to why the United States often gets away from being held accountable for its action, as in the case of the Lai Massacre. Allan Ryan’s article depicts how international law relies heavily on power and wealth, rather than justice and equality. For instance, Germany was held accountable following the Holocaust while allied forces were