Beattie examines the central metaphors of the Vietnam War and their manifestations in American culture and life. Blending history and cultural criticism in a lucid style, this provocative book discusses an ideology of unity that has emerged through widespread rhetorical and cultural references to the war. A critique of this ideology reveals three dominant themes structured in a range of texts: the "wound," "the voice" of the Vietnam veteran, and "home." The analysis of each theme draws on a range of sources, including film, memoir, poetry, written and oral history, journalism, and political speeches.

Habeas-corpus and common sense -- The wound that dare not speak its name -- Stab wounds -- "Us" and "them" -- Healing -- Vietnamnesia -- The personal imperative -- Rituals of the community -- The national allegory -- The unhealed -- Silencing the messenger -- "If I only had the words" -- A unique war -- You had to be there -- Teaching the truth -- The voice of unity -- Talking back -- The home front -- Repatriation -- The therapeutic family -- Nostalgia -- There's no place like it -- Articulating difference and unity.

CARL: 1 User