example, in the many films made about the war, such as 'Apocalypse Now' (1979) and 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989). For a long time, people worried about the US becoming involved in any war, because they were afraid it would become 'another Vietnam', meaning that they were afraid many soldiers and foreign citizens would be killed without the US being able to achieve its aim. At first, most people supported the war. Opposition to the war gradually increased, especially among college students and other young people, as more US soldiers were killed and as the television news showed terrible pictures of ordinary Vietnamese people being killed and injured. Many young men became 'draft dodgers' (=they refused to accept the DRAFT, the system by which every male citizen had to do military service), and many of them left the country or went to jail in protest. There were large protest marches, many popular protest songs, and the saying 'make love, not war' became popular. Military failures and loss of public support eventually forced the government to bring US forces back from Vietnam in 1973. American people have very divided feelings about the war. Some people feel guilty about the terrible damage that it did to Vietnam, and most Americans now believe that the US should not have got involved in the war. Many 'Vietnam veterans' (=US soldiers who fought in the war) feel angry that they were made to fight. Many veterans are also angry because they were not praised like the soldiers from World War II or Korea when they came home, but were sometimes criticized by people who opposed the war. But some Americans still believe that the US was right to fight against Communism and should, have remained in Vietnam until they won. In the election for president in 2004, many people believed that John F. Kerry was a better candidate than George W. Bush because he had fought in the Vietnam War, and Bush had not.
view¹ /vjuː/ n 1 [U] ability to see or be seen from a particular place; sight: My view of the stage was blocked by the hat of the woman sitting in front of me. | The car turned the corner and was lost to our view/passed out of view. (=could not be seen any more) | The valley was hidden from view in the mist. | When we reached the top of the mountain, a wide plain came into view (=could be seen)/we came in view of (=were able to see) a wide plain below. | He fell off his horse in full view of all the television cameras. (=seen clearly by all of them) | There was no shelter within view. (=that could be seen) | The camera gave us a bird's eye view of the golf course. (=showed it clearly from high above) 2 [C(of)] a) something seen from a particular place, especially a stretch of pleasant country; a scene: The only view from my bedroom window is of some factory chimneys. | I'd like a room with a view (=a good view) please. | a marvellous/wonderful view b) a picture or photograph of scenery, a building etc: a painter of sea views → see SCENERY (USAGE) 3 [S(of)] a special chance to see or examine someone or something: If we stand at this window, we'll get a better view (of the procession). | (fig.) The President will get an inside view of the problems involved when he visits a nuclear power plant tomorrow. 4 [C(about, on)] a personal opinion, belief, idea etc, about something: What are your views on free university education? | He holds strong views about (=feels strongly either for or against) trade unions. | [+that] He expressed/reiterated the view that he was a fool. | In my view, he's a fool. | We weren't very enthusiastic about it, but we agreed to fall in with his views. (=do as he wished) | She takes a dim/poor view of (=thinks unfavourably of) her son's recent behaviour. | He's got a rather limited world view. (=he sees the world, life etc, in a very narrow way) 5 [C(of) usually sing.] an act or manner of seeing, considering, examining etc: The book offers a rather sentimental view of literature in the 19th century. | [+that] | I take/share/strongly support the view that we should put less money into nuclear weapons. | a widely-held view which was confirmed by later events | the paper's rather jaundiced view of the government | the feminist view of this question 6 in view fml already planned or suggested: He wants to find work, but he has nothing particular in view. 7 in view of considering; taking into consideration: In view of his youth, the police have decided not to press charges. 8 keep someone/something in view to remember someone or something as a possibility or for future consideration if a favourable chance comes 9 on view being shown to the public; offered to be seen and examined: Her paintings are on view at the Hayward Gallery. 10 take the long view (of something) not to think only of the results which will follow at once from some action, but also of its effects in the more distant future 11 with a view to rather fml with the intention of; in order to → see also POINT OF VIEW
view² v 1 [T+obj+adv/prep, especially as, with] to consider; regard think about: I view his action as a breach of trust. | They viewed the future with some alarm. | The audience seemed to enjoy the show, but viewed from a theatrical standpoint, it was a disaster. 2 [T] especially tech to examine; look at thoroughly. Several possible buyers have come to view the house. 3 [|;T] tech to watch (especially television): The viewing figures for this programme have been poor (=not many people have watched it)
view·er /ˈvjuːər/ 1 a person who watches or is watching especially television: Angry viewers have written in tell complain. | Regular viewers will remember that a few weeks ago... | This programme is for our younger viewers. (=children) → compare LISTENER 2 an apparatus for looking at transparent colour photographs: a slide viewer
view-find-er /'vjuːfɪndər/ n an apparatus on a camera which shows a small picture of what is to be photographed → see picture at CAMERA
view·point /'vju:pɔɪnt/ n a.POINT OF VIEW
vig-il /'vidʒɪl/ n [C;U] (an act of) remaining watchful for some purpose, especially while staying awake during the night. She kept an all-night vigil by the sick woman's bedside. | his lonely vigil
vig·i·lance /'vidʒələns/ n [U] fml watchful care; continua attentiveness: Thanks to their constant vigilance, a crisis was averted.
'vigilance com,mittee n [C+sing./pl. v.] AmE a group o vigilantes
vig.i.lant /'vidʒələnt/ adj fml continually watchful or or guard; always prepared for possible danger: The police said the public should remain vigilant. —ly adv
vig-i-lan-te /,vidʒɪˈlaːnti/ n sometimes derog a person, especially a member of an unofficial organization, who tries by unofficial means to keep order and punish crime in an area where an official body either does not exist or does not work effectively: vigilantes on the New York subway | a vigilant group → see also VIGILANCE COMMITTEE
vi-gnette /vɪˈnjet/ n 1 a small drawing or pattern without border, set into a book, especially at the beginning or end of CHAPTER 2 a short effective written description of a character or scene
vig•our BrE || -or AmE /'vigər / n [U] usually apprec active strength or force of mind or body; ENERGY: For a man of seventy h still has surprising vigour. | Inspired by what she had said, h attacked the problem with renewed vigour. —vigorous adj The minister made a vigorous defence of the government policies. | These tomato plants are very vigorous. (=growing strongly and healthily) —vigorously adv
Vikings
Vi-king /ˈvaɪkɪŋ/ n a member of a Scandinavian people who attacked the coasts of eastern and northern Europe from the 8th to the 10th centuries, and established communities in many of these areas. Large parts of England were settled by the Vikings. They are known for their skill in building LONGSHIPS (=a type of long, narrow warship) and for the SAGAS (=stories about their history), and they were probably