Viet Nam
I suspect that many of you will watch Ken Burns Viet Nam series beginning tonight. We have a range of ages here on KTK so it might be interesting to compare perceptions of that war. By the early 60s there were few newspaper mentions of the growing conflict. Daniel Ellsberg explained here his growing disillusion with the situation: Lying About Viet Nam. In the early 70s we had moved to California where the anti-war movement was much more vocal and evident. Soon we were marching against the war in San Francisco, pushing our now 50 year old daughter in a stroller.
My brother-in-law (RIP), a West Point graduate, served two tours in Viet Nam as a Green Beret. This focused our perceptions more and more, especially as he became more and more disillusioned and we heard some of the true stories from there. On leave once he brought a friend to our home; this guy had to be described as one of the “best and brightest,” Shortly thereafter he was killed, and our thoughts were, what a waste.
I remember driving along and hearing a song:
Now I’ve never been that good with subtle meanings in either songs or literature but the meaning of this was pretty clear even to me. At the time the radio station was criticized for playing it and I never heard it on the airwaves again for quite a while.
It seems clear that the reaction of the public and even disillusion by some of the architects were instrumental in ending the conflict. Would be nice that such reaction would have an influence in these years of constant war.
In 2005 we toured Viet Nam with a group called Overseas Adventure Travel. Our wonderful young guide said the only thing Communist there was the electric and water utilities. Very little rancor towards us that we could see, and the guide said that was true. We loved the country in every way, and would go back readily. We lucked in by happening to arrive at Tet, and were invited to all sorts of celebrations. Motorcycles everywhere, carrying whole families and kumquat trees for the celebration.
What I consider one of my best photos ever was taken just outside our hotel.
How did your perceptions arrive and change about Viet Nam? Was it ever discussed in any of your education venues? I know some KTK readers were there. Thoughts? Will you watch tonight? And as always this is an open thread for anything you wish to discuss.
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