Great essay Linh. I enjoyed that museum for the pretty clothes and shiny weapons. I don't recall the photos so it's good you give me a reason to re-visit. Also, your essay is suitable for our warlike world. The war on us is everywhere with non traditional weapons like needles and now pagers.
Thank you for giving voice and face to these fellows Linh. I want to call them men and there's a notion in the military that dying a soldier's death is manly so if an eighteen year old kid off of the farm or city block gets shredded in a combat theatre, they earned their adulthood, albeit posthumously. Part of me understands and part of me thinks it's a load of shit, but I have a feeling that the powers that throw these individuals into harms way don't give a hoot what I or any of us not cheering the violence thinks.
Thanks for taking some time to bring some humanity to the soldier's plight.
One of my favorite subjects of Linh's commentary is Hollywood's portrayal of the war. The US was defeated but the blame for the defeat was placed on southern Vietnamese soldiers. It was presented that a typical north Vietnamese was wily and tough in combat and that he had a strong sense of nationalism, but his co-ethnic, when wearing an ARVN uniform, not only ran from trouble but threw away his weapons as he ran. Hollywood thought Americans were dumb enough to accept that at face value and of course Hollywood was correct.
...whilst, at the same time, they all claim that he's too reasonable to lose his temper and therefore it's perfectly ok to continue the ever increasing provocation.
Thank, Linh. Beautiful essay and great photos. Hope you are well.
Great essay Linh. I enjoyed that museum for the pretty clothes and shiny weapons. I don't recall the photos so it's good you give me a reason to re-visit. Also, your essay is suitable for our warlike world. The war on us is everywhere with non traditional weapons like needles and now pagers.
Thank you for giving voice and face to these fellows Linh. I want to call them men and there's a notion in the military that dying a soldier's death is manly so if an eighteen year old kid off of the farm or city block gets shredded in a combat theatre, they earned their adulthood, albeit posthumously. Part of me understands and part of me thinks it's a load of shit, but I have a feeling that the powers that throw these individuals into harms way don't give a hoot what I or any of us not cheering the violence thinks.
Thanks for taking some time to bring some humanity to the soldier's plight.
One of my favorite subjects of Linh's commentary is Hollywood's portrayal of the war. The US was defeated but the blame for the defeat was placed on southern Vietnamese soldiers. It was presented that a typical north Vietnamese was wily and tough in combat and that he had a strong sense of nationalism, but his co-ethnic, when wearing an ARVN uniform, not only ran from trouble but threw away his weapons as he ran. Hollywood thought Americans were dumb enough to accept that at face value and of course Hollywood was correct.
Are the ARVN considered collaborators? That might explain why they are shunned.
...whilst, at the same time, they all claim that he's too reasonable to lose his temper and therefore it's perfectly ok to continue the ever increasing provocation.
You've got it.
Thanks. That is a really fine panel discussion.