Dear Vietnam War Veterans,
Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice, giving your lives up, for our country. Although you and most of the public disagreed with the US's involvement in the war, you still dutifully fought for our country. Today you have a hard time justifying this involvement, as well as seeing your brothers fall beside you on the battlefield. These injustices can never be corrected, or justified in your mind, and I thank you for bearing these burdens for our country.
Sincerely,
Dror
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Times of Change - Farmer Nguyen, Massacre at My Lai, A Nun at Ninh Hoa
What do these two poems and the article say about the impact of the war on the native Vietnamese? Can you think of any other ways in which the war will impact the native Vietnamese?
Many innocent villagers were accused of supplying or informing the Vietcong. They were captured and beaten. Other civilians were simply murdered for no reason, such as the Massacre at My Lai. The war also drove some nuns to burn themselves alive in prayer.
Many innocent villagers were accused of supplying or informing the Vietcong. They were captured and beaten. Other civilians were simply murdered for no reason, such as the Massacre at My Lai. The war also drove some nuns to burn themselves alive in prayer.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Times of Change - I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag
What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
To "put down your books and pick up a gun." In other words, to join the army.
… the “generals” to do?
To go out there and kill the communists.
… “Wall Street” to do?
To make money by supplying the army.
… “mothers” to do?
To send their boys to Vietnam.
Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
2. "Whoopee! We're all gonna die."
3. "We're gonna have a whole lotta fun."
4. "Be the first one on the block to have your boy come home in a box."
Times of Change - Jack Smith
What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)
Originally he thought that war wasn't that serious. He had a romantic notion about serving in the army. After the war, he knew that war was about fighting to protect your friends. He knew that deaths of his friends cannot be justified in any way, which is why it is hard Vietnam Veterans today.
- Making base camp and clearing space in jungle.
- Everyone was inexperienced in battle.
- Noise of bombs and artillery all around you.
- Seeing your friends get killed.
- Getting ambushed.
- Knowing that it is the luck of the draw whether you live or die.
Originally he thought that war wasn't that serious. He had a romantic notion about serving in the army. After the war, he knew that war was about fighting to protect your friends. He knew that deaths of his friends cannot be justified in any way, which is why it is hard Vietnam Veterans today.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Times of Change - The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
What is the main thesis of the essay?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was based on a lie.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was the congressional approval for President Johnson to defend the United States' interests in the Gulf of Tonkin area.
What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
There was no evidence that the Maddox had been shot on. It was not damaged after the incident. Also, many say that Johnson invented the whole thing in order to get Congress to support fighting in Vietnam.
How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?
It is another way in which the decision to enter the war was "dubious" or doubtful for the United States.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was based on a lie.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was the congressional approval for President Johnson to defend the United States' interests in the Gulf of Tonkin area.
What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
There was no evidence that the Maddox had been shot on. It was not damaged after the incident. Also, many say that Johnson invented the whole thing in order to get Congress to support fighting in Vietnam.
How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?
It is another way in which the decision to enter the war was "dubious" or doubtful for the United States.
Times of Change - History
What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem?
The theme of this essay is death in Vietnam and that Vietnam has always been occupied by other countries such as China, the US, France, and the USSR who claim to be helping them create democracies.
The theme of this essay is death in Vietnam and that Vietnam has always been occupied by other countries such as China, the US, France, and the USSR who claim to be helping them create democracies.
Times of Change - A Dubious Crusade
1. Look up both words in the title of the short essay. What do they mean?
Dubious: (Adjective) - doubtful
Crusade: (Noun) - Any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.
2. Relate the title to the reading. What is Warren saying? How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam?
Warren is saying that the US entering the war (crusading) is doubtful (dubious) because the American Public did not support these actions. Due to this, the American Public no longer trusted its government. I think that our study of Vietnam will deal a lot with whether the US should or shouldn't have taken certain steps in the war.
Dubious: (Adjective) - doubtful
Crusade: (Noun) - Any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.
2. Relate the title to the reading. What is Warren saying? How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam?
Warren is saying that the US entering the war (crusading) is doubtful (dubious) because the American Public did not support these actions. Due to this, the American Public no longer trusted its government. I think that our study of Vietnam will deal a lot with whether the US should or shouldn't have taken certain steps in the war.
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