Vietnam

fada
fada Posts: 1,032
edited September 2006 in A Moving Train
Look I know little of the history but what are American's feelings on the matter. The US helped France in the war against IndoChina. By the end of it , it resulted in the US running the show. Vietnam tried to gain its independence from France.The US opposed it and it resulted in the war which was neither pretty or of value.
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  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    fada wrote:
    Look I know little of the history but what are American's feelings on the matter. The US helped France in the war against IndoChina. By the end of it , it resulted in the US running the show. Vietnam tried to gain its independence from France.The US opposed it and it resulted in the war which was neither pretty or of value.

    I think most Americans would agree that the Vietnam war was a mistake on many levels.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    Do you think that the anti-war movement had any contribution to the war or was it ignored to a point?
  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    fada wrote:
    Do you think that the anti-war movement had any contribution to the war or was it ignored to a point?

    Both, actually. The anti-war movement wasn't directly responsible for ending the war, but it certainly contributed to popular discontent with the conflict which in turn contributed to the ending of the conflict. That said, much of country ignored or marginalized the anti-war movement.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    I have taped a documentary on it last night. Can't remember the name . It came out in 74. good one too. I'll watch it later.
  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    fada wrote:
    I have taped a documentary on it last night. Can't remember the name . It came out in 74. good one too. I'll watch it later.

    Cool. The Vietnam War was part of a very large sea change in American culture (for better and for worse). 1968 and 1969 are arguably the two most important years in American history since the Reconstruction.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    Civil rights , government corruption and The beatles final years?
  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    fada wrote:
    Civil rights , government corruption and The beatles final years?

    Landing on the moon, the death throws of overt sexism, the continued integration of African-American culture, Namath vs Unitas, the Cold War, Arafat heads the PLO, the burning of draft cards, the list goes on and on.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    The states was a very dangerous place at the time too. alot of high profile killers. When did the draft card end?
  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    fada wrote:
    The states was a very dangerous place at the time too. alot of high profile killers.

    Meh. The crime rates of the late sixties are more comparable to now. Crime really peaked in the 70s/80s. But I believe the upward trend started in the late 60s though. I'd have to check on that one.
    When did the draft card end?

    Actually it continues. Every American male still registers with the Selective Service on his 18th birthday. It is the most sexist government policy still in place in the United States. Registration did end in 1975 but in 1980 was reinstated by Carter during the brief period when his administration considered entering the Afghan conflict.

    The draft ended in 1973. Personally, I believe there should be a national holiday celebrating this fact since conscription is one of the most immoral domestic policies a nation may hold, IMO.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    Will to be drafted at the early seventies I'd say that their was a high percentage that one could come home in a box.
  • 1970RR
    1970RR Posts: 281
    farfromglorified wrote:
    Meh. The crime rates of the late sixties are more comparable to now. Crime really peaked in the 70s/80s. But I believe the upward trend started in the late 60s though. I'd have to check on that one.



    Actually it continues. Every American male still registers with the Selective Service on his 18th birthday. It is the most sexist government policy still in place in the United States. Registration did end in 1975 but in 1980 was reinstated by Carter during the brief period when his administration considered entering the Afghan conflict.

    The draft ended in 1973. Personally, I believe there should be a national holiday celebrating this fact since conscription is one of the most immoral domestic policies a nation may hold, IMO.
    FYI: check here to verify your registration
    https://www4.sss.gov/regver/verification1.asp
  • tybird
    tybird Posts: 17,388
    farfromglorified wrote:
    Landing on the moon, the death throws of overt sexism, the continued integration of African-American culture, Namath vs Unitas, the Cold War, Arafat heads the PLO, the burning of draft cards, the list goes on and on.
    The 1968 Democratic and Republic National Conventions......assassination after assassination........LBJ gives up.......yes, 1968 & 1969 were big.

    Namath vs. Unitas................you do know that Unitas was not the starting QB in Super Bowl III??? He had been injured.......he did play, led the Colts to their only touchdown late in the game.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    fada wrote:
    I have taped a documentary on it last night. Can't remember the name . It came out in 74. good one too. I'll watch it later.

    Hearts and Minds.
  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    fada wrote:
    Will to be drafted at the early seventies I'd say that their was a high percentage that one could come home in a box.

    I guess it all depends on how you look at it. 2 million people were drafted in the United States during Vietnam. Sixty thousand died. That means you had roughly a 0.3% chance of being killed as a draftee. Not terribly high, but bullshit none the less, IMO. The lives and consciences of many Americans were slaughtered in the draft process. That's a crime the American government has not paid for yet.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    didn't a ton of soldiers come back herion addicts from Nam?
  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    tybird wrote:
    The 1968 Democratic and Republic National Conventions......assassination after assassination........LBJ gives up.......yes, 1968 & 1969 were big.

    Shit...can't believe I forgot about the DNC in Chicago. Very big deal.
    Namath vs. Unitas................you do know that Unitas was not the starting QB in Super Bowl III??? He had been injured.......he did play, led the Colts to their only touchdown late in the game.

    Yeah...for some reason the images of Namath/Unitas have always been one of my iconic mental pictures of the late 60s. It's kind of silly but there's some truth there.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    Byrnzie wrote:
    Hearts and Minds.
    Thats the one it was on more4 last night. I'll watch it later. I have seen about half an hour of it.
  • farfromglorified
    farfromglorified Posts: 5,700
    fada wrote:
    didn't a ton of soldiers come back herion addicts from Nam?

    I don't know. Wouldn't shock me. Thankfully I know one (my father) that didn't, or I might not be here.
  • fada
    fada Posts: 1,032
    Was the place full or opium?
  • tybird
    tybird Posts: 17,388
    farfromglorified wrote:
    Shit...can't believe I forgot about the DNC in Chicago. Very big deal.



    Yeah...for some reason the images of Namath/Unitas have always been one of my iconic mental pictures of the late 60s. It's kind of silly but there's some truth there.
    If you ever get the chance to read Royko's book on Richard Daley Sr. (mayor of Chicago).....read it...great stuff about the DNC. The DNC is also where Dan Rather made his name.

    There is some truth to the Namath/Unitas thing......Unitas represented the spirit of the Eisenhower years where pro sports was only one of the players' jobs...Namath represented the Modern era of the Superstars, big contracts and players just being players (they did not work a "real" job in the off season).
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.

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