The Vietnam War on PBS

If you're not watching it, you should.
09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

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Comments

  • oftenreading
    oftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,856
    I read on the Porch that it can be streamed from the PBS website for free, for those who don't have another way to watch it. 
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    edited September 2017
    For anyone younger than 55, I would say probably a good idea.  But having lived through that era, I have a really hard time watching or reading anything about that war.  The only exception in recent years was reading Bill Zimmerman's excellent book, Troublemaker.


    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux said:
    For anyone younger than 55, I would say probably a good idea.  But having lived through that era, I have a really hard time watching or reading anything about that war.  The only exception in recent years was reading Bill Zimmerman's excellent book, Troublemaker.



    Dispatches was a pretty good book on this subject as well.

    I forgot about this event. I'll look to check it out.
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • You might also read, "They Marched Into Sunlight," to get some perspective on recent events starting in 2003.

    Brian, I can understand and don't blame you. Thanks for the recommendation.
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

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  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    You might also read, "They Marched Into Sunlight," to get some perspective on recent events starting in 2003.

    Brian, I can understand and don't blame you. Thanks for the recommendation.
    Anytime, H2M. 

    And thanks for the thread on an important part of our history.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • CM189191
    CM189191 Posts: 6,927
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    CM189191 said:
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
    American ego?  Maybe American Military Industrial Complex imperialist ego, but this was not a war that was popular with the American public. Not at all.   Some folks were gung-ho, yes, but most, no.  I know a guy was a typical gung-ho young American who went into the service and into that war with all sorts of patriotic aspirations but came back from Nam with a gut load of scars as well as a head load of psychological scarring.  There were many like him.  The rest went because they were inducted and forced to go.  I would not describe that war as quintessentially American ego.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    brianlux said:
    CM189191 said:
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
    American ego?  Maybe American Military Industrial Complex imperialist ego, but this was not a war that was popular with the American public. Not at all.   Some folks were gung-ho, yes, but most, no.  I know a guy was a typical gung-ho young American who went into the service and into that war with all sorts of patriotic aspirations but came back from Nam with a gut load of scars as well as a head load of psychological scarring.  There were many like him.*  The rest went because they were inducted and forced to go.  I would not describe that war as quintessentially American ego.

    *I was lucky.  I only got as far as the physical at the cattle herding recruiting station in Oakland then given a number and watched my turn grow closer and closer.  I was two or three numbers out of 365 away from getting called up when the war ended.  Sheer dumb luck.

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • I'd be interested.  Thanks.

    @brianlux did you ever read "Chickenhawk"?
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,131
    The things they carried is also a great book from a grunt's perspective.
    I've caught bits and pieces of this series and so far so good.
    anybody remember "letters home from vietnam"?  that was intense!
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,836
    I watched some but it was pretty tough to watch. 
    I was fascinated by this time period when I was in High School and read lots on it...and spoke at length to many veterans of the conflict.  Some crazy shares.
    I did get 'stuck' the other night when I intended to go to sleep...but as stated, it was pretty tough to watch.
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • tbergs
    tbergs Posts: 10,437
    mcgruff10 said:
    The things they carried is also a great book from a grunt's perspective.
    I've caught bits and pieces of this series and so far so good.
    anybody remember "letters home from vietnam"?  that was intense!
    I remember letters home as a kid. My dad had it on VHS and would put it on some Sunday mornings. Very serious content and nothing like all the movies being put out at the time.
    It's a hopeless situation...
  • benjs
    benjs Toronto, ON Posts: 9,387
    brianlux said:
    brianlux said:
    CM189191 said:
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
    American ego?  Maybe American Military Industrial Complex imperialist ego, but this was not a war that was popular with the American public. Not at all.   Some folks were gung-ho, yes, but most, no.  I know a guy was a typical gung-ho young American who went into the service and into that war with all sorts of patriotic aspirations but came back from Nam with a gut load of scars as well as a head load of psychological scarring.  There were many like him.*  The rest went because they were inducted and forced to go.  I would not describe that war as quintessentially American ego.

    *I was lucky.  I only got as far as the physical at the cattle herding recruiting station in Oakland then given a number and watched my turn grow closer and closer.  I was two or three numbers out of 365 away from getting called up when the war ended.  Sheer dumb luck.

    My dad was several more numbers away, but moved to Canada before then. To this day I'm still not sure whether that as a draft-dodging attempt, or a move to be with family that had all moved here even before the war. In any case, he was a photographer for his college and still gets choked up hearing songs like Ohio. Being in Vietnam together as a family a few years back was a visibly traumatic experience for him. 
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

    EV
    Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
  • I'd be interested.  Thanks.

    @brianlux did you ever read "Chickenhawk"?

    I read it. Good book.
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,475
    My cousin was in the lottery as well. We would listen to the news on the radio each night with dinner and my mother would always get very nervous when they announced the numbers.
    Had he been picked he was going to leave the country to live with relatives in Canada or South Africa. Luckily it never came to that.
  • CM189191
    CM189191 Posts: 6,927
    brianlux said:
    CM189191 said:
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
    American ego?  Maybe American Military Industrial Complex imperialist ego, but this was not a war that was popular with the American public. Not at all.   Some folks were gung-ho, yes, but most, no.  I know a guy was a typical gung-ho young American who went into the service and into that war with all sorts of patriotic aspirations but came back from Nam with a gut load of scars as well as a head load of psychological scarring.  There were many like him.  The rest went because they were inducted and forced to go.  I would not describe that war as quintessentially American ego.
    That may have been how it ended.  But ego put us there in the first place, and kept us there far longer than we should have been.  
  • RoleModelsinBlood31
    RoleModelsinBlood31 Austin TX Posts: 6,242
    CM189191 said:
    brianlux said:
    CM189191 said:
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
    American ego?  Maybe American Military Industrial Complex imperialist ego, but this was not a war that was popular with the American public. Not at all.   Some folks were gung-ho, yes, but most, no.  I know a guy was a typical gung-ho young American who went into the service and into that war with all sorts of patriotic aspirations but came back from Nam with a gut load of scars as well as a head load of psychological scarring.  There were many like him.  The rest went because they were inducted and forced to go.  I would not describe that war as quintessentially American ego.
    That may have been how it ended.  But ego put us there in the first place, and kept us there far longer than we should have been.  
    Even in the art of war ego is discussed as what leads to most wars.  It wasn't just Vietnam- almost every war in human history can be traced to back to ego.  It's not the U.S., it's human.
    I'm like an opening band for your mom.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    benjs said:
    brianlux said:
    brianlux said:
    CM189191 said:
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
    American ego?  Maybe American Military Industrial Complex imperialist ego, but this was not a war that was popular with the American public. Not at all.   Some folks were gung-ho, yes, but most, no.  I know a guy was a typical gung-ho young American who went into the service and into that war with all sorts of patriotic aspirations but came back from Nam with a gut load of scars as well as a head load of psychological scarring.  There were many like him.*  The rest went because they were inducted and forced to go.  I would not describe that war as quintessentially American ego.

    *I was lucky.  I only got as far as the physical at the cattle herding recruiting station in Oakland then given a number and watched my turn grow closer and closer.  I was two or three numbers out of 365 away from getting called up when the war ended.  Sheer dumb luck.

    My dad was several more numbers away, but moved to Canada before then. To this day I'm still not sure whether that as a draft-dodging attempt, or a move to be with family that had all moved here even before the war. In any case, he was a photographer for his college and still gets choked up hearing songs like Ohio. Being in Vietnam together as a family a few years back was a visibly traumatic experience for him. 
    I considered moving to Canada myself but I had no connections and Canada was beginning to strongly discourage and make very difficult immigration from the U.S.

    I'd be interested.  Thanks.

    @brianlux did you ever read "Chickenhawk"?
    No, have not.  I've seen it come through the store several times.  I might check it out.  What did you like (or dislike) about it?
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    CM189191 said:
    brianlux said:
    CM189191 said:
    If you're not watching it, you should.
    This is true. Watch. Deja vu. American ego on full display. 
    American ego?  Maybe American Military Industrial Complex imperialist ego, but this was not a war that was popular with the American public. Not at all.   Some folks were gung-ho, yes, but most, no.  I know a guy was a typical gung-ho young American who went into the service and into that war with all sorts of patriotic aspirations but came back from Nam with a gut load of scars as well as a head load of psychological scarring.  There were many like him.  The rest went because they were inducted and forced to go.  I would not describe that war as quintessentially American ego.
    That may have been how it ended.  But ego put us there in the first place, and kept us there far longer than we should have been.  
    I just think of ego as a more individual characteristic.  But I guess if you want to call our involvement in Vietnam "ego", OK,  but who's ego?  Not most of the people I knew, both of my generation and my parents.  Resistance to the war was common from early on. We put our necks on the line.  Some protesters were killed (Ohio) doing so. I remember the horrible sight of tactical squad police decked out in black moving in on horseback with helmets, clubs, guns, mace.  Some scary shit.    The war was propagated by the industrial military complex, not the people. 

    In any case, I'm sure we agree the war was a travesty.  And that we haven't learned more than we have about poking our noses into everyone's business is an equal travesty.

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Lizard
    Lizard So Cal Posts: 12,091
    Been watching as difficult as it is

    Usual great work from Ken Burns and staff....

    So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream
    Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me