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Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 13 Nov 2019, 04:14
by Herbstlicht
Wars are messy, and we can consider ourselves lucky if we only read about it in books. I love reading military novels, as it brings me one step closer to understanding wars and people, as history is often biased and only one-sided.
What are the things you learned about the Vietnam war that you weren't familiar with? To me, it became clear (once again!) how quick we are to judge the people living under a communist rule without properly understanding they are also victims of their system. I also learned about how unfair even the "just" system can become towards people who have risked their lives and their entire existence. And unfortunately, the "why" still isn't clear to me. Why this war was fought, who won, and whether it was worth it all.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 13 Nov 2019, 13:42
by Bhaskins
I would agree. There was so much the war brought out in people. Our system is so broken and this book really highlights that. I didn’t know much about this war (I’m pretty young and don’t love history) but I have family that served (not Vietnam) and the stories are similar.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 14 Nov 2019, 01:22
by Ngozi Onyibor
I know nothing about wars, and like you said I'm lucky that I only get to read about it in books. I'm not American, but from what I know about the Vietnam War I couldn't stop asking, to what end?
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 14 Nov 2019, 02:07
by DC Brown
Yes, this has changed my view of the Vietnam conflict. I was a teen during the Vietnam WAR. We saw it on the news every night. It didn't affect me then, but this book has now. It was pointed out that the men in Washington only directed the war as if it was a stage for the enlisted men to play on. What a travesty this war was and all the other wars that have been fought through the ages.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 14 Nov 2019, 02:12
by DC Brown
Herbstlicht wrote: ↑13 Nov 2019, 04:14
Wars are messy, and we can consider ourselves lucky if we only read about it in books. I love reading military novels, as it brings me one step closer to understanding wars and people, as history is often biased and only one-sided.
What are the things you learned about the Vietnam war that you weren't familiar with? To me, it became clear (once again!) how quick we are to judge the people living under a communist rule without properly understanding they are also victims of their system. I also learned about how unfair even the "just" system can become towards people who have risked their lives and their entire existence. And unfortunately, the "why" still isn't clear to me. Why this war was fought, who won, and whether it was worth it all.
I had family that fought in Vietnam. They have never talked about it. Even though it was front and center every night on the news, I did not know much of what this book brought out. The Navy? Millions of gallons of Agent Orange? Desalinators on the ships that concentrated the runoff? I knew none of those things.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 14 Nov 2019, 10:23
by Kabui-nj
I've always heard about the Vietnam war but have never taken time to really understand what happened before, during or after this war. This book is a great eye opener to the pains of war.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 14 Nov 2019, 13:18
by Juliet+1
No, this book has not changed my mind about the Vietnam war at all. It was indeed, a travesty. I thought so then, and I still do.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 14 Nov 2019, 21:24
by Karina Nowak
I haven't read the book yet but I don't think people in this day and age can understand the 'why' behind any war, ever. Sure we understood how it started, what people hoped to gain by undertaking it, but the worth of it? No. It is unnecessary and outdated.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 15 Nov 2019, 05:20
by Herbstlicht
Karina Nowak wrote: ↑14 Nov 2019, 21:24
I haven't read the book yet but I don't think people in this day and age can understand the 'why' behind any war, ever. Sure we understood how it started, what people hoped to gain by undertaking it, but the worth of it? No. It is unnecessary and outdated.
I agree 100%.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 15 Nov 2019, 05:21
by Herbstlicht
Juliet+1 wrote: ↑14 Nov 2019, 13:18
No, this book has not changed my mind about the Vietnam war at all. It was indeed, a travesty. I thought so then, and I still do.
Dito. I well understand why people mark it as "the loss of the American innocence "
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 15 Nov 2019, 05:23
by Herbstlicht
DC Brown wrote: ↑14 Nov 2019, 02:07
Yes, this has changed my view of the Vietnam conflict. I was a teen during the Vietnam
WAR. We saw it on the news every night. It didn't affect me then, but this book has now. It was pointed out that the men in Washington only directed the war as if it was a stage for the enlisted men to play on. What a travesty this war was and all the other wars that have been fought through the ages.
I couldn't agree more.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 15 Nov 2019, 08:27
by Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha
Not really. I believe that wars can be averted if the participants want to. For the sake of the solďiers, women and children that die needlessly in these wars.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 15 Nov 2019, 09:42
by iknwuzoh
Wars destroy. Nuclear wars destroy masses and today's government have no better way of checking the nuclear weapons acquired by Western and Islamic countries. The Vietnam War shows how much damage communism can cause.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 15 Nov 2019, 15:05
by Karenvanant
War stories are always emotional and especially the Vietnam war. This book just made me realize again that there are no winners in a war and that every war has two sides to it.
Re: Did this book change your views on the Vietnam war?
Posted: 16 Nov 2019, 23:56
by Jeremie Mondejar
No, it did not change my views because the events of long ago will never change forever. It is so sad, good soldier are not treated well, when in fact what they did saves many lives.