This comment was from Copyleft on Why Vietnam Vets Are America’s Greatest Heroes
A lot of vets seem to skip over the fact that the Vietnam War was, in fact, WRONG. It was a war crime. It was illegal. Americans opposed it for very, very good reasons.
So where does that leave those who were yanked into it against their will? They were victims. They deserve our sympathy. But that doesn’t make them heroes.
And those who knew it was illegal and eagerly signed up to go anyway and kill some gooks? They’re not even in the running for “hero” status.
—Photo jonrawlinson/Flickr
About the Editors
In a democratic country, any war is initiated by political leadership and not military leadership. Vietnam war veterans where executing the orders of the political leadership. They fought bravely in hostile terrains and suffered casualties. They faced immense hardship with courage. If Vietnam war was wrong, then it was the fault of then U.S. president and not the veterans.
i second that!
I have some very extremist anti-war views but I usually make the decision at any web site to limit my extremist views to one field. Since that field is already taken here (feminism) I wouldn’t normally say anything about war and soldiers. In addition part of the philosophy here is that it’s not too preachy about what is “Good” so I don’t think it would feel right for me to say a lot of negative stuff about wars and soldiers, when it seems that so many men see that stuff as part of who they are…..
The dominant imperialist / military culture in the US certainly is that being a soldier is a good thing, and even those who are opposed to war seem to believe that soldiers bare no responsibility for their part in wars, that even a soldier in a bad war is a hero somehow, or a victim perhaps.
I’m saying this much only because the comment above was highlighted by the editors…. To stay more positive about it, I am re-posting this poem (I think I posted it before here?) which is addressed to the young poor men who choose NOT to go to war, despite all the inducements that American society offers.
Support The Non-Troops
Coulda been one of guys honored at half-time.
Get some guy his a.m. coffee.
Coulda been one of the heroes Jay Leno jokes around with.
Beep says fries’re ready.
Why did I feel torn up and shitty about signing up?
Did I really feel those wars’re criminal?
I never hear anybody say that.
Want fries with that?
They sorta did cause 9/11.
The whole country honors the troops or at least feels damn sorry for them.
Fuck this apron.
Yeah some bullshit Afghans or Arabs gonna hate me, so what?
This Comment of the Day is exactly right. Thank you.
Americans did not protest the Vietnam war, they protested the draft.
They ARE heros, because they went, you didn’t have to.
The war we are currently engaged in is FAR more “wrong” but there are no protests because there is no draft.
Reinstate the draft and watch what happens.
Men did not sign up to “kill gooks” they signed up to serve their country, just as women signed up to serve their country.
People, in general, did not sign up to “kill gooks”. However, some of the people who signed up did. Racism was a very prominent feature of the Vietnam War, both within the U.S. military itself, and directed from many U.S. troops toward non-Americans. We should not be sweeping this under the rug for the sake of deifying humans in uniform. Such behavior is not heroic.
Some people who were forced to serve or go to prison killed gooks, too. Some enlisted in a branch to avoid combat and ended up there anyway.
Not being a guy, or from that era, I doubt you really have the chops to make a legitimate comment or criticism. Gee, I think slavery was bad, and I woulda freed all MY slaves too.
My roomate was Generally discharged for giving over 20 guys the clap one weekend, she felt so apologetic about racism. too bad her apology couldn’t speak for all of us, since all of us are to blame. You know? Even you.
Signed up for Selective Service, Kirsten? Men go to prison, are denied driver’s licences and professional licences and jobs if they don’t. Done YOUR part?
Some day should you ever find YOUR butt in such a sling, Kirsten, perhaps you will let us all know how much more of a “hero” you would be.
Way to completely ignore the point.
No, the point was not missed. But the response was obviously over your head.
I encourage people to look into the Winter Soldier Investigation sponsored by Vietnam Veterans Against the War. This is testimony from Vietnam veterans themselves as to atrocities that took place in Vietnam. Transcript available online: http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/sixties/HTML_docs/Resources/Primary/Winter_Soldier/WS_entry.html