For those around durring the Vietnam war?

Question

Was the bickering and fighting among folks inside and outside of the white house as nasty and public as it is today for the Iraq war?

I remember my father saying there was no parade for the soldiers when they got back, just being spat at sort of thing (I wasn't thought of yet so I have no idea) and based on what he says It seems we are heading down that road yet again.

It must really kick the soldiers and the soldiers families in the coconuts to see all this bickering.

Answer 1

It was bad them, but is heading that way fast.
It is shameful how we treat our soldiers for doing their jobs.
They are true American Patriots - those who dishonor them are the same type cowards as during the Vietnam War. After Vietnam War, people spit on our military & called them murderers. I have read the term "murderers" bantered about on this site. I love & respect our Veterans & our current Military.

Answer 2

Yes, there was but the bickering was on the streets just as the leading Vietnamese general planned it. He said once that he would beat the Americans in exactly the same place he beat the French--in the liviing rooms of his enemy's homes. --The images on the TV, you see. And he did. The American public grew tired of the war even though we had functionally won it. The news media went traitor in its reportage and our government gave up after Johnson was gone and basically surrendered and withdrew but only after getting the North to agree to hold back a year or so so we'd not lose face.

And the Jane Fondas and John Kerry and their ilk didn't help matter any. We didn't do right by the South Vietnamese.

Yes, we are on the same road only this time this is a war we didn't have to get into. The Jews have taken over our national government, boxed ordinary Americans into a corner and have turned the USA into a munitions warehouse and depot for soldiers for the benefit of Israel--which the Congress (not OUR Congress, but THE Congress) has given $105 Billion to since 1948 for nothing in return but repeated betrayals, selling of arms to our enemies, attacking our ships (USS Liberty) and spying on us. Some gratitude, huh?

America--the nation with the big and generous heart--has become the bully-boy protecting Israel while that sorry outfit works its evil across the ENTIRE WORLD.

Answer 3

There were constant massive peaceful demonstrations. Some became violent because the police were not prepared for the massive amounts of people and often provoked the demonstrators.

The war was not popular. Protest songs received airplay on the radio and television.

The army was not "volunteer" as it is today. Many young men were scared that they would be forced to fight for something that they did not believe in. The majority of the country did not believe that it was at risk and that the war was of value. If we still had a
draft, I believe you would see massive protests at present. But now, we don't see the war as a threat to our every day lives. Most of us have no idea how disgusted the majority of the rest of the world is with our foreign policies.

Answer 4

No there was no parade. There were a ton of protest marches. People spit on soldiers, and John kerry was the bigger spitter of all next to Jane Fonda of course. It was horrible for the soldier back then. The loss of life was oh so much higher than what we have today.
I think If John Kerry had won the white house he would have been very skeptical about going near the troops. He may have been caught up in a Friendly Fire incident.

Answer 5

Unfortunately the scope and breadth of the Viet Nam War was expansive in light of the 58,000 US soldiers killed in action, the 128,000 wounded, and the 14,000 missing in action. The war went on for 15 long years. I remember watching the list of those killed and missing in action that was displayed on the TV screen night after night. A piece of me died every time that I watched it. The fighting consisted of of guerrilla warfare. Men were conscripted. The decision to go was not theirs. If they got the notice, they you had to go. There were demonstrations all over the country. Student protest against the war was very strong. At Kent State University in Ohio, the National Guard opened fire on the protesters and general student body, killing and maiming indiscriminately. I don't think the citizenry of our country has ever been as active in openly opposing a war as they were during the Viet Nam War. Every single day of that war there was a protest somewhere in some state(s). The soldiers who came home received no accolades. They came home psychologically damaged, many beyond repair. Many suffer to this day from a a defoliant called Agent Orange For years our government denied that their resulting physical disability had anrthing to do with that chemical. Viet Nam was a horror beyond words. It was a fifteen year pall over our nation. I go to pieces to this day when I stand before the wall in Washington. I would rather be dead than live to see a repeat of that war.

Answer 6

Believe me it was worse then. I can remember going through the airport in New York, and being spit upon and called a baby killer because I was in my military uniform. At least today, some of the people are very vocal in their support for the men and women in the military even if they disagree with the wars going on. It is a huge difference. Of course, the idiots in Congress, the Senate and the White House still consider us military people easily expendable. They don't care how many of us are killed as long as they have their moments of fame and all the money they can steal while they are in office.

Answer 7

One big difference is that in those days we in the military all felt it was stupid to be there, more so because of the stupid way the war was being fought than the moral issues of being there. We were not fighting to win.

Now, a vast majority of the soldiers in Iraq feel what they are doing is worth dying for, if they must die. It is the liberals and cry babies who are telling us what a mistake it is to be there.

It is somewhat interesting that the older North Vietnamese have admitted we really won the war in VN, they were actually thinking of surrendering. Then Hanoi Jane and her ilk started their traitorous acts, and they realized if they stuck to it, the US was going to let the crybabies convince them to give it up. And, so it happened.

And, in Lebanon, the terrorists are likewise hoping the crybabies in the US decide to force Israel to stop going after the terrorists who insist on attacking them after they kill innocents in Israel. I wonder, where do they get you guys? I didn't know that many babies are dropped on their heads.

Answer 8

the bickering (as you put it), or, more precisely, the DIVISIVENESS of the Vietnam conflict was more intense.
the draft was in effect then, meaning 18-19 year old men were forced into military service for an unpopular and, as it turns out, unwinnable war. drafted, i did my tour there, all the while wondering what i was doing there. i also joined the anti-war demonstrations when i returned. at least with this war, 9/11 gave us a reason to return fire. although for the life of me, i still get a headached trying to figure out how we went from chasing Bin Laden to celebrating getting Hussein.

Answer 9

First of all there was a mandatory draft. You were taken away the moment you graduated high school or turned 18, which ever came first, unless you went to college.

Only those sick enough or rich enough to afford college or to buy their way out got a deferment.

There were protests everywhere, most of all on college campuses as it was soldiers their age (Average age was 19) who were getting killed every day.

Four protestors were killed by the Ohio National Guard.

There were marches on Washington and protest songs composed by major artists and no one was afraid to play them on the radio.

Answer 10

first of all the type of press coverage we had back then, was slower than now.
second, most americans did not believe in the vietnam war. kids were drafted. and the soldiers were the govt. scapegoats when they returned.. they fought for this country and should have been treated better.
it was a war about vietnam's mineral wealth really, communism had nothing to do with it. just american greed at a govt level.

Answer 11

I wasn't around during the Vietnam myself, but I hope you don't mind me answering. My father was a Vietnam vet, too, and if he was still alive today he would be angered over how the protesters are trying to lose another war for us, just like they did then, and he would be jealous because of how well-treated our soldiers are comparitively.
My mom, however, is still around. And it angers her even more than it angers me. She's afraid, as am I, that we still haven't learned from history, and we're going to let a bunch of Baby Boomers and spoiled college kids dictate the war from their living rooms.
I hope we've learned better.