can someone explain this quote?

Question

Vietnam War, The

Vietnam was the first war ever fought without any censorship. Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind.

William Childs Westmoreland (1914 - 2005)




can someone explain this to the fullest, what did he mean?

Answer 1

General William C. "Wastemoreland" Westmoreland made this statement since the war in Vietnam was the first televised war. You could watch it on the six o'clock news every night. Since the press had the freedom to report this war, and during the Tet Offensive certain press members reported falsely that the ARVN and the U.S. forces were defeated during the Tet Offensive (Jan. 30, 1968 - June 8, 1969), when both went on to a clear military victory - the "public mind" became confused and many ceased to support the war.
Many had mistakenly assumed the war was lost, but in the end the war was a political victory for the Vietnamese. The impression that many got at the time was that the U.S. military "lost" the war to the Vietnamese. Westmoreland was in favour of censoring the media, which North Vietnam also did, to prevent the public from getting false ideas, or in certain occasions - from getting the truth.

Answer 2

Hmmm.. It could have meant that without censorship people were allowed to see all the negative images and that would put a negative spin on national attitude towards the war. They say pictures are worth 1000 words. But with such vivid pictures the words get forgotten and only the pictures remain, leaving people to imagine the worst.

After all, war is hell, but most people don't actually see it. And when they do, it shows an ugly side that people object to, perhaps forgetting that protecting our rights, freedom, etc. requires methods that most find unsettling.

It is kind of like the speech from "A Few Good Men".

"You want the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE
THE TRUTH!"

"Son, we live in a world that has walls.
And those walls have to be guarded by men
with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You,
Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater
responsibility than you can possibly
fathom. You weep for Santiago and you
curse the marines. You have that luxury.
You have the luxury of not knowing what I
know: That Santiago's death, while tragic,
probably saved lives. And my existence,
while grotesque and incomprehensible to
you, saves lives."

BTW, if this is for a grade in class and you use my answer- I want to know what grade I got!

Answer 3

From what I've heard the Vietnam was the first war heavily covered by the media. After dinner every home could watch the news and see images of the war. With WWII and the Korean War the main way of information was the radio.

Answer 4

Everything is simplified when there's only one version available.

Misinformation can be terribly confusing.

Accurate information can be equally confusing. :-) Shhhh, don't mention the mind behind the curtain. Don't interfere with family traditions of Santa Claus or religion. Don't confuse citizens with facts.

He may not have meant it both ways, but it was accurate to apply the comment both ways then, and now.

Answer 5

The blood and guts flying everywhere which I shall now explain in detail... Whats that? Two points to shut up? I'll take it!!!

Answer 6

u best gonna somewhere with dat girl ! NO ONE CARES