I heard there was a book out that says it never happened like people collectively confabulate that it did, rather it was like a game of 'telephone' or something.
Is this true or can someone provide me with objective evidence that it happened (a firsthand video, an article, etc)
2007-06-09 17:24:39 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Max: wow can we say anger management?
2007-06-09 17:30:17 · update #1
Uh.. Forest Gump is not a firsthand account.
2007-06-09 17:36:51 · update #2
But some US soldiers in Vietnam WERE murderers, rapists and baby killers, just as some US soldiers in Iraq ARE. That is far better documented than the possible but undocumented spitting on of some soldiers and given it is far worse to be murdered than to be spat on perhaps we're directing anger at the wrong people? Look at My Lai, the guy they scapegoated for it (wasn't just one person doing the murdering) got a couple of years in prison for murdering some 200 or more innocent people... can you tell me that's right but that it's a great wrong to spit on soldiers? When the soldiers are killing innocents on the basis that some within the country are communists or terrorists or other enemies of the state, how can they complain when they're judged on the actions of murderous bastards within their own ranks? How can they at the same time judge an entire generation based on an undocumented story that may or may not have happened?
This is all rhetorical though, personally I wouldn't spit on a returned soldier cause I think that they're often victims as much as the people that they kill and whose lives are ruined by their actions are... life is tragic like that sometimes... but on the other hand I'm damn sure not going to support a senseless and unnecessary war that creates more violence and more victims on both sides or support a war out of a false sense of patriotism and a desire to mindlessly believe in my country being right even when we're wrong. Personally I'd have more respect for the military though if they had the balls to stand up and say 'No, this is wrong - you can court martial me if you want but I'm not going to murder innocent people' more often... I mentioned My Lai earlier but people often forget that were it not for the actions of some of the soldiers there the death toll of innocents would have been far greater. I think the soldiers who prevented the massacre from being any worse are those who truly deserve respect and rememberance.
2007-06-09 18:30:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 10⤋
The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory, and the Legacy of Vietnam. By Jerry Lembcke.
New York University Press, 1998.
I don't entirely agree with Lembcke's conclusions. The strength of his arguement on this point (which is that the "spitting" is a myth) is that he does a pretty through job of showing that there is no documentation (in the form of news reports, videotapes, police reports, etc) to support the spitting story.
But the author draws the conclusion that the spitting in fact did not happen--and he fails to show that. About all you can fairly conclude is that if soldiers/veterans were spit on, it must have been a very rare, perhaps even a unique incident. Other wise, there would certainly be some documentation.
And before some con jumps on this with some website as a 'source"--hearsay or secondary sources are not acceptable as historical evidence. Primary sources only.--and if you can find one, go for it .
2007-06-09 17:59:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something very very much LIKE the spitting story can be found in a book composed in 1962 and published in 1963, well ahead of the Tonkin Gulf incident. Robert Heinlein's "Glory Road" has such a scene. Life imitating Art, or Art coloring life?
2014-10-11 13:11:17 · answer #3 · answered by Leftover 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vietnam vets were called baby killers and spat upon. I know this for a fact. I also know that in all wars all sides commit atrocities. The side that won gets to write most of the history books.
2015-09-06 10:57:52 · answer #4 · answered by Randy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure about the actual spitting but Vietnam vets were not warmly welcomed back even though most were drafted into service, they did not volunteer. What angered many Americans is when the details of the My Lai massacre became public. 150 US Army soldiers went into the village of My Lai and killed over 500 unarmed women, children, and old men. No Viet Cong were found and only 3 weapons were discovered. An attempted cover up of the massacre was unsuccessful.
2007-06-09 19:18:44 · answer #5 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes my father was a vietnam vet and he told me all about his homecoming like the one you spoke of.
In fact right now there are people who go to the funerals of Iraq soldiers and scream baby killers and hold up signs.
Which I myself find much more disrespectfull. The person they are mad at is dead and they are punishing the friends, family, and parents of these soldiers who were not even over there. Some people have to much time on their hands and no respect for the dead.
2007-06-09 18:01:48 · answer #6 · answered by phardos 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No...i can't give you links....
i can't give you articles that prove without a doubt that it happened....not much written in history books about how horrid we were during that conflict, to our fighting men...our heros...
but i remember well....and i can tell you that we were not supportive...we did not honor our soldiers....we did call them baby killers, murderers, rapists....hell, one of our past presidential candidates said....April 23, 1971:
"I would like to talk on behalf of all those veterans and say that several months ago in Detroit we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged, and many very highly decorated, veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia. These were not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command."
Wow....i won't even get into the truthfulness of THAT statement....or the "150 honorably discharged" soldiers he was talking about....
he spoke the lines fed to him...as did others...by those against the war...and what did the news report? well...exactly what was fed them from this faction....
i said back then...and i maintain today....
if you go to war...you go to war....people die...there is no such thing as a "politically correct" way to win....support your soldiers....
and if you don't mean to win....don't go....
so to make a really short answer long....
yes....our soldiers were called baby killers, rapist, murderers and much much worse....
believe it or not...your choice....
i was there...i heard...i saw....
i was ashamed.....
and to think....it was soldiers fighting for what they believe in...who gave the freedom to individuals...to say those horrible things.....
everyone should have been ashamed
we allowed our soldiers to be treated so horridly....
2007-06-09 17:59:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
No. It is not a myth; and it is in the past.
There are some persons who choose to create strife for others--peace protesters do not do this.
If you are a protester; consider adopting a Veteran.
Update:satisfactory example:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-usa-iraq-marine.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Update:that one I would adopt--even in the peace realm--they do what they defend
2007-06-09 17:44:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
It was probably exaggerated to create animosity toward anti-war/peace activists. But what do I know!
2007-06-09 17:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes it happened, all you have to do is talk to any vietnamn vet, they will tell you. Same way the democrats hate and have a disdain for our military today. Some things never change.
2007-06-09 17:37:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 5⤋