Will the Vietnam Veterans ever put the war behind them?

Question

It's about time to admit we lost the war in Vietnam. They should admit it and move on. They fought for nothing. They died for nothing. Admit it and move on and enjoy what life you have left.

Last night I was at the American Legion and I got tired of hearing about the wonderful war they fought in Vietnam. Most of the Vietnam Veterans had a thousand yard stare and didn't do well in life. I told them they lost and they got angry with me. Why can't the Veterans admit defeat and move on?

Answer 1

I suppose the lie, that what they did in Vietnam had significance, gives them meaning. It’s hard to confront the fact that your prior efforts were wasted, especially when such an endeavor was so costly in terms of life, time, and money. Delusions give people meaning. That is, after all, why religion has survived the onslaught of scientific rationalism for so many years.

Normally, I don’t mind personal delusions, if they harm no one. However, I think this form of self-deception, which seeks to reinvent the Vietnam War into a noble and victorious effort, is absolutely deleterious to our nation and especially our youth. We need to call a failure a failure, so that we don’t repeat those same mistakes over again. Our perpetuation of this harmful myth is partly the reason why our nation gave such easy consent to our current Vietnam – Iraq.

I applaud you for having the courage to call a spade a spade. It’s an attitude like yours that will save American lives.

Answer 2

War is just politics in another form. The struggles never really end. Veterans will always comfort other veterans. Fighting for your country has always been the most patriotic thing you can do in your life time. Voting comes next. When you have done both, you have the right to be heard. Fighting for is also different than fighting against YOUR country. Where do you want to live?

Answer 3

No. We will remember it. Just like folks from WWII remember it. BTW we have lost Iraq and went there for even less reason than we went Vietnam. If the author ever was in Iraq he will have the chance to remember it. We did lose the war. Not because of lack of effort or sacrifice but for the same reasons we lost Iraq and Afghanistan. We had no compelling reason to go to war and we aren't willing to pay the long term costs.

Answer 4

Okay, first off, you are a complete non appreciative idiot....and let me add "disrespectful" to that mouthful. How dare you look a Veteran of any war and talk the way you did. Regardless of the outcome of any war, you don't just "move on"....those memories stick in your head for life. You can choose to set them in the back of your mind...but for some, it's impossible...and for others, they can't. There are Nam vets who still have the vivid dreams....and there are Nam vets who are still mourning the loss of their buddy. When you gain a true military buddy, they are someone you will hold near and dear to you for life. Know that by your words to those Vets, you basically just spit in their face and called them unworthy. You should find everyone of them and apologize for being such an inconsiderate non educated idiot.
The answer to your question is NO, Nam Vets will never put the war behind them.....America needs to appreciate them more than they do....show them we support them regardless....shake their hand when they see them....thank them for their service.....
To all the Vets who had to endure the words of this man at the Vets facility, I, as a proud American, apologize......and to the Vets on here who read this, I, as a proud American, apologize......thank you Vets....ALL Vets.....I'm honored to live in a world where you have walked and no one will be forgotten. Thank you!

Answer 5

Why didn't you just walk around with a "Jane Fonda for President" sign?? I don't think anyone who has ever been in any war will just "put it behind them", it was a very traumatic time in their formative years. What right do you have to denigrate them or what they went through?

If you hate Veterans so much, why were you in the american Legion Hall at all??? Well, other than to cause trouble. Sounds like YOU should put the Vietnam War behind YOU.

Answer 6

We won't admit defeat. The politicians lost the war, not the soldiers. We served at the will of and for the benefit of our country. NEVER tell me that they died for nothing.

The war is still with some of us. Some of my friends continue to suffer health problems related to exposure to Agent Orange. It is something people live with every day.

Don't characterize Vietnam vets as losers. Believe it or not, most are quietly successful.

Answer 7

What you're missing is that soldiers don't lose wars, Generals and Politicians do. That war was lost by the French before we got in it, but the Generals and specific politicians in Washington were too dense to see it.

As that hippie Dylan said: "Don't criticize what you don't understand."

Answer 8

boy you are an idiot, we didnt lose vietnam,, its the way we were treated back then,, my friend and i wore our marine uniforms into a cafe in calif, and the waitress came up to us and said we dont serve your kind here so please leave,, you go fight for 12 months i got wounded, then i was thrown out of a cafe because i was a marine,, sure lets put that behind us,, just as soon as we get some answers as to why we were treated so badly when we got back, and were not allowed to engage the enemy like we were trained to do

Answer 9

you little puke, how lucky you are not to have to worry about being drafted to fight in a war that you do or don't believe in, Try understanding that MOST Viet Nam vets did not want to go there, they were drafted, pulled away from home and their girlfriends and their LIFE to go and fight in a strange world. They went, they fought, and they survived, that is something to talk about. what do you have to talk about you little puke.

Answer 10

I did that 38 years ago.