How are we still feeling the effects of the Vietnam War today?

Answer 1

The war - the way it was conducted and its aftermath - shaped a generation of military officers. It influenced public attitudes toward military service and the use of force to achieve foreign policy goals.
"Vietnam is still with us. It has created doubts about American judgment, about American credibility, about American power--not only at home, but throughout the world. It has poisoned our domestic debate. So we paid an exorbitant price for the decisions that were made in good faith and for good purpose."
--Henry Kissinger

Answer 2

Personally for me it’s a cost you the taxpayer are burdened with still 40 years later. I collect a disability each month and use the VA medical facilities extensively. I’m also categorized as a typical PTSD sufferer. Me and 8 other Vietnam Veterans also suffering from PTSD have a weekly counseling group that’s been going on for 4 months now and will go for another 8 months.

We Vietnam Veterans never got the treatment needed that is being or I should say starting to be dispensed to the retuning troops from combat situations today. Some people are lucky and can tolerate combat and all the scares it creates but most people are changed forever. Also the support our troops get compared to the disrespect we got on our return caused a lot of Vietnam Veterans to go under ground (meaning never talk about it or even acknowledge they we were there) it’s taken years for us to come to a self realization that what we did wasn’t wrong. So not only do we have to deal with the crap of what we did and saw in a war we have had to deal with a stigma cast on us by the American people.

This present war and actions like it only bring back the bad memories we experienced, this includes Veterans from WWII and Korea. Flash backs, triggers to situation and nightmares increase when seeing our troops fighting again. So don’t ask a combat Veteran about his experiences, just give them the respect they deserve and try to understand it’s nothing like in the movies. Support and listen if a Veteran wants to tell what it’s like but let them do it on their terms.

Answer 3

VIETNAM WAS ENDED IN 1973 AND THE TROOPS WERE BROUGHT HOME--THE EFFECTS WE FEEL TO DAY ARE THE VETERANS WHO SERVED--WAR IS TRAMA AND THAT NEVER GOES AWAY-IT MAY BE DEEP ROOTED AND SURFACE DECADES LATER--WE ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THE POST VIETNAM STRESS SYNDROME JUST AS WE SAW WWII SOLDIER AFTER YEARS OF SILENCE SUDDENLY BREAK DOWN--THE WAR VETERANS WHOM EVER THEY ARE ARE GOING TO GET OLDER AND THAT WEARS ON A COUNTRY AND IT'S PAST--THIS IS AN EFFECT--JANE FONDA IS A NEGATIVE EFFECT--VIETNAM WAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT AND PEOPLE DO NOT FORGET NOW THE US AND VIETNAM HAVE HEALED WOUNDS OF THE PAST LIKE JAPAN AND THE US BUT THAT HEALING TAKES TIME FOR SOME AND BITTERNESS AND ANGER ARE STILL AROUND ABOUT VIETNAM--
GUESS A GOOD ANALOGY IS LIKE THE BLACKS AND COTTON FIELDS--220 YEARS AGO AND SOME FEEL IT IS JUST YESTERDAY AND WILL NOT LET IT DIE OR THE CIVIL WAR OF SOUTH AGAINST NORTH-SOUTHER PEOPLE AND YANKEES SOME WILL NEVER FORGET AND YET SOME WERE NEVER THERE NOR THEIR FAMILIES ETC??

Answer 4

First, before I answer you question, I have to make a correction. Vietnam was never a war it was merely an armed conflict.

Vietnam is still affecting us in a myriad of ways, one being that we are over-reacting to our war losses and our economy has not return to the pre-conflict state before Vietnam and unless we get out of this war it may never return to its previous state. Vietnam was over big business getting all the natural resources that Vietnam was rich in, oil, and other resources.

Answer 5

And, I'd like to add,many Vietnam vets are still dealing with the issues of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and agent Orange.

Answer 6

Because the government learned to control the media!Have you ever looked at some of the live clips of 9/11 on youtube?Like the clip of the firemen talking about the explosions bring down the towers!Or the clip where a police officer tells the reporter to leave because a secondary device has been found!

Answer 7

THE VIETNAM WAR AFFECTS ARE STILL VERY STRONG IN OUR SOCIETY. WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS THAT HAVE NEVER RECOVERED FROM THE WAR. WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES WITHOUT FATHERS/MOTHERS AND MANY MORE VETERANS LOST IN THE HOMELESS SOCIETY AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDING THE DISABLE ONES THAT MADE IT BACK. VIETNAM WAS NOT A WAR DECLARED FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IT WAS A WAR DECLARED FOR POLITICAL POWER & POLITICAL GAIN. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, GENERALS, & POLITICIANS SHOULD GO BACK AND STUDY THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM VIETNAM. SHAME ON US FOR REPEATING MISTAKES. THE IRAQ WAR IS ALL ABOUT OIL AND NOT ABOUT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. GET OUT OF IRAQ!
GB! AMEN! SHALOM!

Answer 8

We are not, because there is a comparison trying to be made between what we are engaged in now in Afghanistan and Iraq and Viet-Nam. There is no comparison.
I think, and would like to believe that although Viet-Nam was considered a loss, it was through political channels and not the fault of the military. I do believe that the majority of Americans realize this and have the utmost faith in our military.
Iraq and Afghanistan cannot be compared to Viet-Nam. We are fighting terrorists that care nothing about a military objective. They have no problem killing innoccents as well as combatants.

Answer 9

because GWB is using the Vietnam War model of conflict as his template for the current war in Iraq.

Answer 10

Ask the wives and mothers and brothers and sisters of the 50,000 American men who died in action in that war before the liberals cut and ran, giving it all back to the socialist, communist party. Now, they want Bush to do the same in Iraq? Go figure!
________________________________________
KrazyKyngeKorny(Krazy, not stupid)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯