Question to tread:
I was watching Discovery Channel last night : History of Vietnam War. It ended with helicopter airlift out of embassy. Had a lot of Bob Simon and CBS including Uncle Walter getting religion after Tet.
Question 1: I vaguely remember seeing the reporting on TV, I am just a little bit too young. Anyway, it seems like it was a real war with real reporting, you know real reporters in the country with the troops and video of whats going on, reports on what happened that day and casualties of US, SVA, NVA, VC reported, interviews, etc. Plus, maybe LBJ etc getting on the tube and telling what's going on. WHY DON'T WITH ALL THE TECH WE HAVE NOW WHY IS THERE NOT ANY COVERAGE OF THE CONFLICT??? All I see is talking heads and constant griping and misinformation, plus it seems like the war is between the blues vs reds, ie it seems a civil war this time between the heartland and the coasties. Why don't they cover the conflict OVER THERE? Is it because we lost in Vietnam that we now have to have a civil war here?
Question 2: My wife said this show changes her attitude of our upcoming vacation to Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue, Saigon, Hoi An, My Tho, Siem Reap, and Krueng Thep. In what way? asks I. Well, I hope they don't carry resentment towards us now and I didn't realize the hardship they had to go through, the civilians she means. See, the Vietnamese she knows are these kind sweet people down at the Salon where she gets her pedicure, and she said these are probably some of the lucky ones that got out with our help, etc. so they like us instead of not. Well, not to worry says I, it's been long enough that those people are really old anyway plus they have got over it just like we got over it. "Why can't we just get along?" WELL WE DO! The question is: I know a lot of you old codgers served over there and maybe been back since. So am I right or not (about them liking us now)? Plus, any tips on things not to miss? We are scheduled to see the US embassy, the Cu Chi tunnels, retracing JFKs legendary Christmas gun-running expedition up the MeKong etc. plus some natural scenery, China Beach, Forbidden Purple City, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and Buddhist temples and Catholic churches. Nice huh? I hope to get a "magic hat" while I am there, plus some other memorabilia. Is this place really still Communist?
PS. I suppose I have to once again apologize in advance to the nut cases out there that read this tread. Sorry if I hurt the delicate feelings of you folks that don't fit into the male/female categories, etc. Sorry if I have used any of the words: I , you, he, she, us, them, black, white, Vietnamese, etc. words which are not PC. I feel I must do this because when I found out that some of the genuises that listen to NPR think it is perfectly acceptable to entertain ideas like : "Terrorists are attracted to squared off at the top buildings and avoid pointy architecture" and "Old People must be strip searched to avoid upsetting the young folks" or put another way "Seniors are terrorists, too!". I know how sensitive some folks are, reminds me of "The Time Machine" by Wells. (I wonder if we had a time machine and could send the newspapers today back to 2002 if they would do anything different.) I realize I have a "traditional" marriage, maybe it would make you feel better if I lied and said I done did TransAmerica twice so I am back where I started, but that would be a lie. Plus, since some of you nice folks get all bent about race, I am sorry I had to reveal that Vietnamese are not exactly like us, ie black on welfare and poor. It seems they actually have a job. I did see "Crash" so I have some sympathy for you folks that live in LA. It must be hell on Earth. Especially if you're Persian and everybody in LA calling you Arab. Plus, I had a question about LA, are the gang members as well educated as the movie indicated?
PPS. Bill I am glad you got out of LA. Not that there's anything wrong about it. |
