Why the WW2 veterans and to a lesser degree, the Korean war veterans were honored and looked at as heroes, whereas the V
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LovingBooks — 13 years ago(October 03, 2012 01:17 PM)
I had posted about this topic on another thread (the one about abuse to Vietnam vets when they returned home) and touched on most of the points you made. I didn't speak as eloquently as you, though!
I was interested in your point about the economics of that time, and in the preceding wars. Until recent times, nothing was better than a war for the country' s economy! But you were right about that point, and you mentioned the Warren Commission and the Kennedy Assassination. That particular tragedy was enough to spark cultural cynicism and doubt in the minds of America's youth/counterculture.
Then you have events like My Lai and William Calley, everyone, it seems has gone ape beep crazy.
Thanks for the good post, you would have been great to have in History/Issues and Debates Class! -
linop90 — 13 years ago(November 04, 2012 02:13 AM)
Beacuse they lost well the US lost.
The mighty america was beaten by little black guys in black pyjammas and third rate chinese weapons.
TO many older Americans, this was the unthinkable. America never loses.
Eat the Neocons. -
al666940 — 13 years ago(November 14, 2012 03:22 PM)
Same as previous poster.
But also, the ONLY time wars make money in general and kickstart the economy is by:- raising raxes (war taxes) to foot the war bill
- increasing government intervention on the economy
- fighting it elsewhere.
Negate the last point and it's a lose-lose situation. No invaded country ever profits off of war (unless it still wins and is allowed to consume the loser, as in Rome-Carthage), just check with Europe and even England (those V2 rockets did a good enough job).
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nbulous — 13 years ago(November 21, 2012 03:23 AM)
Thank you for this post.
Before I visited this thread, I had this on in the background:
And left it on as I read your post, which made your post even more impactful. One of the best posts I've ever read on imdb.
Excuse me, where are you taking us?
Mexico
What's in Mexico?
Mexicans -
ryan-anderson — 13 years ago(November 15, 2012 04:38 PM)
In the case of the Marine in the bar, I think its just as simple as he said: he got tired of hearing Kovic whine (especially since he was a volunteer as the older marine noted). Marines aren't big on whining.
Stone probably was trying to portray what you speak of here though.
Ignoring: RonPaul_Lies, Digby (and aliases), Rico, GameBoyFan, ibestupid, Holiday_Hobo, sharon_18, TilaMoo, Okie-from-Muskogee/boo321, NorCalNik, Nullifidian -
movies789 — 10 years ago(July 12, 2015 10:27 AM)
Your premise is so stunningly ridiculous, it's almost amusing. I assume you weren't of age by 1975 or before, or you'd know how silly it is to have described returning servicemen as being "hated and reviled". As for the scene of the older veteran belittling the younger one: I hate to shatter anyone's illusions, but It wasn't real life. It was a movie. Written by a writer, produced by a producer, acted by actors, and directed by a director - all with angry chips on their shoulders - to conform to a rigid, angry narrative. Don't swallow everything you see in a movie - let alone an Oliver Stone movie.
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eddieinportland — 9 years ago(August 30, 2016 01:21 PM)
I'm a veteran of the first gulf war. My father is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
I remember when I was a child my father trying to join the local chapter of the VFW. I remember how the World War 2 and Korean veterans treat my father. I remember them telling him that because he and other Vietnam veterans lost their war. They can't join the VFW and they should make their own group.
The way they treated my father stuck with me for a long time. I still fell anger about it. I still won't join my local VFW chapter because of that.
It's funny now because most members in the VFW are now Vietnam and Gulf War veterans. -
movies789 — 9 years ago(August 30, 2016 02:41 PM)
So much to respond to; so little time.
That's quite a remarkable memory for detail you have there, what with your being such a young boy at the time and all. Since your post, I've being trying to recall equally detailed give-and-take of my own dad's adult conversations when I was a young boy, and I've drawn a blank. No doubt your dad had you tag along to act as stenographer for such an odd, adult, group, sit-down, extended conversation.
For my part, not being much of a joiner at the time, I remember having to resist some aggressive but cordial recruitment efforts by various veterans' groups (mostly WWII vets), who were constantly on the prowl for new, young, dues-paying members, regardless of their age or the war they were in. They just wanted fresh, new blood; they weren't snooty about my being post-WWII/Korea. And there certainly wasn't any holier-than-thou sneering about our having "lost" our war. (You'll remember that the Korean War wasn't "won", either.)
As for your bitter refusal to join any veterans' group now, perhaps that's best for all concerned. And as for the "funny" irony that their membership rolls now consist mostly of Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq vets: of course they do. News flash: people age - even VFW members.
Sorry for my annoyance, but I have little patience for fabricated tales-of-woe by whiners with an Oliver Stone-like ax to grind. (Not you; just saying.) -
eddieinportland — 9 years ago(September 06, 2016 07:10 PM)
Well when my father went to the VFW to see how he could join up. I wanted to go and see the veterans.
I was young. I grew up in a family where everyone joined up for the armed service. Our family bible has a listing of family members that joined the military. What branch or service, job, units, and what war they fought in. That is if they went to war.
I was so disappointed on how one group of veterans treated another veteran from a different war. I just didn't like it. Other members of my family have joined. And they've asked me to join up. I've just said no thank you. But I'll see you at the Veteran's Day events.
As for me remembering that event with my father at the VFW. As my parents, family, wife and close friends will always tell me that I remember every single slight that I've seen happen to me or those that I love.
Take care.