In an effort to make up for the class' general lack of knowledge about the historical realities of the Vietnam war, we're dividing up the period into years, with each of you taking one year and writing a 3-5 sentence (no longer) summary about what was happening in Vietnam during that year (even if your year follows or preceeds the height of American inolvement, we want to know something about what was happening in Vietnam during that period). We will assemble these into a 'timeline' we can post on the blog to give ourselves a sense of the events and their order. Critically, you must cite the source of your information, as you would on a works cited page. When you have finished, email your mini-paragraph and citation to me and I will post the results here on the blog.
Those of you who missed class were assigned a year--email me to get it.
Secondly, read all of the O'Brien listed under important links (two separate links, and 'Tim O'Brien: Spin, The Man I Killed, Good Form' consists of three pdf files). Expect a quiz on the reading Wednesday. In fact, expect a quiz every class until the reading consistency improves.
Lastly, post a response of 250-400 words connecting a specific moment (no more than a scene or one of the shorter stories) in one of the O'Brien stories to a specific quotation (of your chioce) from the Davidson and Lytle article 'Where Trouble Comes' in order to answer the following question: How would Davidson and Lytle look at O'Brien's stories? Would they call them 'authentic' or 'mythical'? Be sure to quote 'Where Trouble Comes' and O'Brien in your answer.
Because there is no school Monday, all of this is due by Wednesday at 10am. And of course, those who haven't yet read 'Where Trouble Comes' should do so immediately and expect it to also be covered in Wednesday's quiz.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
about the Vietnam War
well.,be honest .My history wasnt that well when i was in high school for world history.As i know that the war of Vietnam is consider as the 2nd indochina war.After the the world war 2(1937-1945),American had send lots of soilders to Vietnam inorder to agianst the north Vietnam which they were on the south Vietnam's side.However , thats the only war which Ameircan had lose from all the time till now. Vietnam War is one of the special event from the cold war time, its the only war actually starts to use weapon to against eachother around that time.In addtion, this war had last for ten more years , American really spend lots of money for it.It was consider as a big mistake for the plan of American military .
Personally, im not into WARs.Also dont want see any war around the world.We are all human beings, thats the point.Why dont fix problems piecefully?"If there is still evil exists, that would be human's heart."(a quote from a game i have played)Human are eveil sometimes.We really cant blam the mistake to any one of them.If the war start, both will be respons to everything.No one is complete right or wrong.As we back to the history,Vietnam War did increased the problem about race ,human rights also discrimination problems in United States.It brought a great damage to the Ameican political,people who lives in american were livins in the minds of shadow for a long time.
Im not a war fan , so i really cant give that much opinions.But i hate WARs.It could really destroy a nation at a wrong decision.I dont know whats gonna happend in the future ,but my other hope is to make Bush stop hurting Iraq for stupid reasons.
Personally, im not into WARs.Also dont want see any war around the world.We are all human beings, thats the point.Why dont fix problems piecefully?"If there is still evil exists, that would be human's heart."(a quote from a game i have played)Human are eveil sometimes.We really cant blam the mistake to any one of them.If the war start, both will be respons to everything.No one is complete right or wrong.As we back to the history,Vietnam War did increased the problem about race ,human rights also discrimination problems in United States.It brought a great damage to the Ameican political,people who lives in american were livins in the minds of shadow for a long time.
Im not a war fan , so i really cant give that much opinions.But i hate WARs.It could really destroy a nation at a wrong decision.I dont know whats gonna happend in the future ,but my other hope is to make Bush stop hurting Iraq for stupid reasons.
Vietnam War
A question about Vietnam War films I would ask is why so many details are changed in Vietnam War films? Are filmmakers pressured by the government to show a certain point of view or perspective? Perhaps filmmakers believe they will earn more money if it’s shown in a more positive view of America and that will attract more viewers. A lot of people including myself don’t know all the details and what is true and what is not true due to various movies changing the facts in a certain way.
I don’t know much about the Vietnam War other than what I was taught in high school and what other people have said. I haven’t watched much Vietnam War movies and war movies in general. I was taught that the Vietnam War was one of most brutal wars ever and that America essentially lost the war. The point was to stop communism from spreading and in the end America failed that and Vietnam turned into a communist country. There were a lot of protests here in America for against the war and that we should stop it before we lose more soldiers in the Vietnam War. Soldiers were not as passionate and were unsure of what they were fighting for in the Vietnam War. A lot of soldiers were both mentally and physically hurt and could not function well after the war. I think it was also the first time they used biochemical warfare and that they used mustard gas but I’m not too sure about this. All in all, I know that the Vietnam War was a terrible war that resulted in many dead and hurt people.
I don't Know
I always wonder how, the people who make the movies about war, they make the scene of a big explosion without actually making the big explosion? I also wonder how they know that the way they look at the war is the right one and why they decide to choose that they will pick that side?
I also wonder why they pick the people they pick to do the movie or be the main character? Of wars I know nothing. Wars have never being any interest to me. I watched movies that are related to wars and have information about wars and they are name after some war but the thing is that I will only see if for the action in the movie and for the historical context. So all I know about the war we are talking about is the parts that I remember from the film and that is kind of all of the knowledge that i have of this. I am not such a history fan so I do not pay attention to the day of wars and reasons they happen and I do not know the name of wars that happen. I would say that there are only 3 wars which I remember which are the US Civil War and Both World Wars. So this part of the class. When people say Vietnam war the only thing that comes to my mind is that it was a war and that is what I know about this issue.
I also wonder why they pick the people they pick to do the movie or be the main character? Of wars I know nothing. Wars have never being any interest to me. I watched movies that are related to wars and have information about wars and they are name after some war but the thing is that I will only see if for the action in the movie and for the historical context. So all I know about the war we are talking about is the parts that I remember from the film and that is kind of all of the knowledge that i have of this. I am not such a history fan so I do not pay attention to the day of wars and reasons they happen and I do not know the name of wars that happen. I would say that there are only 3 wars which I remember which are the US Civil War and Both World Wars. So this part of the class. When people say Vietnam war the only thing that comes to my mind is that it was a war and that is what I know about this issue.
The Televised War
When I hear someone mention Viet Nam I think of those turbulent days of protest, the Draft, sit-ins, Berkley, kids getting high, Haight - Ashbury, Twiggy, The Beatles, Timothy Leary, long hair and bell bottoms, “free love,” Star Trek, bra burning, flag burning, HAIR, “trust no one over thirty,” the Black Panthers, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Bobby, Mai Lai, Kent State, 1968 Republican Convention, the TET Offensive, the Summer of Love, Agent Orange, a little girl, naked running down a road, should the shape of the table be oval, round, square, rectangle or triangle?, and the daily death toll every evening on the six o’clock news.
For me the Viet Nam conflict was just something that was happening somewhere else. I would watch it on TV or read something about it in the “Long Island Press.” Most people supported the war in the beginning but as the conflict escaladed, the regular army troops were not enough, so a decision was made to start the draft; this is when public opinion started to turn against the war and after the TET Offensive I didn’t know anyone who supported it.
Many boys, evaded the draft by going to Canada, enrolling in college programs that such as education to get a number that would keep them from being called and some even registered themselves as conscious objectors when they signed up, facing ridicule from everyone.
I don’t remember any movies about Viet Nam during the conflict except for one, The Green Berets. John Wayne created a propaganda film to increase or maintain support for our involvement in the war just like he did during and after WWII. I guess Hollywood realized that we would not want to go the movies to see something we were watching in very graphic detail on our televisions daily.
Many years after the war I had boyfriends who served in the Army and Marines and they would never discuss what happened in ‘Nam or what they did there. I would look at their photographs, their young smiling faces, standing or sitting with their buddies, Blacks and Whites together in uniforms that showed they were well worn from being in the jungle. But these men had sadness that hung over them like a shroud. They were never really happy about anything; cynicism was their constant companion.
I agree with the author of the essay “Where Trouble Comes,” when he/she says, “for better or worse, with more accuracy or less, far more Americans have come by their understanding of the war by viewing dramatic films than by reading scholarly histories” (403). For me my understanding of came from watching the films The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket all movies about the conflict in Viet Nam that were released some years after the war ended; but I never understood what my friends endured until I saw Platoon. I didn’t know if I should believe what I was seeing. Oliver Stone was a Viet Vet himself but the media will tell/sell you anything just to make a buck, so I invited a friend to see the movie with me on my second viewing.
There is a scene in the movie where this platoon raids a village looking for VC. When the soldiers started shooting the villagers, my friend jumped up and bolted out of the theater. In the lobby he told me he was not going back inside, he had seen enough and what he saw brought him back, “in country.” Since that time, many men that I know who have seen this movie have agreed, it is disturbingly real.
Dien Bien Phu; Viet Nam now Iraq; “those who fail to learn from history are doom to repeat it.”
In Response To Jason:
Jason, I’m going to answer your question as to why critics make a big deal regarding a controversial movie. More often than not, these critics either believe that the government’s POV is valid or they have been hired or pressured by the government to support the government’s position. The government and critics know that the medium of film can reach and influence more people over the world and time than any newspaper, magazine or newscast can.
For me the Viet Nam conflict was just something that was happening somewhere else. I would watch it on TV or read something about it in the “Long Island Press.” Most people supported the war in the beginning but as the conflict escaladed, the regular army troops were not enough, so a decision was made to start the draft; this is when public opinion started to turn against the war and after the TET Offensive I didn’t know anyone who supported it.
Many boys, evaded the draft by going to Canada, enrolling in college programs that such as education to get a number that would keep them from being called and some even registered themselves as conscious objectors when they signed up, facing ridicule from everyone.
I don’t remember any movies about Viet Nam during the conflict except for one, The Green Berets. John Wayne created a propaganda film to increase or maintain support for our involvement in the war just like he did during and after WWII. I guess Hollywood realized that we would not want to go the movies to see something we were watching in very graphic detail on our televisions daily.
Many years after the war I had boyfriends who served in the Army and Marines and they would never discuss what happened in ‘Nam or what they did there. I would look at their photographs, their young smiling faces, standing or sitting with their buddies, Blacks and Whites together in uniforms that showed they were well worn from being in the jungle. But these men had sadness that hung over them like a shroud. They were never really happy about anything; cynicism was their constant companion.
I agree with the author of the essay “Where Trouble Comes,” when he/she says, “for better or worse, with more accuracy or less, far more Americans have come by their understanding of the war by viewing dramatic films than by reading scholarly histories” (403). For me my understanding of came from watching the films The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket all movies about the conflict in Viet Nam that were released some years after the war ended; but I never understood what my friends endured until I saw Platoon. I didn’t know if I should believe what I was seeing. Oliver Stone was a Viet Vet himself but the media will tell/sell you anything just to make a buck, so I invited a friend to see the movie with me on my second viewing.
There is a scene in the movie where this platoon raids a village looking for VC. When the soldiers started shooting the villagers, my friend jumped up and bolted out of the theater. In the lobby he told me he was not going back inside, he had seen enough and what he saw brought him back, “in country.” Since that time, many men that I know who have seen this movie have agreed, it is disturbingly real.
Dien Bien Phu; Viet Nam now Iraq; “those who fail to learn from history are doom to repeat it.”
In Response To Jason:
Jason, I’m going to answer your question as to why critics make a big deal regarding a controversial movie. More often than not, these critics either believe that the government’s POV is valid or they have been hired or pressured by the government to support the government’s position. The government and critics know that the medium of film can reach and influence more people over the world and time than any newspaper, magazine or newscast can.
"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now".
I believe that the first time I ever heard about Vietnam was from my parents at a particularly young age. The topic about Vietnam arose after watching the movie Forest Gump. My parents obviously weren't going to go into depth about all of the details because of my young age. However, they let me know that this war was a very tragic and devastating one. They mentioned the fact that it was one of the longest and bloodiest wars, being that it lasted fifteen years. My father informed that the amount of deaths that resulted from the war were one of the highest he has ever heard of, he stated that the deaths were in the millions. What probably hit me the hardest was the amount of young boys that lost their lives for what in my opinion was a lost cause. Other movies that I have watched about Vietnam include Hamburger Hill and Full Metal Jacket. Movies portray a very vivid picture of wars from the authors point of view. The main question that I would like to be answered is, is the images and action from the movies I stated above really true? Where they dramatized in any from to make the viewer more drawn to it? I feel that movies about any time of war are rather depressing. However, I do feel that they are necessary to some degree. The whole world should be aware of what their government involves themselves in, including wars.
I have also learned and heard about the Vietnam War throughout my years of elementary and high school. I go to school in the United States, so my knowledge of Vietnam is obviously from an American point of view, which in my opinion leaves out all of the horrifying details.
"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now". --Richard M. Nixon, 1985
I have also learned and heard about the Vietnam War throughout my years of elementary and high school. I go to school in the United States, so my knowledge of Vietnam is obviously from an American point of view, which in my opinion leaves out all of the horrifying details.
"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now". --Richard M. Nixon, 1985
The Vietnam War
When portraying something in a film as historical and dramatic as a war, what reasons could there be for certain exaggerations being displayed? Clearly, a war is full of the blood and gore of any horror movie, as well as real life instances that could interest any viewer. This weeks reading 'Where Trouble Comes' uses specific questions in order to help create a "historical lie-detector test" for movies depicting the war. My question is, if war, particularly the Vietnam War, is so controversial already and has all of the drama that may interest an audience, then why must they embellish such a topic for film?
To be completely honest, I don’t know very much about the Vietnam War, or any war for that matter. In junior high and high school I learned all about world history and specifically United States history. However, unfortunately, I don’t remember any of it. I don’t remember having seen any war movies and I definitely don’t recall what I may have learned in anything I read about the Vietnam War. When the Vietnam War is mentioned, I think about how all throughout high school my friends Andres and Thomas would spend four long periods talking about war, past wars, current wars, foreign wars- you name it. And I think about how they both joined the Army once they graduated last year. From what I remember, the Vietnam War was one of the most bloody and longest wars to date.
I know that with any war comes a lot of death and violence. I was raised by my mother, a very peaceful woman, who wouldn’t even allow a water gun in the house so as a little girl I had no interest in guns and fighting and to this day I still don’t. I support our troops but I do not support the war. Even so, I still feel that in order to really have a real opinion on important topics like this; you must know as much information as possible. I’d like to learn more about the Vietnam War so that I wouldn’t be relying on others opinions, instead I’d be constructing my own.
To be completely honest, I don’t know very much about the Vietnam War, or any war for that matter. In junior high and high school I learned all about world history and specifically United States history. However, unfortunately, I don’t remember any of it. I don’t remember having seen any war movies and I definitely don’t recall what I may have learned in anything I read about the Vietnam War. When the Vietnam War is mentioned, I think about how all throughout high school my friends Andres and Thomas would spend four long periods talking about war, past wars, current wars, foreign wars- you name it. And I think about how they both joined the Army once they graduated last year. From what I remember, the Vietnam War was one of the most bloody and longest wars to date.
I know that with any war comes a lot of death and violence. I was raised by my mother, a very peaceful woman, who wouldn’t even allow a water gun in the house so as a little girl I had no interest in guns and fighting and to this day I still don’t. I support our troops but I do not support the war. Even so, I still feel that in order to really have a real opinion on important topics like this; you must know as much information as possible. I’d like to learn more about the Vietnam War so that I wouldn’t be relying on others opinions, instead I’d be constructing my own.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Misunderstanding Through Misleading Representation
In class we just finished our discussions about ad representation. We talked about whether or not the ad being shown projects the product being sold as something different than what it is. In other words, does the advertisement give a false depiction of that specific item? Through these possibly misleading messages, an incorrect image or idea could be conveyed rather than the real or correct message. Concerning war films, do you think that the way that specific wars are portrayed in movies, actually capture the real life occurrences and experiences that really took place? Are war films drastically dramatized and therefore be misinterpreted? Are necessary details emphasized too much or too little? All these questions are very important in order to determine whether or not certain war films should be relied on for an accurate account of history.
I personally do not know very much about the Vietnam War. I know that it occurred from the mid 1960s through the middle of the 1970s. There was a lot of controversy about how long the American troops should have stayed in Vietnam. I am aware that the majority of the American soldiers were very young; many in their early twenties if not younger. Unfortunately, the American death toll from the war reached numbers above fifty thousand and the Vietnamese casualties more than one million. Also, I know that many people today are making comparisons between the war in Iraq with the Vietnam War. I really have not formerly learned about The Vietnam War but I would like to. I have seen the movie Forest Gump, which although was fictional, did include scenes relating to Vietnam. Due to my lack of knowledge about this topic, I do look forward to learning more.
I personally do not know very much about the Vietnam War. I know that it occurred from the mid 1960s through the middle of the 1970s. There was a lot of controversy about how long the American troops should have stayed in Vietnam. I am aware that the majority of the American soldiers were very young; many in their early twenties if not younger. Unfortunately, the American death toll from the war reached numbers above fifty thousand and the Vietnamese casualties more than one million. Also, I know that many people today are making comparisons between the war in Iraq with the Vietnam War. I really have not formerly learned about The Vietnam War but I would like to. I have seen the movie Forest Gump, which although was fictional, did include scenes relating to Vietnam. Due to my lack of knowledge about this topic, I do look forward to learning more.
Vietnam: another sacrifice to the Cold War
As we all should know about that after the end of WWII, two superpower nations: The United States and The Soviet Union share the most benefits over all the nations. As the war ends, the world has divided into two "sides" as well as Europe. The united states and its allies control the western part while the Soviet Union takes the Eastern part and east Berlin too. Cold War is a term describe the competition between the United States and The Soviet Union over ares such like political and military power. Through out the 50's, fear of communism spread out all over the nation. On the other hand, the Soviet Union is not satisfied for the situation in Europe. Soon, they plans to have the idea of communism distribute to the southern Asia, and than put it into action. The United States in the other hand, afraid that the communism is taking too much influence to the world, so they put into action too in order to share the idea of democrat which people own the government instead of dictatorship. Vietnam, as the result of the cold war has been divided into two parts: the north which is communism and the south which is democrat. In order to stop the communist, the U.S sends out troops to Vietnam to support the south.
No war is ended peaceful and so Vietnam. Millions of soldiers are either died or wounded in the war and civilians too. Ask for what the two superpowers gained in the war, the answer is "Nothing" because the war takes 15 years which is so much longer than the WWI & WWII. And the result is that the war ended with a peaceful treaty which is signed in Paris between two sides in 1973. Two years later (1975) , the north crossover the south, Vietnam is united which than brings communism back to Vietnam. This brings so much question to the U.S government such "What is the purpose of war?"and "Is there any explanation to the death of U.S soldiers." Until now, people in Vietnam are still suffering from the impact and there are people still suffering from the shadow of the war too.
It is true that films like Vietnam war or based on any other war are not showing all the events in accurate even documentary film. But evidences like the Vietnam war memorial field in Washington D.C is still refreshing our memory back to the painful 60's.
No war is ended peaceful and so Vietnam. Millions of soldiers are either died or wounded in the war and civilians too. Ask for what the two superpowers gained in the war, the answer is "Nothing" because the war takes 15 years which is so much longer than the WWI & WWII. And the result is that the war ended with a peaceful treaty which is signed in Paris between two sides in 1973. Two years later (1975) , the north crossover the south, Vietnam is united which than brings communism back to Vietnam. This brings so much question to the U.S government such "What is the purpose of war?"and "Is there any explanation to the death of U.S soldiers." Until now, people in Vietnam are still suffering from the impact and there are people still suffering from the shadow of the war too.
It is true that films like Vietnam war or based on any other war are not showing all the events in accurate even documentary film. But evidences like the Vietnam war memorial field in Washington D.C is still refreshing our memory back to the painful 60's.
Vietnam War, a Hollywood hit
There are couple of questions I would like to ask about the Vietnam War and this essay. What is it with filmmakers and this obsession on trying to create a myth about the Vietnam War? I would also like to know why they would do this since I think it doesn't collaborate with their main objective, to make money.
I guess I know a bit about the Vietnam War having read about it in high school. I think the Vietnam War was the third war in which the US was fighting against communism. The first would be the lengthy "Cold War" which was a non physical battle between the Soviet Union and the USA. The second would be the Korean War, where a UN force mainly made of US and South Korean soldiers fought against the North Korean's to stop the spread of communism in Korea. I think the Domino Theory plays a big role in why the US went into Vietnam. Since South Vietnam was supposedly the "domino" that was about to fall to communism after the departure of the french colonials. Since that was the USA's foreign policy at the time, it seemed valid for the US to move into Vietnam as they did in Korea. Also, US forces were being attacked for no reason by the Vietnamese at sea. I also know that we actually lost in the long run as the North Vietnamese run over the South Vietnamese and turn the whole country into a communist state. The US also faced many casualties and spent an excessive amount of money to fund the war. I believe many of the veterans of the Vietnam War didn't receive benefits they should have received and many suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder.
I guess I know a bit about the Vietnam War having read about it in high school. I think the Vietnam War was the third war in which the US was fighting against communism. The first would be the lengthy "Cold War" which was a non physical battle between the Soviet Union and the USA. The second would be the Korean War, where a UN force mainly made of US and South Korean soldiers fought against the North Korean's to stop the spread of communism in Korea. I think the Domino Theory plays a big role in why the US went into Vietnam. Since South Vietnam was supposedly the "domino" that was about to fall to communism after the departure of the french colonials. Since that was the USA's foreign policy at the time, it seemed valid for the US to move into Vietnam as they did in Korea. Also, US forces were being attacked for no reason by the Vietnamese at sea. I also know that we actually lost in the long run as the North Vietnamese run over the South Vietnamese and turn the whole country into a communist state. The US also faced many casualties and spent an excessive amount of money to fund the war. I believe many of the veterans of the Vietnam War didn't receive benefits they should have received and many suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder.
Vietnam
Right now in philosophy I am studying different types of principles that relate to moral aspects and how they should be deciphered. One theory is cultural relativism that attempts to prove through various arguments that a culture decides what is right or wrong within that culture and one can never say that what another culture did was incorrect because they would then not be following cultural relativism. My question is even though according to cultural relativism whatever a culture deems right or wrong is in fact right or wrong, in your opinion did we handle the Vietnam War in a proper manner? What actions do you think we could’ve taken to allow our troops to come back earlier and possibly have saved lives?
The Vietnam War was something of quite tragedy that took place for about way too many years, from the early 50s to the 70s.. I have not learned about it all that much except when I was in a very intense history class in high school where I learned much detail about the different conferences which took place and who bombed who and how the war finally ended. Casualties were enormous. More than 6,000 Americans were killed in just one year alone, The war finally ended in 1974 but it was a long cold war that waited too long to finish. I haven’t really watched many movies or documentaries on it but I think its something very important and even though it may be very hard to watch all the blood and gunshots and bombs its something we must remember and be educated about in respect to the prior generation and in respect to ourselves as citizens to the United States of America.
The Vietnam War was something of quite tragedy that took place for about way too many years, from the early 50s to the 70s.. I have not learned about it all that much except when I was in a very intense history class in high school where I learned much detail about the different conferences which took place and who bombed who and how the war finally ended. Casualties were enormous. More than 6,000 Americans were killed in just one year alone, The war finally ended in 1974 but it was a long cold war that waited too long to finish. I haven’t really watched many movies or documentaries on it but I think its something very important and even though it may be very hard to watch all the blood and gunshots and bombs its something we must remember and be educated about in respect to the prior generation and in respect to ourselves as citizens to the United States of America.
Truth or false?
Often times, Hollywood takes a real event in history and distorts it to a certain degree in order to tell the fictional story within it; movies were meant for entertainment after all. Should we trust in these Vietnam war movies or even documentaries so blindly? Although I have yet to see any films related to the Vietnam War, I have seen a couple of war movies and from what I've seen, historical accuracy is not always the priority in war films. This may actually lead the viewer into believing something completely off.
As for the Vietnam War itself, I don't really know the details as well as WWI or WWII but I do remember learning in class that the soldiers who returned home from this war were treated like dogs and disgraces rather than heroes. The Vietnam War was not only an American loss but the beginning of America's terrible record on foreign affairs. I also remember hearing how the people of Vietnam did not want America there in the first place so one could only assume one thing-why the hell in America go there in the first place? In any case, this will be an interesting topic to discuss and write about.
As for the Vietnam War itself, I don't really know the details as well as WWI or WWII but I do remember learning in class that the soldiers who returned home from this war were treated like dogs and disgraces rather than heroes. The Vietnam War was not only an American loss but the beginning of America's terrible record on foreign affairs. I also remember hearing how the people of Vietnam did not want America there in the first place so one could only assume one thing-why the hell in America go there in the first place? In any case, this will be an interesting topic to discuss and write about.
Too Tragic for Words
What makes a person interested in making war movies? What is it about them that makes people want to sit for 2 hours and watch a movie where people die for their good deed? It's not easy for me to sit and watch movies like that. Is it just for the money? Is it to honor our country?
I don’t know much about the Vietnam war, but I do know it was long and possibly the most bloodiest of wars. South Vietnam ended up losing as well. This war is very similar to the war in Iraq, pointless in every aspect. Too many people died for something that will never change. America thought they could fix the communist problem in Korea and failed miserably. I learned about this war in school several times but none of the information stuck. I honestly don’t care to learn about this particular war or any war for that matter. There is nothing more depressing than talking about and learning about millions of death. While the intention of war is to fight for your belief in what’s right, killing does not make things right. I remember watching a documentary on Vietnam during class one day and all that was showed was bombs being dropped. It was hard for me to sit and watch such terror being glorified. What do young kids think of this? Do the people making these movies really think killing people is ok? My uncle had served in the Vietnam war. He died when I was younger so I didn’t get a chance to really talk to him, but my mother said he was deeply disturbed after he came home from war. It changed him. He would never talk of the war did not watch or allow his children to watch any war movies. This to me says the Vietnam war was one that was too tragic for words.
I don’t know much about the Vietnam war, but I do know it was long and possibly the most bloodiest of wars. South Vietnam ended up losing as well. This war is very similar to the war in Iraq, pointless in every aspect. Too many people died for something that will never change. America thought they could fix the communist problem in Korea and failed miserably. I learned about this war in school several times but none of the information stuck. I honestly don’t care to learn about this particular war or any war for that matter. There is nothing more depressing than talking about and learning about millions of death. While the intention of war is to fight for your belief in what’s right, killing does not make things right. I remember watching a documentary on Vietnam during class one day and all that was showed was bombs being dropped. It was hard for me to sit and watch such terror being glorified. What do young kids think of this? Do the people making these movies really think killing people is ok? My uncle had served in the Vietnam war. He died when I was younger so I didn’t get a chance to really talk to him, but my mother said he was deeply disturbed after he came home from war. It changed him. He would never talk of the war did not watch or allow his children to watch any war movies. This to me says the Vietnam war was one that was too tragic for words.
jason Eisenberg the vietnam war
I would like to know why critics make a big deal regarding a controversal movie? I ask this because they should know that directors write the movie in their best interests. Whether it be making more money or etc. I would also like to know if you think the government should try to sensor a movie they thought could turn out to be controversial?
When I think of the Vietnam war I think of controversy. I think of it similar to the war in Iraq. Many times when i am watching the news I hear negative references about Vietnam when they are talking about the Iraq war. Many people were opposed to the Vietnam war similar to the Iraq war today. Most of the country today is opposed to the war and I image it was the same back then. The opposing political parties were also against the war. Over one million people died in the Vietnam war. Many people questioned the intentions of the war thinking maybe it was for political purposes not military. I feel that if it were for political purposes it is a crime giving all those soldiers that risked their life for America for no reason. Many government officials even admitted later on that the war might have been a mistake. The Vietnam was from my knowledge was North Vietnam against America and southern Vietnam.
I never learned about the Vietnam war in school. My friend who is into past wars told me about the war. When I was told about the War I felt that like today America had domestic issues that they should have taken care of before worrying about a different nation. I have never seen a movie about the Vietnam war and given what I know about the war I would not want to watch one.
When I think of the Vietnam war I think of controversy. I think of it similar to the war in Iraq. Many times when i am watching the news I hear negative references about Vietnam when they are talking about the Iraq war. Many people were opposed to the Vietnam war similar to the Iraq war today. Most of the country today is opposed to the war and I image it was the same back then. The opposing political parties were also against the war. Over one million people died in the Vietnam war. Many people questioned the intentions of the war thinking maybe it was for political purposes not military. I feel that if it were for political purposes it is a crime giving all those soldiers that risked their life for America for no reason. Many government officials even admitted later on that the war might have been a mistake. The Vietnam was from my knowledge was North Vietnam against America and southern Vietnam.
I never learned about the Vietnam war in school. My friend who is into past wars told me about the war. When I was told about the War I felt that like today America had domestic issues that they should have taken care of before worrying about a different nation. I have never seen a movie about the Vietnam war and given what I know about the war I would not want to watch one.
Monday, October 1, 2007
10/1
For Wednesday, read 'Where Trouble Comes,' which is analysis of Vietnam films, then come up with a question about Vietnam war films and/or the essay which you think the class should answer. We'll use these questions for a jumping off point for discussion, so questions without yes or no answers are preferred, as are questions that cannot be answered in one sentence or less, such as '1967.'
I'd also like to get a sense of general class knowledge, so in the second part of your 250-400 word response tell us what think about when you hear reference to the Vietnam war. I'm particularly interested in where and when you've learned about it (including school but not limited to school), and what films you have seen or know about dealing with the subject, what stories you've read, how you feel about them, how they portray the Vietnam war, etc. That is, give a general account of your understanding of the war and in particular the methods by which that understanding reached you. As always, the responses must be posted by 10am on Wednesday for credit.
We'll watch portions of two of the films mentioned in the essay on Wednesday. Also, for the following Wednesday (we're off Monday for Columbus Day) I'll be asking you to watch a war film on your own and write a response on it, so be prepared to find time in your schedule for that over the long weekend.
I'd also like to get a sense of general class knowledge, so in the second part of your 250-400 word response tell us what think about when you hear reference to the Vietnam war. I'm particularly interested in where and when you've learned about it (including school but not limited to school), and what films you have seen or know about dealing with the subject, what stories you've read, how you feel about them, how they portray the Vietnam war, etc. That is, give a general account of your understanding of the war and in particular the methods by which that understanding reached you. As always, the responses must be posted by 10am on Wednesday for credit.
We'll watch portions of two of the films mentioned in the essay on Wednesday. Also, for the following Wednesday (we're off Monday for Columbus Day) I'll be asking you to watch a war film on your own and write a response on it, so be prepared to find time in your schedule for that over the long weekend.
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