Posted on 07/17/2004 10:42:36 AM PDT by Steve Sherman
Was Kerry Correct About Vietnam? Are There Lessons for Iraq?
Conference of Vietnam Veterans and Scholars to Reexamine Realities of War and Expose Common Myths at Boston’s Simmons College, 25-29 July
From July 26-29, an unprecedented conference featuring Vietnam veterans who have authored books about the war and other scholars and educators will take place at Boston's Simmons College, just a few short miles from the Democratic National Convention.
As Senator John Kerry is about to be nominated for President, in great part based on his Vietnam service, it is important for the American people to understand what “Vietnam” was really about and to dispel some of the common misconceptions about why we went to war, what we did, what went wrong, and why it mattered.
As other prominent anti-Vietnam activists have noted, John Kerry was the most effective American war protester. His efforts as spokesman for the “Vietnam Veterans Against the War” helped turn Americans against both the war and returning veterans, and his 1971 Senate testimony contributed to the decision by Congress two years later to enact legislation prohibiting the U.S. military from further combat operations to defend the non-Communist countries of Indochina.
Three decades have passed since the last U.S. combat unit withdrew from Vietnam, and the veterans who have organized this conference believe the Kerry candidacy provides an important opportunity for the American people to reexamine the war as well as the way America treated its Vietnam veterans when they came home.
Collectively the panelists have written nearly a score of books and published numerous articles about the war.
Seventeen sessions will address a wide range of subjects, including:
Why and how did America get involved in Vietnam? Were we trying to reimpose French colonialism, to block democracy because we feared Ho Chi Minh would win a free election, or confusing Vietnamese nationalism with international Communism? How popular was the initial commitment with Congress and the public? Did American presidents take the country to war without the support of Congress or the people? Was that support obtained by telling “lies”? How do most veterans feel about their service—are they proud or ashamed of what they did? Were most American servicemen in Vietnam “war criminals” who behaved like “Genghis Khan” and drug addicts who were “stoned twenty-four hours a day”? Were we wasting American lives trying to prop up a “fascist dictatorship” that imprisoned its critics in “tiger cages,” or were we trying to protect people who wanted freedom from Communist oppression? What were the human consequences of our decisions both in terms of human lives and human rights? Why did we lose? Were our forces decisively beaten on the field of battle by the Viet Cong, or were there political factors involved? What lessons did Congress draw from the experience and how has it influenced subsequent legislative behavior? Did the Church-Pike hearings and the Iran-Contra inquiry contribute to the “risk-avoidance” culture some believe contributed to the failure of the Intelligence community to prevent the 9/11 attacks? What was the impact of post-Vietnam demands by Congress to have greater control over military operations and intelligence activities? How successfully did Vietnam veterans make the transition back to civilian life after the war? Did they wind up as drug addicts and go to prison in disproportionate numbers for violent crimes? Did any actually succeed in life? How have our perceptions of the war affected subsequent U.S. policy and public opinion? Did our abandonment of Indochina affect the attitudes and behavior of our nation’s enemies? How is the war being taught in our schools and colleges? Are there meaningful parallels between what happened in Vietnam and the current situation in Iraq? A full list of participants, description of sessions, and times can be found at www.Viet-Myths.net. A limited number of dormitory rooms for attendees are available through this website.
Further information from Steve Sherman at 713-683-9076 or email at sherman1@flash.net . The conference website is www.Viet-Myths.net
.
No thanks!
Bump for later
Invite Kerry! He said he would meet with any group whether they agree with them or not. Stated during the NAACP Convention.
"The New War" by John Kerry (Freeper Book Review)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1173313/posts
Kerry's new commercial has edwards speaking about kerry's viet name and has five vets during his three months in a NEW group shot. (1960's picture with large group is no longer in use)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1173389/posts
To John Kerry and all the other Traitors
Gee, I don't know what happened
When I left we were winning!
Welcome to Free Republic!
Welcome Home Brother!
Anti-Kerry vet movement ping...
You are very good at this, and FAST!!!
.
JOHN KERRY = Enemy of Vietnam Vets
http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1320
Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer / Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
'MODERN DAY HEROES' - Contributing Author
http://www.ModernDayHeroes.com/aloha
.
A Dewey Canyon for Kerry to deal with? " Hey, John! How many villages did you say you torched?"
Ronnie,
Great websites and photos. For your own sake, I'd remove the one with Chappaquidic (I always confuse a certain bridge in Massachussetts with where the Klintoons live) Fats. Just kidding.
I served with HHC 3rd Bde. (ran a Recon platoon) much later in the war and so could also wear the regimental crests. One of the finest outfits there ever was.
Big 'Garry Owens' to you.
Thanks.
JFKerry might get more discussion about Viet Nam than he had hoped.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.