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The tragedy of the PBS-Ken Burns version of the Vietnam War
americanthinker.com ^ | 9/29/2017 | Stephen Sherman

Posted on 09/29/2017 9:21:11 AM PDT by rktman

Thank you, Ken Burns, for bringing the issue of Vietnam back to our attention. Thank you for doing this before all of us who served there, and the 70% of us who would have gone back and done it all again, have been silenced by actuarial factor death. Thank you, Ken Burns, for imagining that this country can be healed and divisions overcome.

But just one more thing, Mr. Burns: come help us identify the untruths and tear down "this wall" of false history.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: hanginout; kenburns; vietnam
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Tried watching it but since I didn't go the full series, I'm sure I missed some important parts. But, it seemed sympathetic to the antis a little too much for my liking. Seen some people whining that it didn't give enough attention to the real heroes. You know, those who were protesting against the mess. Freakin' john f'n kohn-heinz-kerry and his speaking to congress. Jane and the AA guns. Tommy haden.
1 posted on 09/29/2017 9:21:11 AM PDT by rktman
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To: rktman

“Is he right?.....”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRi5Og5hnYc


2 posted on 09/29/2017 9:22:32 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: rktman

Since it was PBS, I knew I’d just get pissed off. My wife, who is 11 years younger than I and wasn’t old enough during the event to really understand things, is watching it.
I suggested that when she either has questions, or finds something interesting, she should ask me about it.


3 posted on 09/29/2017 9:23:41 AM PDT by Pecos (A Constitutional republic shouldnÂ’t need to hold its collective breath in fear of lawyers.)
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To: rktman

I didn’t watch. Did Kenny (little boy hair cut) Burns own up to JFK murdering Diem?


4 posted on 09/29/2017 9:24:43 AM PDT by SMARTY ("Nearly all men can stand adversity...to test a man's character, give him power." A. Lincoln)
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To: Pecos

;-). Mrs. rktman is quite a bit younger than me but understands (for the most part) the deal. Maybe she’s skewed because of my perspective. Than again, similar perspectives different conclusions for some folks.


5 posted on 09/29/2017 9:27:40 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: rktman

I recorded it on my DVR. I fast forward through all of the interviews with the anti war demonstrators, draft dodgers, etc. That cut the viewing time by at least one half. The combat footage and military veterans’ interviews were worth watching.


6 posted on 09/29/2017 9:28:59 AM PDT by forgotten man
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To: forgotten man

If you go to the comments for the AT piece, it’s very interesting and informative at the same time. Like I said, other peoples perceptions based on what they saw, know and did.


7 posted on 09/29/2017 9:35:04 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: rktman

As a Viet Nam combat vet (1965-1966) I do not trust anything the media put out about Viet Nam. So I skipped it.


8 posted on 09/29/2017 9:38:20 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN (US out of the UN, UN out of the US)
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To: rktman
I'm sure I missed some important parts. But, it seemed sympathetic to the antis a little too much for my liking.
I couldn't agree more. It was also sympathetic to the VC/NVA, portraying them as overcoming the US military throughout the war and the US soldiers were just so many victims.
I didn't see all 10 episodes, but I still never heard Burns mention that while we lost 58,000+ men, the north lost over a million soldiers (plus 2 million civilians).
He also "forgot" to mention that the North broke the 1973 Peace Accords on their way to "final victory." Yeah, some victory.
9 posted on 09/29/2017 9:40:01 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: Pecos
"Since it was PBS, I knew I’d just get pissed off."

You'd have been right.

TH he only people quoted were former "journalists" with their own agendas.

10 posted on 09/29/2017 9:40:24 AM PDT by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D. - What Would Jack Bauer Do?)
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To: rktman

I finished episode 8 last night. I have been watching it on PBS.org. I won’t proclaim to be an expert on the Vietnam War. It was before my time so I have been trying to learn from it.

A few things I have taken away from it so far ....

(1) The men and woman that served in Vietnam are just as much a hero as those that served in WWII, Desert Storm, the Korean War, or any of our wars. Their nation called on them to serve and they answered the call.

(2) We supported France to defend their colonialism. They left and then our politicians changed that to defending against communism.

(3) Democrats were 10x more responsible for us being there. The series likes to say that both parties are responsible for our involvement but I place it 10x more on the democrats.

(4) The origins of the protesters — civil disobedience — are pretty much the same today as it was then — loser college and university professors, the media, etc. I think muslim groups should be included too.

Again, I am no expert on the Vietnam War. I have great respect for those that served and I am always wanting to learn more.


11 posted on 09/29/2017 9:46:38 AM PDT by boycott
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To: Redbob

;-) When I saw the reporters doing their own thing, and providing their “assessment”, I was pretty much done with the only episode I tuned in to. It’s kinda like those hollywood celebs going “homeless” for a week or something. But, some of the newsies did good stuff but not enough.


12 posted on 09/29/2017 9:47:13 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: CIB-173RDABN

“As a Viet Nam combat vet “

And I am sure you know of a lot that will never get out.


13 posted on 09/29/2017 9:47:31 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: rktman

Until we start fighting wars with an endgame.....I refuse to watch these shows or back the wars after it has been proven to me that America is not in the war to win. I respect and thank the American servicemen for their service and sacrifices.

But there hasn’t been a war with an endgame since WW 2.

Simple..... you kick ass all over the country(s) you’re fighting, (unfortunately including civilians), until they scream for you to stop.
We need men like Patton and Curtis LeMay fighting our wars.


14 posted on 09/29/2017 9:47:37 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. .bye)
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To: rktman

I was four years old when Saigon fell. I can remember even at four, my Mother escorting me out of the living room while my Vietnam Veteran Father (USMC) ranted and cursed at Cronkite on 30 April. He never talked about the war with me, until I came home on leave after AIT. He hated the anti war left and the media, and simply said “We won the war and they turned it into defeat”. He died in 1998 at age 56, from Agent Orange related cancer. Semper Fi, Dad. Y’all deserved better.


15 posted on 09/29/2017 9:49:27 AM PDT by TallahasseeConservative
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To: Vaquero

Roger that. The whole middle east thing constantly pisses me off. Either win it or get the hell out. Sixteen years? Did we not understand anything from back in the Russian days in Whogivesacrapistan?


16 posted on 09/29/2017 9:50:28 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: rktman
It focuses only on battles that the NVA or VC did reasonably well in and completely ignores the majority of the fights where we annihilated them. Brings mostly "poor me" accounts by some veterans, not talking to people like me who were fine with fighting the communists and proud of the men who fought alongside me.

Completely ignores the role of the American Communist Party and the commuter flights to Hanoi and back by the "antiwar" (pro-enemy) leadership.

Lots of propaganda about how the enemy "just wanted to reunify the country" when there never was a "unified" Vietnam, ever and the enemy used a terrorist campaign to overcome the South for communism. Cute use of "mood music" to guide the viewer to how they should understand the scenes.

At least they did reveal at long last the atrocities committed by the enemy at the end of the battle for Hue City.

17 posted on 09/29/2017 9:55:55 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: rktman

Was general gapp interviewed? Perhaps he is dead now. He was the the main general for the Vietnamese. I remember watching him describe how they were ready to quit when we left


18 posted on 09/29/2017 9:59:24 AM PDT by datricker (The wall will protect the border and be a symbol the voters do have a say in their government.)
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To: SMARTY

Yes


19 posted on 09/29/2017 10:07:34 AM PDT by Despot of the Delta
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To: datricker

I watch it all, GIAP had little mention in the documentatyr until the fall of Saigan. In this documentary , le juan(I can’t remember how to spell his name but was pretty much in control of war, true communist) had him sidelined for most of the war. But brought him in to finally win it after USA pulled out. Le Juan had ordered Tet, mini tet plus a couple of other offensives that were complete disaster for the North and wanted to make sure it would be over so he brought him in.. Don’t know if that was true but that how documentary portrayed him.


20 posted on 09/29/2017 10:10:04 AM PDT by scbison
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