My thoughts on life, relationships, and everything else!

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Why I understand Vietnam

I just now (since the start of the Iraqi war) realized what our parents and grandparents were protesting during Vietnam. This post may seem a little anti-American to some people, but I don't lack patriotism...I love my country...... I just don't like whats going on. Also a lot of people will not agree with many things I say I know, but they are the truth, and from being in a national guard unit when everything started, I know what some things are like first hand.

During the war in Vietnam (which was from 1957 to 1975) many protesters were seen as unpatriotic because they were not backing their country and instead, they were protesting and trying to stop things, but now that the US is now, again, fighting someone else's war because we think it effects us in some remote way, I see their points.

Vietnam started because we had helped the French in their fight against the Vietnamese and our fight to stop communism from spreading past north Vietnam was a part of our involvement in the cold war wasn't really our war to fight, but we felt it was our responsibility.I know Iraq is a lot different in scenario...but when you get down to it, the feelings are the same.

I can remember when Sept. 11 happened...I was home from school because my aunt had died and my uncle called me into the living room to show me what happened in new York. Not ten minutes later my nat'l guard unit was on stand by. Most of unit ended pulling tours of duty overseas in different locations. I can remember being told I was the first untrained person they have seen being issued full gear..I was told it was prepping me,and it scared me to death . I watched the war every day and worried I would have to see it up close. I think that's why this subject hits me so hard. I can understand why we did what we did in Afghanistan, but Iraq only hurt us. We have gained nothing, and have lost almost everything. We have men and women, losing their lives every day to fight a war that is only hurting us. And then there is the British. They stepped in and are fighting this war with the US and are losing about as much. They are receiving terror threats just as we are for something they didn't even start. All of this makes me want to put on a t-shirt with a big X through A pic of the fighting and the words NO MORE IRAQI WAR!!!!!! Or something. hmm...i need a better shirt idea. But if I thought it would help, I would do it.it didn't work then, it probably won't now.