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Post by Sunkist on Jun 17, 2018 22:18:21 GMT -5
I'm mostly looking for opinions from Vietnam veterans, but if you served elsewhere or during a different time-frame feel free to express your opinions too.
In the distant past, I heard there were Vietnam veterans who, at various points in time, decided they regretted their involvement. However, I never read about anything like I've been encountering in recent years: extreme disrespect for individuals who are currently serving in the military.
First example: if you recall, or possibly experienced, returning veterans were subjected to all kinds of negativity, including being referred to as 'baby-killers;' yet, locals are saying the same thing about today's military.
Second example: while I don't know if the so-called 'artist' is a member of any local group, they're condoning and promoting the individual's actions- the individual spray-painted on a military billboard 'there can be no respect for serving in the military..'
Not only condoning and promoting this, but one of the 'head honchos' is asking 'if you've got a bucket of paint and a brush' to go ahead and do the same thing.
Again, I know there are individuals who regret their own involvement in the Vietnam war, but I'm having difficulty believing these kinds of disrespect come from individuals who 'served honorably' in the past. And as I know there are some Vietnam veterans here (on forum), I'd like to know what you think about it.
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Post by Sunkist on Jun 18, 2018 11:53:44 GMT -5
Seriously? nobody has an opinion on this?
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Post by dragonlady on Jun 18, 2018 12:32:28 GMT -5
I havn't seen anything like that in this area. If there is, it must be a very small group
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Post by louie on Jun 18, 2018 13:28:18 GMT -5
Is there a reference we could see?
I'm not sure I understand. My dh served in 'Nam and lives with the regrets, horrors, and feelings of betrayal constantly.
I haven't heard a word about this...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 13:45:14 GMT -5
I am glad I served in Vietnam. And I have the utmost respect for all veterans. At the same time I am disgusted that my country got involved Vietnam and in all these other foreign wars of imperialist aggression. If that seems contradictory it's because it is.
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Post by QuickSilver on Jun 18, 2018 13:50:03 GMT -5
Everyone I know has the utmost respect for vets.. myself included.. It's the policies of the government that get us into stupid wars that people are actually protesting.. not the soldiers themselves. My son is a vet and when he was in active reserves after serving 6 years active.. he always talked about people coming up to him and thanking him for his service the minute they saw him in uniform. Never once was he put down or insulted.
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Post by formerlyme on Jun 18, 2018 16:06:25 GMT -5
Seriously? nobody has an opinion on this? Unfortunately, you seem to take it personally when people don't respond whenever you think they should. 
I'm a Canadian, not a Vet, but I have respect for all who serve. Canada took in a lot of draft dodgers during the Viet Nam war, and many became permanent Canadian citizens, even after amnesty was granted. I respect them for the stand they took against that war, as well. It was a wrong war! I've never seen or heard of abuse towards the military where I live.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 16:54:44 GMT -5
It was a wrong war. But as far as I am concerned those draft dodgers were cowards. I'm still mad a Carter for giving them amnesty. That was a slap in the face to all of us who sucked it up and went.
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Post by tnthomas on Jun 18, 2018 17:15:14 GMT -5
Sunkist , I'm sorry, I am not sure of exactly what you are looking for, but I'll pick a portion to respond to: I heard there were Vietnam veterans who, at various points in time, decided they regretted their involvement. I don't regret volunteering to enlist in the Army at age 17, it was the single best decision I ever made. I don't regret going to Vietnam, it was kind of an eerie thing,
when I was still a grade school child, I would watch the Vietnam war on the TV news, and knew in my gut that I'd be there some day...a self-fulfilling prophecy I
guess..
I did not blame those who chose to become conscientious objectors, I knew a few guys that got drafted, had been building a life which did not include wading
through rice paddies 12,000 miles from home, and killing people that had not done anything to them.
I also knew a couple guys that were LRRPs, patrolled by day, slept in the trees by night, and ate snakes and monkeys. They came back home to the world, but
not completely...
I did not encourage my son to go in the military, rather- I advised against it.
I have utmost respect for today's military, without question.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 17:32:40 GMT -5
First example: if you recall, or possibly experienced, returning veterans were subjected to all kinds of negativity, including being referred to as 'baby-killers;' yet, locals are saying the same thing about today's military. |
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Post by nkat on Jun 18, 2018 17:50:58 GMT -5
My dh was not thrilled that he was a Vietnam Vet. Said that when he finally came home, people at the airport looked at him with disgust.
For many years he did not like to admit he was over there.
Today he will open up about it somewhat.
nkat
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Post by butterfly on Jun 19, 2018 0:47:22 GMT -5
I was married for many years to a vietnam vet. Neither he, nor any of the other people I knew. lived among, and interacted with on a daily basis and also worked for, EVER expressed any disrespect for other service members based on their military service anywhere. I mean, there was the personal stuff, like "Fred is a slob" or "everybody in Supply must be stupid," but that's not disrespect for their service. And I don't know any service member, present or previous, who would EVER consider voicing disrespect for the service and sacrifices of other personnel, regardless of where they served. Hate the war, yes; hate or disrespect the people who got sent over there, never.
It's not like anybody got a whole lot of choice about where they were sent, anyway. Orders said go there, you went there.
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Post by QuickSilver on Jun 19, 2018 6:39:07 GMT -5
I believe the BS about people hating the military and disrespecting them comes from one source.. and I think we know where.. From the current WH and it's supporters.. While the truth is that people voicing decent over policies and wars are being labeled as being unAmerican and unpatriotic and somehow hating those that fight.. SOOOO.. Let's call this what it is.. total BULL$hit
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Post by robusta on Jun 19, 2018 7:54:09 GMT -5
I served during Nam,but not in Nam. My perception was the same as Toby,s, Apathy no one cared.
As far as today I think it is the same. My SIL did two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Corporate America steps up to honor service,but the general population does not seem to attach any special significance to serving.
I think mainly because it is hard if not impossible to understand how our antics in the middle east hava anything at all to do with our nations security!
But No I have not heard of any blatant or persistant instances of dis respect.
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Post by tnthomas on Jun 19, 2018 10:50:52 GMT -5
I believe the BS about people hating the military and disrespecting them comes from one source.. and I think we know where.. From the current WH and it's supporters.. While the truth is that people voicing decent over policies and wars are being labeled as being unAmerican and unpatriotic and somehow hating those that fight.. SOOOO.. Let's call this what it is.. total BULL$hit I wasn't aware of any such "hatred" of the military, but if the draft-dodger-in-chief said it, then it must be true....NOT! |
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