Why was the US not celebrating the end of the Vietnam War in 1973?

Answer 1

Clay is correct .. it is a very complicated issues and an extremely emotional one for many. Hearts are divided on this war. Here's a run-up, but I suggest you go on google and type in ... understanding the Vietnam War. The most dramatic opposition to the war came from the soldiers themselves. Between 1960 and 1973, 503,926 members of the US armed forces deserted. Many soldiers began to question the morality of the war once they began fighting in Vietnam. One soldier, Keith Franklin, wrote a letter that was only to be opened on his death. He was killed on May 12, 1970: "If you are reading this letter, you will never see me again, the reason being that if you are reading this I have died. The question is whether or not my death has been in vain. The answer is yes. The war that has taken my life and many thousands before me is immoral, unlawful and an atrocity. I had no choice as to my fate. It was predetermined by the war-mongering hypocrites in Washington. As I lie dead, please grant my last request. Help me inform the American people, the silent majority who have not yet voiced their opinons." In 1967, Vietnam Veterans Against the War was formed. They demonstrated all over America. Many of them were in wheelchairs or on crutches. People watched on TV as Vietnam heroes threw away the medals they had won fighting in the war. One shouted: "Here's my merite badges for murder." Another apologised to the Vietnamese people and claimed that: "I hope that someday I can return to Vietnam and help rebuild that country we tore apart." Critics of the war argued that as the US government totally disregarded the welfare of Vietnamese civilians when it ordered the use of weapons such as napalm and agent orange, it was hypocritical to charge individual soldiers with war-crimes. As the mother of one of the soldiers accused of killing civilians at My Lai asserted: "I sent them (the US Army) a good boy, and they made him a murderer." These victories had been at a terrible cost to the people of these countries. Between 1961 and 1975 an estimated 10% of the people living in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos had died. In the same period, 56,869 US troops were killed and another 153,329 were seriously wounded. The long-term psychological damage to the 3 million soldiers who fought at Vietnam and the resulting social problems are still being counted and continue to this day. The horror never ends for these poor soldiers. Veterans still tormented by memories or the fact that the job was unfinished have little peace. Likewise the people who lost sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and friends in the war. Politicians wary of losing precious votes still battle the military over just how tough a major world power America can be because of lessons learned in Vietnam. The only honor may be that 25 years later, we still do have questions. Those questions hopefully in time will provide answers for future generations who face Democracy's ironic twist: How far do you go to help people who want to be independent? And how many lives is it worth to find out? Being a Canadian I traveled down the Oregon Coast and was thoroughly enjoying my vacation and taking in the breath-taking beauty of it all. That was soon to change when my husband and I went to a War Museum and discovered to our amazement that all wars were depicted in the museum, but the Vietnam War! I felt a rage within me as did my husband and I walked over to the lady at the desk and asked, "What the heck is going on? There is nothing here about the men that died in Vietnam." She looked at me red faced and sad and apologized. My own face red I replied, "Any man that dies for their country for reasons right or wrong deserves better than this!" My husband and I walked out of the museum. I talk to war vets all the time and I've heard so many sad stories. I know there are no words I can say to them to erase the terrible memories from their minds. They know and I know that when death comes to take them that will be the only peace they so deserve. If you want the real scoop on what really went on in Vietnam "go to the horses mouth" a Vietnam Vet! Please learn about this war, become smart about war, and perhaps in the future there will be less wars, more peace and the people shall rise up and start thinking for themselves. Just think of this: What if there was a war and no one went? For the first time in the history of the United States they are basically alone in this new modern war of ours. Many Americans and Canadians have not forgotten the lies that rang out re Vietnam and as the old saying goes, "Bit once, twice shy." Many Vietnam Vets think this new war is just another Vietnam War. They're right! Some people did celebrate the end of the war. There was really nothing to celebrate. Over 58,000 young American soldiers lost their lives in a purely political war that could have been won, but due to political considerations was lost. It was a divisive war and one that we should have never been involved in. The U.S won almost every single battle but ultimately had to withdraw and the South Vietnamese were not up to the task of defending themselves. The Viet Nam war is a very complicated issue. I suggest you read some very good books on the subject by varied authors.