Times of Change: Born on the Fourth of July, Stop the Sun, and To Heal a Nation

To the Dear Men and Women on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial:

Thank you. Thank you for all you did for our nation. You fought during tough times, you fought when many opposed the war, opposed you. And yet you still found a way to fight. You had to, and you did.
Thank you. Thank you for taking the blows. You had to be the brave ones, many of you were forced into it withouht a choice. And yet you still found a way to be brave. You had to, and you did.
Thank you. Thank you for going through all you did. You had to experience so many difficult things, which we will never understand, will never be able to repay you for. And yet you still found a way to survive.You had to, and you did.
Thank you. Thank you for being the heroes. You had the unsung victories and the
unacknowledged defeats. And yet you still found a way to be our heroes. You didn't have to, but you did.
Thank you.

With Love,
Your Country

Times of Change: Farmer Nguyen, Massacre at My Lai, A Nun at Ninh Hoa

What do these two poems and the article say about the impact of the war on the native Vietnamese? Can you think of any other ways in which the war will impact the native Vietnamese?

The war completely separated the Vietnamese. They also became more compassionate towards civilians, and began to strongly dislike the Americans they were fighting against. The native Vietnamese most likely will hold a grudge against Americans because of all they encountered during the war.

Times of Change: I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag

What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
The song is asking "big strong men" to fight in the Vietnam War.

… the “generals” to do?

The song is asking the "generals" to destroy the communists.

… “Wall Street” to do?

The song is asking "Wall Street" to increase the money supply so money could go towards the war.

… “mothers” to do?

The song is asking "mothers" to send their husbands and sons off to Vietnam.

Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.

1. "Whoopee! we're all gonna die."

2. "We're gonna have a whole lotta fun."

3. "Be the first one on your block/To have your boy come home in a box."

4. "What are we fighting for?/Don't ask me, I don't give a damn"

Times of Change: Jack Smith

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)

-thought it was just a way to get away from normal life

-didn't really expect having to fight

-war was actually declared, and he would have to fight

-shock of what war really was

-saw the body bags being brought for them

-walked for 2 months, looking for VC who weren't even there

-not prepared for combat

-saw stacks of dead bodies and wounded soldiers

-walked through a forest into other troops

-shot and killed a soldier

-covered with blood, had to play dead

-got a vein severed in his right leg

-napalm dropped right next to him, and explosions right around him

-friends died

How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?

At first, he thought of fighing as just a way to escape real life. He wasn't exactly in support of the war, just in support of an adventure. He was not expecting to have to fight, and he didn't think it would be all that bad. After the war, he is upset with anyone who was involved in the battle or in killing people in any way. He became very "cynical" and was annoyed at anything war-related. He hated people in general. He then realized that life is ok, and that he shouldn't hold grudges. He thought, at the same time, however, "What in God's name was the point?"

Times of Change: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

What is the main thesis of the essay?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which may only have been passed because of too much pressure, was the closest the U.S. ever came to actually declaring war on Vietnam.

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

It was an approval by the House and the Senate to defend the United States interests after the U.S. Maddox was attacked without reason by the patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.

What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?

The author says that Congress may have been "steamrolled into supporting the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution," which then lead to the Vietnam "War." The author also says that "Only Congress can declare war, and in the case of Vietnam, Congress never did."

How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?

The war in general was dubious. It was uncertain weather we would come back into power and win. It was also unclear that it was an actual "war."

Times of Change: History

What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem?
Many deaths and battles took place, and from all of this, all that came was that people left the places they had been fighting so hard for.

Times of Change: A Dubious Crusade

Look up both words in the title of the short essay. What do they mean?

Dubious means doubtful or of uncertain outcome. A crusade is an aggressive movement to defend or advance any idea, cause, or thought.

Relate the title to the reading. What is Warren saying? How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam?

Warren is saying that people in America thought they were a world power and couldn't be challenged. However, in Vietnam, they became unsure of this. We no longer knew where we were headed, or if we were completely in charge after we gave in to some communists. We tried to fight for what we wanted, but we did not necessarily accomplish it right away. We did not have the complete power we were used to, which will continue throughout our time in Vietnam.