Note To Veterans on the Vietnam memorial

I would like to say thankyou to all the people who died in or asa result of the Vietnam war because without them we might not be able to enjoy the same freedom that we enjoy today. I would also like to tell them that i think serving for your country is the most honorable thing one can do.

Times of Change Vietnam and The 60s 3

What do these two poems and the article say about the impact of the war on the native Vietnamese?
The poem "Farmer Nguyen" says that any civilian who had helped the Vietcong or North Vietnamise army would be injured/ killed. The poem A Nun in Ninh Hoa says some civilians like the Nun in Ninh Hoa protested the war that was going on in their country by setting them selves on fire. The Massacre at My Lai shows the brutal murders done by the United States. It also shows how the wrong and merciless things done by the United States were covered up by the military.

Can you think of any other ways in which the war will impact the native Vietnamese?
I think the war will impact the native Vietnamese by destroying crops and crops may be taken from them.

Times of Change- Vietnam in the 60s 2

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)
No experiance in war and nothing can prepare you for war
Ground was very hard so it was hard to dig foxholes.
A mistake made was just strolling casually on a Sunday without guards and walking into a huge ambush.
Jack also has to deal with caring for the wounded and seeing all his friends dying.

How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?

When Smith had just enlisted he thought war was going to be a great "romantic: adventure. During the war he realized it was an extreme amount of dying and began to hate the people in charge of it and saying it was a mistake. After the war he realized life was good and that when you go to war you fight for your friends.

This song by Country Joe and the Fish became one of the first protest songs of the Vietnam Era. Read the lyrics to the song, and then respond to the following:



What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
He is asking the strong men to help Uncle Same again and john the fight in Vietnam.


… the “generals” to do?
He is asking the generals to kill the communists.


… “Wall Street” to do?
He is asking Wall Street to provide the Army with money and help with the war effort.


… “mothers” to do?
He is asking the mothers to send their boys to Vietnams so the can come home dead.


Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
It's five six seven,
Open up teh pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whopeee! were all gonna die.

Times of Change- Vietnam and the 60s

A Dubious Crusade, By James A. Warren
Dubious:means doubtful or uncertain in an outcome.
Crusade:any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc
The title is related to the rest of the reading because the Vietnam War was a crusade but there was many people who did not believe in the war and were doubtful that the US would win. How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam? This we relate to the rest of our study of Vietnam because we will learn why there was doubt about fighting the war and we will learn if there should have been doubt based on the result.

History by Thuong Vuong-Riddick
The overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's History is in the history of vietnam there is always fighting and the Vietcong have prevailed.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by Goldberg
What is the main thesis of the essay?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that brought the United States sparked and brought the US into the unoffical war may very well have been a lie.


What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was made by President Johnson in front of congress in response to an attack on the US destroyer the Maddox.The resolution ugred congress to hold a meeting to approve thte defense of US's intrests in Vietnam.

What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
The author says the Maddox was not damaged which makes it hard to believe there was an attack on it. The author also believes that Johnson made the lie to get the congress supporting his plan to help in vietnam.

How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution relates to the theme of A Dubious crusade because therwas much doubt that there actually was an attack on the Maddux.

Korea -The Forgotten War Facts

1.Prior to World War Two Korea had been a united Japanese colony but after it was surrendered to the Allies soviet troops were north of the 38th parallel and American troops were south of it. Fighting broke out in Korea because North Korea invaded South Korea.

2.The UN sent a force of soldiers into Korea to stop the spread of communism. Contrary to popular belief this was not just US soldiers although most were there was soldiers from 16 different countries including hundreds of thousands of volunteers from south korea.

3.The Korean war wasn't just North Korea verse The UN army and South Korea china got involved because they felt threatened and pushed the UN's army back to south Korea.

4.Because China's army pushed the UN back to South Korea the two sides North Korea and South Korea again became deadlocked at the 38th parallel.

5.General MacArthur wanted to blockade China and bomb them but Truman refused. MacArthur went as far as writing to newspapers and magazines to gain public support but the president held out and fired him.

6.Truman suggested a truce talk in 1951 but it went on for two years and during the presidential campaign and Eisenhower promised to go to Korea and end the war if he was elected president. He was and he kept his promise.

7.Eisenhower also warned that he was ready to use nuclear weapons and attack China. This threat was probably enough for North Korea to give up.

8.In 1953 the war ended in a stalemate. The two koreas were left divided at the same 38th parallel.

9.Many americans were unsatisified and frustrated with the war because they felt the war accomplished nothing.

10. Because of the Korean War the United Nations established its self as a tested and good world peace keeper.

Has MLK's dream been realized?

African Americans' and other minority groups like hispanics' and Pacific Islanders' economic situation has improved greatly over the past 2 decades. For example in 1980 the median income based on the current dollar was $10,764 and in 2003 the median income has nearly trippled and reached 29,645. An example of Hispanic's improving their economic situation is the median income of a hispanic family has nearlly trippled since 1980. In 1980 the median income per family was $14,716 and in 2003 it was $34,272.

Even with all these successes unfortunatley African Americans and other minorities are not equal to whites. In 1980 the difference between the median African American salary and a white salary was about $17,000 based on a current. In 2003 the gap between the two groups salaries was about $16,000. Although the gap has decreased it is still a huge difference.

To better achieve MLK's goal I believe African Americans and other minorites must be offered the same job oppurtunities whites are offered. I believe this because even today there is a predijuice against african americans. Eliminating the predijuice in the workplace is the first step to complete equality.

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MLK

Why does the author feel that whites owe King the greatest debt?
The author feels the whites owe king the greatest debt because without King America couldn’t be really be called the land of the free.
Was King "the right man at the right time"?
I believe he was because without him the civil rights movement would not have been nearly as successful.
Would King be upset with the current use of his most often quoted line? Why or why not?
I think he would be upset with his most often quoted line because his quote is being used for many causes he may not have believed in.