Truth about Vietnam. (Letters to the Editor).First I'd like to thank you sincerely for THE NEW AMERICAN. Until a couple of years ago, I had only heard that the John Birch Society John Birch Society, ultraconservative, anti-Communist organization in the United States. It was founded in Dec., 1958, by manufacturer Robert Welch and named after John Birch, an American intelligence officer killed by Communists in China (Aug., 1945). was an extremist group. Now that I've come to think for myself, I realize it is just that -- extremely correct in its perspective of the reality of much of the world's doings. I'm 56 and grew up in the absolute height of the Vietnam debacle. Your heavily documented cover story on the war ("Vindicating Our Veterans" by William F. Jasper, March 25th issue) has now provided insight I had no possibility of embracing in my late teen years, even had the truth been available at that point in time. All I can remember was forming my opinion of the war from the views of my parents and friends, all of whom, unfortunately, had only the big three television channels from which to draw their own conclusions. Although I was in college at the time and never served in the war, I lost two close friends to it. Any exposure of the truth would help in some small way to somehow pay honor and tribute to these two and the tens of thousands of others who didn't ask "why?" but instead went when directed, upholding the land they loved, even if their fate was directed by self-centered men with hidden agendas. JOHN LEWANDOSKI Via e-mail As a WWII-era woman, I'm ashamed to say I never really knew a lot about Vietnam, other than the need to support our fighting men. It was hard to read and see pictures of that war. I knew the administrations were corrupt and our men were dying -- for what? I also saw some of the veterans afterwards af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. afterwards or afterward Adverb later [Old English æfterweard] Adv. 1. . Most of what I saw was long hair, bushy bush·y adj. bush·i·er, bush·i·est 1. Overgrown with bushes. 2. Thick and shaggy: a bushy head of hair. beards Beard , Charles Austin 1874-1948. American historian and educator who explored the economic aspects of history in works such as An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution (1913). , and slovenly slov·en·ly adj. 1. Untidy, as in dress or appearance. 2. Marked by negligence; slipshod. See Synonyms at sloppy. slov dressed men. I also was under the impression that many took drugs and had no respect for their officers. Those images really turned me off to those vets. Now, THE NEW AMERICAN comes with the article on "Seven Myths About the Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. " (March 25th issue). You have no idea the impact it had on me when I read it. I am deeply distressed with myself for not reading more from those who were there. For not researching Out more of the truths. For believing left-wing myths that I know better than to believe. My thanks to THE NEW AMERICAN for straightening me out. My apologies to the patriots who fought for this country. They, who were there, have always had our support; now they have my understanding. LORNA LORNA List of Really Necessary Acronyms BRYANS Mead, Washington Mead is a small farming community north of Spokane, Washington. The United States Census Bureau does not recognize it with a population statistic, however the area is primarily rural in nature and has a population of about 500. |
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