I didn’t move to America until 1982, the almost 20-year war was well over by the time I got to NY. I worked with a few managers who’d been in various services roles, allegedly my favorite VP was in a navy seal underwater demolition expert. The war was mostly never discussed.
I saw the films, as far as I recall I slept through most of Apocalypse Now not once, but twice. Last night I sat gripped through Zero Dark Thirty, as a docu-drama it was pretty good, didn’t waste time glamorizing the death of Osama bin Laden, and seemed at least to present most of the major talking points.
Afterwards when discussing the film, I said that “it presented a number of legal, social and international issues. Although on balance, I agree with the decision to go assassinate UBL in a foreign, nation state.”
Tonight I got to listen to Fresh Air, a NPR radio series. This show covered in large part the release of a new book, Nick Turses’ Kill Anything That Moves, about the Vietnam War. You can listen to, or read a transcript of the interview here
On balance, the juxtaposition of the film, and the NPR interview, especially with the harrowing description and discussion about the US armed forces killing more than 2,000,000 (yes two million+) civilians during the Vietnam war, that it’s not surprising the reluctance of many to give an inch on gun control.
Perhaps they are worried, not that their own government will be coming to get them, but that a small band of trained, government authorized Vietnamese assassins will fly in under the cover of darkness, come into their homes and assassinate them and their family?
Yes, it’s an extreme view, but you have to wonder with so many in positions of authority, in the government, the NRA and other organizations that were old enough to have served, or to have known first hand, or heard, the harrowing stories of the Vietnam war, why they they are resistant to any form of gun control?
[Update 1/30/12] Apparently this isn’t such an extreme view. Conflicting reports have this Vietnam vet. either defending himself, or assassinating someone for driving into the wrong driveway.
After watching so many of my friends come back from the middle east….That is exactly what I fear. I grew up in a family that didn’t believe in PTSD or treatment for trauma. Unfortunately, non treatment can lead to serious dysfunction. Needless to say, a few of my classmates no longer speak. I know I’m not perfect by any means— but combat has changed them and it’s heartbreaking. And worrying.
In no way— am I trying to disparage our armed services.
Yes, not withstanding the politics, there must be something more to the fear, than fear itself. Hope you are well,
I think you may be right. I read a book by Economist Ravi Batra called the New American Golden Age in 2008. He predicted these types of events by showing socio- economic cycles. I reread the piece last year. Thinking about reading it again actually. I tried to find it at the Barnes and Noble here in Midland, however, it was out of stock.
I still think its worth reading…
this one http://www.amazon.com/New-Golden-Age-Revolution-Corruption/dp/B0068EO7AQ ??