Born on the Fourth of July, Stop the Sun, To Heal a Nation

For your final readings of Times of Change, I would like you to set aside some time on Monday (Memorial Day) to read the choices above. Once you are done, I would like for you to post in your blog a note to the men and women on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. After what you have learned over the past few days, and what you saw when we went to D.C., what would you want to say to them?

Dear those that have served in Vietnam,

Thank you for serving our country and protecting us. What you fought for may have not been exactly right but you did your duty. Most of you didn't quit when it was getting tough but kept on fighting for what you were ordered to do. So i would like to say to you, thank you for serving our country.

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?
That they were scared of the U.S soldiers and didn't want them hear. The Vietnamese were scared of them being here and the U.S. soldiers were killing them.
Can you think of any other ways in which the war will impact the native Vietnamese?
When the war is over their way of making money will be scarce because of the bombing and the napalm. Also the countryside will be gone mostly.

I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag by Joe McDonald

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”? To help fight in the war

… the “generals” to do? To kill the commies

… “Wall Street” to do? To sell supplies for the war effort and they can make money

… “mothers” to do? To send their sons to fight in that war

Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
What are we fighting for? Don't ask me, I don't give a damn
Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box.
Uncle Sam needs your help again.

Jack Smith

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

• Fear
• Knowing what to do in combat
• Scared of dieing
• Seeing the dead and wounded
• Being shot at
• Seeing your friends get killed
• Being "green" and having your commanders "green"
• Freezing up because you are scared as an attacking force strikes
• Being wounded
• Enduring pain and suffering
  
  
  How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?
• He starts out being excited about it, then he doesn't like it because his friends are being killed and he's being shot at.

Times of change: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

What is the main thesis of the essay? That the attack on US ships may have been a lie to start the war.

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? The approval to defend U.S. ships in that area.

What evidence does the author give to support his thesis? The president didn't take an oath.

How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”? That there is doubt.

Times of change: History by Vuong-Riddick

History by Thuong Vuong-Riddick

What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem? That Vietnam has always been taken over by another country and promised them that they would help them but really they lied.

Times of change: A Dubious Crusade

Look up both words in the title of the short essay. What do they mean? DUBIOUS: doubtful. CRUSADE: any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea

Relate the title to the reading. What is Warren saying? That the war was doubtful and aggressive.
How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam? People will start to think that the war wasn't such a good idea and won't support it as much as they did.