VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA (CONTINUED)
Generalization that 20th century best of times/worst of times.
One
of things makes it worst of times, events like Vietnam war. Real
tragedy, both for America, peoples of SE Asia. Particularly tragic
in
view of fact that Vietnamese war could have been settled relatively
amicably at so many times, e.g. 1968 after TET offensive had been
defeated. N. Vietnamese forced to bargaining table--war could
have
been over. But while American troops had won military victory--
war had been lost in minds of American people. Johnson so
unpopular didn't even run for reelection. Naturally enough, N.
Vietnamese, Viet Cong took heart and resumed their offensive.
New
president, Richard Nixon took over. (Nixon--fascinating character-
-don't have time to talk much about him here. I do spend time
on
him in my U.S. History II course--a course I don't teach very often.
I will, however, be teaching U.S. II this summer, first summer session--
If you want to take U.S. II from me--) Anyway, Nixon promised
American people he had a plan to end war. His plan turned out
to be
a withdrawal of U.S. ground troops coupled with massive air strikes.
This strategy would have worked, but a couple of drawbacks:
involved expansion of war into neighboring Cambodia and also far
more civilian casualties. American support for war dwindled still
more. A majority of Americans supported Nixon--overwhelmingly
reelected in 1972. But a large, vocal minority could still cripple
his
presidency--and do much permanent damage to America as well.
That vocal minority--the so-called peace movement.
Not surprising that throughout Vietnam war, many Americans
opposed what was going on. America traditionally pacifist and
isolationist. But Vietnam war opposition different in an important
way. Earlier opposition to U.S. involvement in war worked through
democratic process--letters to congressman, etc. This peace
movement worked through media--staging media events--huge
demonstrations, usually involving illegal behavior--vandalism,
occupation of buildings, forcing business and govt. to a standstill.
Negative effects:
1. Breakdown of law and order/respect for police.
Police pigs,
spit on--led directly to rise of crime in America--(thin blue line
that
protects us.)
2. Education. (2-S deferments--shut down of campusses)
3 Breakdown of morality.
Not a very moral generation--but viewed self as good. Evil
external--Bill Clinton typical.
a. Drug use
b. Sexual morality (inability to form stable families--divorce
contrast between fifties and now. Unhappiness!
Impact of Vietnam still with us--not a costly war in terms of
lives (just over 50,000) but exceedingly costly in terms of its social
impact on America.
But far worse impact on S.E. Asia. America left in 1973--with
promise that S. Vietnam would be left alone. N. Vietnamese soon
broke agreement--S. Vietnam fell to communists. Bloodbath-tens
of
thousands killed, S. Vietnamese pushed off land to make way for N.
Vietnamese--many S. Vietnamese became boat people became prey to
pirates). But better chance than remaining behind!
Also, dominoe theory proved correct. Not just S. Vietnam,
but
Laos, Thailand, Cambodia fall to communists. All horrible--
particlularly Cambodia--
Communist Khmer Rouge cleanse country to prepare way for
Marxist regime. Get rid of prostitution and beggary--but getting
rid of prostitutes and beggars! Get rid of businessmen and
teachers--2,000,000 people-1/3 population. Whole villages wiped
out--
public executions of most brutal time (mutilation, crucifixion) all
forced to watch--8-10 year old children forced to murder own
teachers.
As all this going on, Jerry Ford pleaded with American
Congress to let him intervene--but the liberals had taken control
and refused to let him do anything at all. Now you would think
they would feel somewhat guilty about all this--but being a liberal
means never having to say you're sorry. And this is the problem
with viewing evil as external to yourself--you can never admit to a
mistake and try to correct it. So it goes.