In many respects the US involvement was a continuation of the failed French attempt to reconquer their former Indo-China colony consisting of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Although definitely Communist, Ho Chi Minh was seen by Vietnamese as a nationalist. In Vietnamese history, when a line of kings had become corrupt or extinct, a new line of kings had arisen from the commoners. Ho Chi Minh was seen as another example of this historical pattern, and he was supported because he would free Vietnam of colonial influences.
We had no reason to enter the battle.
Before the Vietnamese War, the French had lost North Vietnam and the US had lost a war in Laos.
It was a battle between the Frenchified Catholic minority and the nationalist Buddhist majority. We were bound to lose.
The United States was an imperialist aggressor.
This is true. Subsequent events have shown that the Indo-Chinese wars were largely wars of national liberation. Since Thailand had not been colonized, the liberation movements never took hold in Thailand.
Vietnam War protests set off an age of youthful idealism.
I think the idealism was legitimate. Youth do not realize how difficult ideals are to attain.
I used to think old people were hypocrits.
I now realize that hypocrisy is a useful social concept.
It allows a society to maintain high ideals, while not unnecessarily castigating those who fall short.
We're finally giving Vietnam veterans their due.
Veterans never get their dues. They are cannon-fodder, after all.
From 'Bible-Providence' to 'Evolutionist-Karma'.
(Romans 10:17)