It's a long, complicated series that says a lot of different things. Burns doesn't think we could have won the war. But he also shows Vietnamese who fought against us and now question whether all the bloodshed was necessary.
I don't think Burns slights the patriotism and pride of those who fought. He does show some things that maybe the soldiers weren't proud of, but he has respect and sympathy for those who fought and what they went through.
The show was ambivalent about the anti-war protestors. Burns agrees with them, but the program argues that much of the protesting was about self-interest, rather than moral principles.
I’m a VN vet (USAF) and my reaction to the series is similar. I saw an interview with Burns the other day and he spent considerable time praising American soldiers and the circumstances in which they found themselves. As a retired college teacher of American History, I am glad to see a resurgence of interest in the war as it has been sorely neglected in college history classrooms for several decades now.
I agree, I haven’t seen ANYTHING that comes across as unpatriotic... or anti the soldier.. in any way shape or form, if I did, I would turn it off.
Yes, its not a rah rah interpretation, but its hard to even begin to offer that view when it comes to this war, and the many many many mistakes, mostly avoidable that cost so many lives.
However I have seen nothing that comes across as contempt or disrespect for the soldiers involved in the conflict.....
Yes, there is whitewashing of the protestors , and as of yet, no mention of known elements that incited and used them for their own gains... And I really doubt it will.. but that really a different story than the war itself... IMHO.