Day 2, anyone watching? I'm a fan of Ken Burns and PBS. I think he's doing an excellent job with a complex subject.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

everything Ken touches turns golden. this looks like another good one.

too bad we didn't listen to the French back in the 50's...

Watching it I see some of the same jingo attitudes we have today, "love it or leave it", derision for the Vietnamese people; belief in the invincibility of American military.

Burns is doing a good job of presenting both sides. Once minute it seems like he's treating Ho Chi Minh sympathetically, then next minute exposing his hypocrisy.

The most interesting this to me is just how much the corruption of the government in the South contributed to the success of the revolutionaries.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

It's the same with hamas. The people preferred the consistent and honest zealotry of terrorists over the soothsaying well heeled bought leaders.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

Paraphrasing, but one observation was that when the RVN and the US came through and killed a VC, he might be replaced. But when they killed the an innocent by mistake, the VC could recruit 10.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

That isn't true. They certainly had true believers. But they also forced many into it at gunpoint. The South Vietnamese did not at all want what the VC and North were selling.

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I :heart; Q

Tell it to the Vietnamese veteran who said it in last night's episode. I'm sure he'd love to hear your opinion on his revolution.
Tell him you're part French.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

Ken Burns knocked it out of the park again.  This is an excellent series. 

Funny how everyone is taking away something differnt from it too.  Seems the methods the VC used to trick the US into striking civilians to gain the south's support was clearly in Ho Chi Minh's play book.  I'm seeing a lot of parallels in this documentary on how communism was spread there then and how its spreading here today.  Antifa is even starting to wear the same black pajamas as the VC.

Funny how you went from logical to paranoid fantasy in just a few sentences.

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"The truth is incontrovertible.
malice may attack it,
ignorance may deride it,
but in the end,
there it is." -Sir Winston Churchill

zeus

Some things never go out of style.

I have a hard time watching anything to do with the Vietnam war. Lot of very bad memories.

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So if you are a surfer I wish you the prosperity that allows you more time to pursue the salt water dream, and the true happiness that comes from warm water, clean waves and the companionship of your fellow surfers. If you are an internet troll just spewing bs then f off.

The playbook for protracted guerrilla warfare and insurrection was written by the guys who fought in Vietnam. Those were the same guys that Wolfowitz Cheney and Rummy completely disregarded when they reinvented military power and invaded Iraq, being welcomed as liberators.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

Would today's technology- camera phones, Skype, social media etc made that situation better or worse?

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I troll 2L.com to be a better person in real life

Give me his contact info and I will be happy to do so. Amazing how you guys believe any old ignorant peasant just because he is a commie.

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I :heart; Q

The take away from the series so far is the danger of American hubris. Even when Johnson and many of the people directing the war knew it could not be won, they continued to sacrifice American kids while waving the flag and thumping their chests, all to avoid appearing weak.

The VC were not fighting ideologically for communism as much as they were fighting a war of national liberation against foreign imperialists. The blatant racism and atrocities committed by the Americans and the corrupt US puppet government in the south helped create a nearly endless supply of new volunteers for the revolutionary army.

It's a lesson that is relevant today.

As for the first hand account of the vietnamese veterans, you go find him yourself; I imagine he's dealt with your kind before.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".

 

too bad:  nothing has changed.  SAD!