The VIETNAM War OR The AMERICAN War

My mom had hired a guide, Minh who took us around to various sights in the city. Having not done so well on my history classes in high school, Minh was great at running through Vietnam's history from the 50's forward. Upon arriving at the beginning of the Vietnam/American War, we got a litttle stuck in sorting through the various versions we had heard.

First of all, Vietnamese people refer to what we know as the Vietnam War (as we call it in North American), the American War.

What I found the most interesting about this learning experience was the version of Vietnam's history (specifically the North). Minh's description of many of the events is quite different than what we are taught in North America, and also, quite different than the version I had heard years ago in Ho Chi Minh City (in the South). The primary difference was the explanation as to why the American's entered the war.

The North recalls that the escalation of the war after driving the French out of Vietnam was America’s move to bomb their own ships lying in the eastern seas and blaming this on the North. These ships were originally over there assisting with the French war. The purpose of this move is believed to have been a ploy to bring more American forces over to gain control over all of Vietnam.

The Southern Vietnamese say that the American's invited themselves over to gain power over the whole situation in an effort to bring about democracy. The Southern rebels are actually the ones who sided with the North and built the Chu Chui Tunnels thereby continuing the violence between the two sides.

The American's say that they were invited over there by the South to help fight against the North and the incoming Chinese. Those ships that were bombed in the Eastern sea, were actually bombed by the North. They argue that they were needed there to ‘amp’ up the Southern army to fight against the North. However, being over there and securing the need for their weaponry made it easy for them to gain control of the area. Meanwhile, back in America, the younger generation were rallying to bring their soldiers home and Lennon & Yoko Ono were holding their famous Sleep-In at the Amsterdam Hilton.

I suppose it doesn't matter too much that I didn't listen too well in history class!

These differing recollections of how history unfolded shocked me. But in reflecting on them once I got over my confusion, they prove and important point about how one should form their opinions. To be nationalistic is a choice that each of us makes, but one should never be ignorant to the fact that their truths may not in fact be true.

John Lennon: Give Peace a Chance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQdyEw6jfGQ