Vietnam
I knew about Vietnam. I knew about the atrocities at My Lai. I have seen the documentaries. I knew about "search and destroy" missions. I knew about napalm and Agent Orange. I was aware of the secret wars in Laos and Cambodia. I learned all about the prisoners of war we left behind. I watched Apocalypse Now and Born on the Fourth of July. I have never been a believer in government propaganda; I search for the truth through the lies of the popular story. I knew everything about Vietnam and nothing at all. I was completely unaware that the United States, France, Great Britain, China, the Soviet Union, representatives from North and South Vietnam met in Geneva in 1954 and agreed to temporarily divide the country at the 17th parallel. There were to be nationwide elections in 1956 to create a new united government. Ho Chi Minh, a Communist, ruled the North. Ngo Dinh Diem, who the United States supported, ruled the South. It was Diem who later refused to allow nationwide election. His government became a dictatorship, rather than a democracy. He placed his family in positions of power and used a secret police force to suppress any decent. We continued to support him. Even after he executed 12,000 political prisoners an
Though we never were in the right, this is where we really went wrong. Freak weather effects and overeager sonarmen may have accounted for many reports. They all had underground bunkers inside their huts to protect themselves against bombing and shelling. I have grown up in an age of government scandal and corporate corruption. Even then we took no action, but allowed a coup of Vietnamese generals to take power, after they promised to continue the war against communism. Department of State made clear our position, "Our requirements were really very simple --- we wanted any government which would continue to fight. At the end of the day, the villagers would be turned loose. " It was too late, the air war had begun. Crewmen allegedly saw the wakes of torpedoes in the water. President Johnson's advisors argued that the South Vietnamese could not defend against this insurgence. But to us the bunkers were Vietcong hiding places, and we'd blow them up with dynamite - and blow up the huts too. If the Buddhists wish to have another barbeque I will be glad to supply the gasoline and a match. Review of action makes many reported contacts and torpedoes fired appear very doubtful.
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Acceptance Essays
