Seniors-Does the level of rancor and vitriol in America today remind you of the Vietnam War era?

Question

This is the same atmosphere I remember encountering when I came home from my last Vietnam tour.

Except for chrome hardhats and rioting college students.

I strongly suspect the lack of a military draft is the main reason for the latter.

What do you think will help the US come together besides a new terrorist attack?

Please - No BS about either Obama nor McCain making a difference. It's much deeper than politics.

Answer 1

You're absolutely right. The only thing which will get the young people on board to get us out of this pointless war(s) is the threat of the draft. If they can't see the writing on the wall, they're dumber than I thought. The reserves have already been through tour after tour & no one else is volunteering. I said this was another Vietnam before anyone else was saying it, This doesn't mean I don't support the troops. I Do! I send packages to people I have met on line, but I want the ones who are still there to come home alive & in one piece.

Terrorism will be with us forever. We will never win the fight against terrorism. The gov't is reading our e-mails, etc, but not putting a no-fly zone over nuclear plants! Very few containers at our ports are being inspected. THIS is what we need to do to try to limit terrorism!

Answer 2

it is frightfully different than the vietnam era, not sure what it is but i do agree it is much deeper than politics.  could be there is no hope left in America?

Answer 3

Seriously, I fear it will take another terrorist attack to bring us together.

Answer 4

in some respect yes. less anti war passion. same old, if your for the war your a patriot. if your against the war your a communist liberal.i was drafted. came home and demonstrated.

Answer 5

It's not even close to Viet Nam in the late '60s-early 70's.

Why people are protesting this Iraq war is because they don't have a clue. If we weren't there there would be more 9/11's within our borders. The people fighting this war are all VOLUNTEERS.

There will always be tree hugger types, same as in the 60's with nothing better to do.

Answer 6

No, it is nowhere as strong as it was in the Vietnam era. As far as coming together... with humans... pretty much the only thing that units them is a common enemy.

Answer 7

I was still pretty young during the Vietnam war, graduated high school in '75 when Saigon fell, but I remember the turbulence of those times coming out of the 60's with the assassinations of Dr. King and RFK not far behind...but I feel that this is a pivotal point in our history, the course we take now will determine whether we will go forward in the 21st century or stay stuck in the past mired in outdated policy...this is a tipping point no doubt.

Answer 8

I think there is a great deal of emotional indifference as opposed to the polarity of the nation during Vietnam, the same for our people after Somalia, Panama, or Bosnia.  There seems to be a great deal of quiet support for the troops and very, very few negative things said about the enlisted.

If you are wondering about the US population pulling together to support the war effort and goals, I don't see that possibly happening.  A majority of us realize that this was created in a situation we feel was less the truthful, budgets that were offered as guidelines were ignored and costs exploded, we suspect that torture was done in the name of America, and our sons and daughters are coming home broken and damaged without the medical and psychological support that was earned and promised.

We are not going to take to the streets in protest, we are waiting to hear from the many people running in thousands of local, state, and federal elections to see if they offer what we think we need from both parties and the independents.

When we come together, it will be to vote.

Answer 9

I am from a blue-collar working class American family.  My friends tend to be the same but a few are poor and struggling and a very few are what I would label wealthy.  The biggest concern I hear about in my little corner of America is about the economy.  Folks are working their butts off and falling further behind on the bills and they can't save any money.  This is starting to scare them and it is making them mad.  They don't know whether to blame the government, the oil companies or big business in general.  I do think "we" would march in a demonstration or participate in another type of protest if we only knew who to blame.  

The Vietnam War certainly gave us something to argue about, didn't it.  I think you are right about the military draft.  That would cause riots.

People in the US will always come together if our country is under attack.  We are like a big noisy brawling family.  We fuss and scream about all kinds of issues but unite when outsiders threaten.

Answer 10

Thank you for your Service.  I will not start on the Question or no one will have room to answer!

Answer 11

Your right it is deeper than politics. However, politics does play a major roll. Some of it has to do with technology that changes by the minute. We communicate completely different than we use to. In just 20 years our communications have changed so much. When I was a kid I lived in Connecticut. My Grandmother lived in Illinois. We use to call her once a week. We could only talk for three minutes. We would all get to say hi and hear her voice for about 30 seconds and then pass the phone to the next relative. We wrote letters. We actually sat down with pen and paper and wrote. We went out side and talked to our neighbors.  Now we e-mail them. Kids played outside. To phone is more convenient now than it has ever been and yet people can't find time to call even with a phone in their pocket. Today's parents are letting Day Care raise their children. Most parents feel so guilty because they are both working so when they are with their children they hate to discipline them because they want their kids to like them. So now we are faced with a generation of children that has never heard the word no from their parents. There is a total lack or respect for adults. Seniors are treated like the children. Put them some where to be taken care of instead of spending time with them or (here is a new concept) actually take care of your own senior members of your family. I took care of my Grandmother for 5 years before she passed away at age 94. While I was caring for her I was raising 4 kids. Those were the most wonderful 5 years when I took care of my Grandma. She taught me so much. I was very lucky. So these are some of the things I think we need to change in this country. I doubt we will ever see it though. I also blame the journalist who make a big deal out of some things and not enought of a deal about other things. It all comes down to money and what sells. Our son and his wife just bought our 6 year old grandson a play station for his birthday. It cost $250.00 and then they asked relatives to buy some of the games. He received about $500.00 worth of gifts for his birthday plus a party. When I turned 6 I got a new jumping rope and some new crayons and a coloring book. I got a home made birthday cake and my relatives were invited for dinner. I know we can't go back but we are moving forward so fast that it doesn't give people time to think about where it is taking us.

Answer 12

It is not in the interest of big business that we come together. They intend to alter this nation in the name of free trade. This sea change in our country is underway now and neither Party will change it.

Answer 13

I think the big problems have to do with the condition of our country and directions that need be taken - we owe huge vast sums of money that have been borrowed, through NAFTA we lost millions of living wage jobs, the country has ben allowed to be flooded with illegals and if all that isn't bad enough we have gone of half ****** in the very bungled war with Iraq, (American lives & 2 billion a wk. we can ill afford).  

Then there is this huge argument less government as opposed to government that works for all.

Seems like one side wants to deal the way things aut to be and the other , the way things are.