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I have seen such a difference in the way our troops are treated between these 2 wars. The men and women who went to Viet Nam were treated like SLIME when they came home - spat upon and ignored. The men and women coming home from Iraq are treated with a great deal of respect. So I need to pose the question... the American people as a whole did not and do not support either war. Why is there such a difference in the way we treated the men and women who fought in Viet Nam and opposed to those who fight in Iraq?

skittles2004 wrote: I wouldnt know... but i have a HUGE respect for both parties. I think its wrong that they were spat on and the darn hippies i think were a part of that whole deal and i think they're all becoming extinct!


Look up some stuff from 1968-72 Nam riots.

ArnoldLayne wrote: It is certainly true that American troops were treated abysmally after the Vietnam war, and by people in prominent positions too, not just the man in the street. I hope they spent the last 30 years reflecting how disgraceful and ugly that was. Maybe we have learnt from their actions and choose instead to rally for the troops and celebrate their bravery, whatever our views on the decision to send them . God bless every one of them, what ever flag they fly under


Thanks - I feel that way too.

I would hope we learned from our mistakes of the past. No matter what your feelings are about any war, all our men and women in uniform should have respect, and support without question.

Far Rider wrote: My pleasure. Acc and I are in the pub, come round for a beer.Definitely! :-6

Thanks Clipper - and I'm glad you're a Vet and not a casualty. I had many friends who fought in Nam and some did not come home. Your story is typical of those my friends told me when they came back to the world. My little home town always gave them a parade though.

Clipper wrote: God did indeed bless me....I didn't come home in a body bag.... And thanks for the salute!!


Welcome Aboard...........

I think the difference between the two wars is television.

Viet Nam was the first war seen by the greatest majority of people every night at six o'clock. It was a shock, we were stunned, we were scared and there were those who were outraged. You can hear about something all day long but until you experience it or actually see it close up, it's just words. Yet and still unless you were actually there in the jungle, I guess it's hard to imagine being so scared that you'd shoot anything that moves or follow your commanding officers to the ends of the earth.

By the time the Gulf War and the Iraq war came, we learn our lesson about believing everything we were told on TV. We hear the big stuff but only believe about half of it, We learned our lesson from the Viet Nam war. We were told things and we listened with the confidence that it must be true. We were wrong. . . . and we learned.

Of course, I was just a wee thing back then and very scared for my older friends. Afraid they would be drafted. I was a hippie but a hippie with a purpose!

911 - I would have to agree with you that TV played a huge role in people's thoughts. It's along the lines of FDR - who would elect a President in a wheel chair.