To the Vietnam Veterans on the wall,

Thank You.

Farmer Nguyen, Massacre at My Lai, A Nun at Ninh Hoa...

Theses poems and articles say that the war is hurting the Vietnamese more than it is hurting us. It also says that the war will most likely lead to the communists taking over Vietnam. This is bad for everyone.

I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag

This song by Country Joe and the Fish became one of the first protest songs of the Vietnam Era. Read the lyrics to the song, and then respond to the following:

What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
- Come down and fight for Uncle Sam.
… the “generals” to do?
- Prove that they are crazy amazing strong and are good leaders.
… “Wall Street” to do?
- Publish the great deeds of war that the men do.
… “mothers” to do?
- Send your sons off to war.
Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
"Whoopee, We're all gonna die."
"What are we fighting for? Don't ask me I don't give a damn"
"Wall Street...There's plenty of money to be made."
"Uncle Sam needs your help again...He's got himself in a terrible jam."

Jack Smith

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)
- Boredom
- Green-ness
- Fear
- Realisation
- Fear
- Climate
- Chance that your friend or you will die suddenly and painfully

How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?
He realises its not fun and an adventure, its bloody hard and painful. It does not make a man, it kills one.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

What is the main thesis of the essay?
-That the president lied.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
-The fireing on a US ship.
What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
- He says that the president did not declare open war so he lied.
How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?
- It says that the war in Vienam is useless, and that it is marked by uncertainty and doubt.

History

What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem?
- His theme is the spread of war. He really doesn't have much tone in it.

A Dubious Crusade

Look up both words in the title of the short essay. What do they mean?
- Dubious- doubtful; marked by or occasioning doubt
- Crusade- any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea

Relate the title to the reading. What is Warren saying? How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam?
- Vietnam was not a popular war, because it was never declared that is was in fact a war. We will study about why it was so unpopular. People doubtful on this aggressive advancment of an idea.