Dallas Darling: Afghanistan and the "Other" Vietnam War
[Dallas Darling is the author of "Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action," "Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections on Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, and Consumerism in the Context of John's Apocalyptic Vision," and "The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace." He is a correspondent for www.worldnews.com. You can read more of Dallas' Daily Digest at www.beverlydarling.com and wn.com//dallasdarling.]
When discussing the Vietnam War or comparing it to America's other conflicts, such as the current one in Afghanistan, the "other" Vietnam War is rarely mentioned. This is very unfortunate, because it might be just the correct path to pursue in seeking a peaceful solution.
And much like President Barack Obama, who inherited the hostilities in Afghanistan, then-President Johnson inherited the Vietnam War. As the war dragged on, some personal aides claimed Johnson was never more ecstatic over Vietnam than when pledging to send billions of dollars to help toward construction and agricultural projects and the economic growth of Southeast Asia and the Mekong River region.(1)
In a speech in 1965, Johnson said that "impressive power" was not the guns and bombs, the rockets and the warships, for they are all symbols of human failure and a witness to human folly. Instead, what is impressive is a dam built across a great river, or providing electricity, or a rich harvest in a hungry land, or the sight of healthy children.(2)
President Johnson had actually grown up in the "hill country" of central Texas and had witnessed extreme poverty firsthand. While teaching in Cotulla, he noticed how many children arrived at school either hungry or ill-clothed. Because of this, they were often listless and had difficulties learning. He started a free breakfast program and believed deeply in social action.
It was also one of the reasons that, as president, he declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America." The Johnson administration would be the architects of the Great Society, or trying to establish a more equitable and egalitarian America. Medicare and Medicaid, Project Head Start, the Housing and Urban Development Act and the Office of Economic Opportunity decreased poverty and provided more educational chances.
President Johnson wanted to expand this vision to include Vietnam, so he met with Vietnam's Premier Ky and General Thieu. After the conference, Johnson issued a joint statement claiming that the US was going to establish and maintain a stable, viable economy and build a better material life for the Vietnamese - a true democracy.(3)
Johnson referred to it as his Open Arms Program, or the "Other War," and counseled with economic and agricultural experts on how to develop rice farming, irrigation techniques, schools, clinics and improved nutrition and health programs. He also wanted it to be a grassroots movement, something the Vietnamese would initiate.(4)...
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When discussing the Vietnam War or comparing it to America's other conflicts, such as the current one in Afghanistan, the "other" Vietnam War is rarely mentioned. This is very unfortunate, because it might be just the correct path to pursue in seeking a peaceful solution.
And much like President Barack Obama, who inherited the hostilities in Afghanistan, then-President Johnson inherited the Vietnam War. As the war dragged on, some personal aides claimed Johnson was never more ecstatic over Vietnam than when pledging to send billions of dollars to help toward construction and agricultural projects and the economic growth of Southeast Asia and the Mekong River region.(1)
In a speech in 1965, Johnson said that "impressive power" was not the guns and bombs, the rockets and the warships, for they are all symbols of human failure and a witness to human folly. Instead, what is impressive is a dam built across a great river, or providing electricity, or a rich harvest in a hungry land, or the sight of healthy children.(2)
President Johnson had actually grown up in the "hill country" of central Texas and had witnessed extreme poverty firsthand. While teaching in Cotulla, he noticed how many children arrived at school either hungry or ill-clothed. Because of this, they were often listless and had difficulties learning. He started a free breakfast program and believed deeply in social action.
It was also one of the reasons that, as president, he declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America." The Johnson administration would be the architects of the Great Society, or trying to establish a more equitable and egalitarian America. Medicare and Medicaid, Project Head Start, the Housing and Urban Development Act and the Office of Economic Opportunity decreased poverty and provided more educational chances.
President Johnson wanted to expand this vision to include Vietnam, so he met with Vietnam's Premier Ky and General Thieu. After the conference, Johnson issued a joint statement claiming that the US was going to establish and maintain a stable, viable economy and build a better material life for the Vietnamese - a true democracy.(3)
Johnson referred to it as his Open Arms Program, or the "Other War," and counseled with economic and agricultural experts on how to develop rice farming, irrigation techniques, schools, clinics and improved nutrition and health programs. He also wanted it to be a grassroots movement, something the Vietnamese would initiate.(4)...