Pia reminded me that Robert McNamara died.
I’m not as well schooled on the Vietnam era as I am on other things, though I know more about it than most people my age, if only because I find it more interesting than shopping for Jim Choo’s — they are out of my price range and my legs look quite fine without heals because they are fairly long.
I gather, from what I’ve read on McNamara’s passing, that people think he owns Vietnam, or he should. So they’ve assigned it to him. Understandable, but I’m not convinced he should be sole owner. It’s as convenient, and right, to blame Vietnam on the likes of McNamara as it is to blame Iraq on Bush and friends (liars), a congress unwilling to listen to the sense of Robert Byrd (cowards), and complicit or incompetent journalism (caught in the middle with you). Next time it will be our fault.
History has changed things. So has the internet. We saw that with the presidential election, we are seeing it in some way now with Iran’s Executives of Construction Party dismissing the vote and siding with the opposition. Next time we will be to blame. As the internet continues to grow, and access to real and substantive sources of information increases, there will be fewer excuses for complicit apathy by way of intentional ignorance. Yes, it is still a free country, and everyone should be free to practice both ignorance and apathy as they see fit. No one should be denied their preferred intent. This is merely a reminder that we should enjoy the scapegoats while we can.
I’ll have to do more reading on Vietnam. Not immediately, as I have my second summer session, work, and Infinite indiJestion, along with My Sister My Love, will consume most of my summer reading time. I’m am up for general or academic reading suggestions on Vietnam though.
Speaking of Infinite Jest. I haven’t been an end note virgin for years, but now I am an end note whore, having given myself up to my first 9 8.4 page end note experience. Isn’t this a rite of passage? Shouldn’t there be gifts and parties, or at least a dinner out, for this?
Tags: Infinite Jest, policy, War
Vietnam, like Iraq, is such a grotesque feature of American history. I don’t think we’ll ever learn. Chest thumping war talk is, sadly, a must for the MSM.
Chris´s last blog ..Boners for Values
I’m only looking for more learned evaluation.
Don’t know what to say on Vietnam, McNamara, to know anything about Vietnam is to know too much, or little.
It is a different world and not only do we have access to information, with little work it’s significant information.
You’ll never see me with that book. End notes are not my thing, especially when I’m reading fiction.
jacob´s last blog ..Congressional
It’s different than even 11th grade.
What’s fun is to look through some of the earlier books about that era and compare them to books written later on. I’ve gotten anything I’ve ever read on that era at used book shops or similar.
I don’t like the end notes and I still can’t read it without thinking about his suicide. I am enjoying it on some base self loathing level.
g´s last blog ..Good Morning
I don’t mind them really they seem an integral part of it all, but I do wonder how I read it had he not offed himself, the book is more poignant somehow, or maybe merely foretelling.
I’ll come to the party. Great post. I agree that the internet should be used to make change not complain about things as they are. A virtual effigy can be burnt over and over.
Doug´s last blog ..Hurry
Well, I was kind of hoping you’d plan the party.
The more available (knowledge) the less in the way of excuses. That won’t stop “complicit apathy by way of intentional ignorance” — love that phrase, and post.
sorry about end note hell
You’re right of course, that technology should actually help us by getting rid of some of that ignorance is a pipe dream. Doesn’t have to be though.
Oh I don’t mind them really I’m simply amazed by them. (end notes)
Agree, a good read friend. Does “complicit apathy by way of intentional ignorance” include watching/broadcasting jackson memorial footage for 24 hours straight?
I“ll take footnotes any day.
john´s last blog ..Not Much
McNamara was 93. “The Architect of the Vietnam War” they call him. Why is it in this country when they call someone “an architect of this or that” it’s never a good thing?
I almost feel guilty for not reading that book. Almost.
He was pretty old, and you’re right that title of “architect” never seems to be a positive one.
Talking about how things like the Vietnam War without studying up on it first is like staying indoors all day. Then you walk outside during a storm only to ask why you’re getting wet.
mojo shivers´s last blog ..Time’s Running Faster, Please Let Us Through, Going In Any Direction Will Do, And You Said To Me, You Said What It Was All About, And I Said No
So I take it you can’t recommend a book either? lol
I don’t know what to think about McNamara which is why I put his “obit” out there. I don’t believe he “owns” it completely
I still see Viet Nam through the eyes of a 14 – 15 year old, the age I was when I went to my first protest rally. It was so civil it was indoors and Tony Randall set off dove
I always thought it was wrong with no “ifs” about it, and as time went on and media became more “to the moment” it became obvious to many people it was wrong – the reporting in Viet Nam was the true precursor to the Internet as many reporters stopped pretending to be neutral. Newsday sent the first overtly “anti-war reporter” and won many Pulitzers
But it dragged on for years with some of the worst battles still to come. So if my generation is cynical and has a hard time with many things – we grew up to back drop of Viet Nam and lost faith in government as leaders because of people like McNamara.
pia´s last blog ..The night I began to become a Southerner
I often wonder how it would have been to view it from that lens?
We try, with 5th graders, to teach them the difference between substantive and non in internet research. It is easier now than it was a year ago because the more substantive sites are more accessible, they become more so daily. Can’t make them prefer those sites though, like with adults.
If 5th graders can learn it surely there is hope for the masses. Your right — the whole you can bring a horse to water situation.
I believe a party could be in order Cooper…
I like your comment layout ;)
sounds like some intense reading… glad it’s you and not me …
laketrees´s last blog ..a sad sad Music Monday..
Hey busy set designer, funny thing is the theme makers hates threaded comments so you have to “allow” them in the theme,you really can’t have more than one or two at most because then it is impossible to read them, they look good with one only then they get all long and skinny.
What’s wrong with long and skinny? 8-)
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