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Yavin4

(35,432 posts)
Tue Sep 19, 2017, 04:21 PM Sep 2017

Anyone watching Ken Burns' "Vietnam" documentary?

I've watched the first two episodes and here is my major though: If there was a mistake or bad decision to be made, we made it each and every time over decades through three presidents so far. And, it's not like we didn't know that we were making bad decisions. We clearly knew. It was like we made them because making the right decision meant that we would look "weak" to the world.

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Anyone watching Ken Burns' "Vietnam" documentary? (Original Post) Yavin4 Sep 2017 OP
Yes, many of us question everything Sep 2017 #1
Yes, and keep in mind, "History repeats its self". BigmanPigman Sep 2017 #2
The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history." malchickiwick Sep 2017 #4
Yes! Merryline Sep 2017 #3
I'm recording it but haven't watched any of yet so no spoilers. TeamPooka Sep 2017 #5
through "three" Presidents? Try FIVE hlthe2b Sep 2017 #6
I'm planning to watch. Bleacher Creature Sep 2017 #7
I normally can't watch any documentaries on the war, too close to home.. mitch96 Sep 2017 #8

BigmanPigman

(51,583 posts)
2. Yes, and keep in mind, "History repeats its self".
Tue Sep 19, 2017, 04:35 PM
Sep 2017

If you study world history you will find that we never learn from our mistakes and are always willing to repeat them. Human civilization isn't as smart as we think we are.

malchickiwick

(1,474 posts)
4. The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history."
Tue Sep 19, 2017, 04:56 PM
Sep 2017

-- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Merryline

(5 posts)
3. Yes!
Tue Sep 19, 2017, 04:50 PM
Sep 2017

The first two episodes show so clearly how politicians, Presidents, military personnel, ambassadors, et al,
tend to obfuscate the reality of what is really going on. The most disheartening revelation for me, aside
from the horrifying waste of lives, has been the obsession of those in power to get reelected, and the
awful decisions made as a brutal consequence of that obsession.


TeamPooka

(24,218 posts)
5. I'm recording it but haven't watched any of yet so no spoilers.
Tue Sep 19, 2017, 05:00 PM
Sep 2017

Don't give away the surprise twist ending.

hlthe2b

(102,200 posts)
6. through "three" Presidents? Try FIVE
Tue Sep 19, 2017, 05:03 PM
Sep 2017

Mistakes can be well documented from Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon.

mitch96

(13,885 posts)
8. I normally can't watch any documentaries on the war, too close to home..
Tue Sep 19, 2017, 07:15 PM
Sep 2017

But I like Ken Burns work. The first two episodes are very good.
m

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