What can the Vietnam War teach us about life?

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Vietnam war 1972

There’s a basic lesson we can take away from the Vietnam War.  I’m not sure it’s a lesson that’s been learned.

On second thought, I know it hasn’t been learned.  At least not on a large scale foreign policy level.

And, sometimes I miss it too; I forget the lesson.

You see it’s a lesson that can be applied across life in general.  A principle that applies on the grand scale, but also on the small scale.

It applies to governments, corporations, groups and individuals alike.  It’s no respector of status, rank or wealth.

It’s a lesson that once learned can make life a lot more pleasant.  But, for those who deny it, ignore it, disobey it – there can be a huge penalty.  Huge pain, huge suffering, huge regret.

Disregard at your own peril

The Vietnam War is a shining example of what happens when you disregard this lesson.  You see, the folks running the Vietnam War didn’t learn the lesson.  They had their chances.  There were historical lessons to teach them.  But the leaders chose to ignore these lessons.  And so, they – and many millions of other people – paid dearly; many with their lives.

The Vietnam War … you’d be hard pressed to find a more glaring example of pain, suffering, destruction and regret.  The result of trying to violate this principle; not learning from the lessons of the past.

Is it something difficult?

So, what is this lesson?  What is this principle?  Is it something earth shattering?

No way.

Is it something that’s going to create an “Ah-ha” moment for you?

I doubt it.

Is it something only a very highly educated person can figure out?  Only a highly educated person can understand?

No.

Children Know it

It’s probably closer to say a grade school child would understand it better and probably applies it more often than most grown-ups.

Sometimes I wonder if it would be better to consult the children when it comes to these so-called complicated, sticky and convoluted issues.  We expain the problem to them in a way they understand, then sit back and wait for the answer.  Then, whatever answer they come up with, we implement it – immediately.

Could it be worse than what some of our political leaders come up with these days?  Again, I doubt it.

And here’s why.  Because the children have learned the lesson.  They know the principle and apply it on a daily basis.

But, as they grow older they learn – from grown ups – how to violate it.  They “unlearn’ the lesson that they were more or less born knowing.

Growing up seems hazardous to understanding, following and using this simple but extremely powerful principle/lesson.

Tell us what it is already!

So, are you ready for the lesson?  The lesson given by the tragic results of the Vietnam War?

Ok, here goes nothing … the lesson is this …

Usually, the correct answer to any situation and/or problem is the simplest one, the most obvious one.

Have you stopped reading yet?  Have you clicked over to your favorite news feed?

If not, and you’re still with me, then let me explain this lesson/principle further.

Explain Yourself

The major obstacle for applying the lesson/principle is this … sometimes the obvious and simplest answer is not the easiest.  And, this is the rub.

If the simple and obvious correct answer/solution appears too hard, then folks don’t want to know about it.  They run from it.

Notice I said, “appears too hard.”  In reality it’s probably the easiest most direct and efficient solution.  But, when you throw in a bunch of “what ifs”, a bunch of self interest objections, a smattering of scary – opinion based – outcomes, the best solution – the one everyone knows is correct – gets buried in the nonsense.

It virtually gets thrown away.  It becomes garbage.  The solution nobody talks about, nobody brings up, nobody even considers.  It’s off the table.  Anyone, who mentions it is ridiculed, laughed at and marginalized.

It kind of reminds me of the story, “The emperor who had no clothes.”  It was obvious the emperor was naked, but no one would admit it.  Not until a small boy pointed it out.

It’s amazing how close this story comes to “hitting the bone” in real life.  It’s amazing how this story reflects real life on many levels.  It certainly applies to the Vietnam War.

For instance, when the Vietnam War was raging in the 1960s, if you were brave enough to mention the forbidden, obvious, logical and sensible solution, you may expect to hear responses as follows:

  • Are you a traitor?
  • That’s ridiculous, why would you even mention that?
  • This is a serious matter, why are you joking?
  • You need to have your head examined!
  • Are you a communist?  (Heard a lot during the Vietnam War days.)

Can you back up what you’re saying please!

How do I know the correct answer?  The correct solution to the Vietnam War?

Was I there? No.

“Then how can you possibly know?”  I can hear you ask.

Well, let’s see.  I know the answer because two people told me.  Two people with amazing credibility.  Two people who were there.

These two people wrote about it.  They gave me the answer through their books.  You can read them too.  You don’t have to listen to me.  But, I’d highly recommend you listen to them.  They know what they’re talking about.  They lived through the hell called the Vietnam War.

These two books hammer home the point, the lesson, the principal.  Both sources come to the same conclusion.  The simple solution – the obvious one – was the right one.

Both authors were heavily involved in the War.  One person was on the ground fighting, the other was one of the highest ranking United States government officials, he was essentially in charge of the whole operation for most of the early 1960s.

Both authors are pleading to not repeat the mistake known as the Vietnam War.  Both authors seem to be saying, “We messed up, let’s not do it again.”  They’re emploring us to not make the same mistake.

And, my question is this, “Is anyone listening?”

Go on to Part 2

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