Times of Change – Vietnam and the 60s

As we discuss the Vietnam War in Asia and at home, you will be using this “Literature and Thought” anthology from Perfection Learning. Like your reader for the Civil War, I chose this collection for a few reasons. First, I feel that it offers an incredible and varied collection of readings that tell much more than what happened during the Vietnam Era. In addition, I like the focus questions for each of the four “clusters” in the book. Finally, I wanted to use this time to end the year with exciting literature while continuing to develop different reading strategies and sharing some ideas on the characteristics of a good reader. I know we can all read. I also know that we can all improve our reading.
For each of the assigned readings in “Times of Change”, read the brief intro in this guide AND in the actual reader, check out the questions or exercise for the reading, and then commence with the fun part – reading. When you have finished, respond to the exercises as blog postings.
In addition, take a look at the list of characteristics of a good reader that I have provided online, and try to incorporate some of these ideas and strategies into your own reading. They should look familiar, since they were on your guide for the Civil War text. I promise – they will make you a better reader!

Your responses will be evaluated for accuracy (when appropriate), effort, and timeliness.


A Dubious Crusade by James A. Warren
2 pages - complete by Tuesday May 22

Look up both words in the title of the short essay.

What do they mean?Dubious means doubtful or questionable
Crusade means military expedition

Relate the title to the reading.

The Vietnam was a questionable military decision

What is Warren saying?

Warren is letting the reader know his point of view on the war- which he didn't feel was necessary


How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam?

This sets the stage for readings that will show Vietnam as a grave mistake because it led American deaths



History by Thuong Vuong-Riddick
2 pages - complete by Tuesday May 22

What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem?

War is part of the history of the world, and Viet Nam is part of it



The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution … by Goldberg
2 pages - complete by Tuesday May 22
What is the main thesis of the essay?

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

An incident where a US ship was supposedly attacked by the North Vietamese. This event is considered the starting of the unofficial war of Viet Nam



What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?

There was some information that suggested that Johnson used this event to get Congress to send troops to Viet Nam

How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?

The Gulf of Resolution was surrounds suspicions and doubts, similar to the Warren's article which talks about his doubts for the war


Jack Smith by Ron Steinman
9 pages - complete by Wednesday May 23

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)

Not enough military training
life in foxholes
Bullets-fear of being shot
Being ambushed
Kiling people
Seeing friends wounded and dying
ANger

How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?

Smith realizes was is not a vaction, it is a time of death hardship and the fear of war has unepected horrors

I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag by Joe McDonald
2 pages - complete by Wednesday May 23

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”?
Join the army
… the “generals” to do?
To fight and kill the enimy
… “Wall Street” to do?
Give money to support the army
… “mothers” to do?
Asking to send their boys to vietnam
Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.

Whoopee! were all going to die
To have your boy come home in a box
Were going to have a hole bunch of fun
come on fathers dont hesitate




What do these two poems and the article say about the impact of the war on the native Vietnamese? Can you think of any other ways in which the war will impact the native Vietnamese?

This war has a huge impact on the vietnamese. Some of The vietnamese are insent people that just dont want to be harmed. A man can be placed in a cage by americans for giving the VC rice and the same man can be punished and beat for giving the americans secret knowlage that most likely isnt true. Thsi was impact the Vietnamese people and give them a sence of fear.






For your final readings of Times of Change, I would like you to set aside some time on Monday (Memorial Day) to read the choices above. Once you are done, I would like for you to post in your blog a note to the men and women on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. After what you have learned over the past few days, and what you saw when we went to D.C., what would you want to say to them?





to the men and women who fought in the vietnam. I would like to thank you for your services to proctect the united states and give us freedom. You guys sacrafisted your lifes for our saftey.