Tag Archive for ‘Vietnam War’
11-11-11: Don’t Know Much About Veterans Day–The Forgotten Meaning
The date of November 11th became a national holiday of remembrance in many of the victorious allied nations –a day to commemorate the loss of so many lives in the war. And in the United States, President Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day on November 11, 1919. A few years later, in 1926, Congress passed a resolution calling on the President to observe each November 11th as a day of remembrance:
Don’t Know Much About® The Gulf of Tonkin Attacks
When Administrations Lie, Thousands Die. That is today’s history lesson on the date of a controversial “attack” on the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin off the cost of North Vietnam. That attack led to the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution a few days later and America’s deepening involvement in the war [...]
Don’t Know Much About® the Bay of Pigs
In the long catalog of America’s recent foreign policy fiascoes, the Bay of Pigs Invasion occupies a lofty position among the worst debacles. The 50th anniversary of the failed CIA-sponsored invasion of Cuba begun on April 17, 1961 is now being quietly marked. In Cuba, it is still a cause for celebration. During the past [...]
The Power of the Press: My Lai and Seymour Hersh
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the anniversary of the American attack on My Lai during the Vietnam war. Today April 8, is the birthday of the journalist who broke that story, Seymour Hersh. In his honor, I want to remind you of My Lai and what one of the great journalists of our [...]
TODAY IN HISTORY: “Dream Day”
I know there is a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, honoring the civil rights leader on his birthday. But maybe that honor should have been set on this date instead. On August 28, 1963, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the “I Have a Dream Speech” to a crowd of more than 200,000 people [...]
Today in History: The Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution
When Administrations Lie, Thousands Die. That is today’s history lesson on the 45th anniversary of passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by Congress on August 7, 1964. Since the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Vietnam War might as well be the Punic Wars to some people, here is a quick refresher. America was already [...]
Robert McNamara and the Vietnam War: A Reading List
For many Americans, the news of Robert McNamara’s death at age 93 on July 6th brought back the whole cascade of difficult memories about what the war in Vietnam meant to this country. Here is McNamara’s New York Times obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/us/07mcnamara.html?hp But for many others, especially younger Americans, the Vietnam War has fallen into the [...]
