Is there anyone on DU-3 who lived through Vietnam War Era..whose life was changed by the DraftWar? [View all]

[KoKo]

I've been thinking about how little I hear out there on our Dem sites about the folks (Early Boomers and Pre-Boomers) whose whole lives were influenced by the Vietnam War and and HOW that war changed the path of their lives. Whether they were on the "serving side" (being drafted or signing up) or the War Resistance side where they left for Canada or went into Med Profession or others to avoid...and those whose "draft number was so low" that they had a choice but felt it was great they escaped it all...or they felt guilty when they saw what happened to classmates, college mates.

I don't hear much anymore about Vietnam, (on our Dem leaning websites), and how it caused such a huge "change" in the culture of our society. It's as if our generation doesn't exist out there on the radar, these days.

Except for references to the "backlash" against the Vietnam war (and the imposed Draft) from folks who've watched all those RETRO "60's Documentaries" on History TV or the Learning Channel" seem to feel that those of our generation who protested are now to be portrayed as "Dirty Hippies" who lived to smoke pot, F***ed a lot and were in general useless folks who hated those who served or were drafted to go to Vietnam... and those who thought the movement for "Communes" (Communities of Sustainable Living) were a failure by toked up/LSD using brain dead romantics living off their parents money.

I'm just wondering if DU-3 has anyone who remembers those times. Who maybe even served in Vietnam and has reflected what it meant for our personal lives economically and politically. And....if there is something else I haven't even touched on?

If you are younger, do you feel that the Documentaries of that Era you have seen are TRUE? Or, have you done independent reading that has formed your view of those from that time? If you are younger, do you feel that you can't have the same outrage about Iraq, Afghanistan and our countries other Adventures as those older than you might have felt about Vietnam...because it's "Just Different" or because YOU don't have to go there? What DO those here or younger think about these Wars...?



Anyone over here who has experience with that time? Is it even important to talk about it anymore?