that was what made me very sympathetic toward uncle ho in the documentary. he asked for our help, we said no, then there was a promise to have free elections but when it was clear that uncle ho would win, we said no elections. I guess we only like elections when someone we like wins. and then we have come to kill everyone to promote democracy.

it’s difficult to feel like the US was in the right in Vietnam after watching the documentary. I guess the rationale was communism is so evil that if everyone in Vietnam has to die to send a message to china and the USSR, then that’s ok.

i had no particular preconception because I didn’t know Dien Bien Phu from Egg Foo Young or to be honest why the heck we were over there in the first place at all. Maybe someone tried to tell me in HS but I was probably thinking about girls.

Uncle Ho seemed like a very patient and thoughtful fellow.