Enh, Burns blows it after the first episode

He pays lip service to Vietnam's history, then frames it as a civil war. It wasn't. It was actually the US taking France's place as an imperial invader. I love the US and all, but that's the truth. Burns doesn't go there and the rest of his thesis is incorrect.

There was a big article in Newsweek about this. The series doesn't ever actually answer the question, why were we there?

In response to this post by vt_mughal

Posted: 09/19/2017 at 3:38PM

Watched ep1 of the vietnam series on PBS -- vt_mughal 09/19/2017 12:02PM

"Hue 1968" is a nice dovetail into it ** -- typed by ben 09/19/2017 7:31PM

Actually, we were on HIS side, until we weren't ** -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 4:39PM

Enh, Burns blows it after the first episode -- WestyHokie 09/19/2017 3:38PM

Disagree. France tried to come back in and restore their colony -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 4:44PM

We're going to disagree here; it wasn't about communism -- WestyHokie 09/19/2017 5:21PM

BTW anyone hear the story that Luther Brice invented napalm -- LaneRat 09/20/2017 2:47PM

Here's a better article -- LaneRat 09/20/2017 2:40PM

I wouldn't call it better; it's parallel -- WestyHokie 09/20/2017 3:40PM

The US didn't prevent the nationwide election in the 50s! -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 8:25PM

That's the public line; you might check out some historical links -- WestyHokie 09/20/2017 08:53AM

I've read a significant amount about the war, and disagree with your take -- 133743Hokie 09/20/2017 4:08PM

Watched the 1st 2 episodes, really didn't know much about the history... -- banishedtothelounge 09/19/2017 1:17PM

I didnt know how deeply rooted that conflict was myself. -- vt_mughal 09/19/2017 2:59PM

IMHO: It came down to how overwhelming 'Red' Euro-Asia was... -- banishedtothelounge 09/19/2017 3:39PM

Were the assumptions flawed? If the US had stepped back, let France pull -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 4:47PM

I feel the definition of 'communist regime,' has changed over time... -- banishedtothelounge 09/20/2017 09:22AM

I thought the episode was ok.....The jumping back and forth in time... -- CrystalCoveHokie 09/19/2017 12:51PM

Haven't watched it yet, but Ken Burns is the man. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:03PM

Tell that to Dr Robertson (post Civil War Series) -- NW Raleigh Hokie 09/19/2017 12:07PM

Was Dr Robertson head of the history dept at Tech during 1999-2003? -- okiehokie1 09/19/2017 4:58PM

What was his issue with it? -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:09PM

Nope.....He was concerned with the accuracy of Ken Burns facts... -- NW Raleigh Hokie 09/19/2017 12:16PM

I remember talking to him after class one date about Gettysburg -- psychobilly 09/19/2017 12:33PM

I didn't think Sheen did a bad job, but he just didn't look like him. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:38PM

That historian compared Lee to Hitler at the end -- TomTurkey 09/19/2017 5:10PM

I was taking his class when it first aired, yes accuracy was his beef ** -- HokieDan95 09/19/2017 12:23PM

Yep, I've heard him go off about Gettysburg. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:19PM

Don't get me wrong, Ken Burns tells a great story in his documentaries... -- NW Raleigh Hokie 09/19/2017 12:21PM

Yeah, that's probably right. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:24PM

You can see the red get in his eyes!! "Burns is a hack"! ** -- UTPr0sim 09/19/2017 12:08PM

Enh, Burns blows it after the first episode

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