The Real Lessons of Vietnam

It may be a loooong TWO years for GW and for those of us who pay attention.

Let me confess up front that I am in general agreement with the need to fight and win the war. I also tend to give the President the benefit of the doubt, despite obvious faults in both the planning and execution of the war effort. But even if I didn't, I would still think the constant attack on him and our country in general has been terribly destructive to our country's psyche. I'm afraid we may fall (or have fallen) into the post-Watergate & Vietnam funk of national self-doubt, which really robbed our post-boomer generation (I don't know about you, but I don't identify as a "baby boomer") -- of heroes, a sense of genuine (& uncynical) patriotism, and more.

These valuables were taken from us by initially well-intended, politically expedient, but tragically short-sighted attempts to purify our own national "conscience." I would be the first to argue that our country, like individuals, should strive to act as virtuously as possible. To do so, we have to be honest about our faults and critically examine our motives. Yet many of us know that an individual, even in the pursuit of virtue, can do this to the point of self-hatred. We also know, usually from long and painful experience, that doing so can become a kind of sickness that paralyzes us. It makes us constantly compare ourselves with others and seek their approval. When we see differences, we automatically assume that the other's way is best and "normal" and that ours is contemptible. It makes us see faults that aren't even there. We are unable to trust ourselves -- after all, we're SO lame. Our striving for perfection becomes self destructive in the end.

Obviously, I'm drawing a parallel here. We are paralyzed in a big way. Example: we can't even plug up our own border -- an act of national sovereignty any country would claim -- without agonizing ourselves into paralysis over fears of "racism." We constantly compare ourselves to others -- and most often to one of the most dysfunctional, self-loathing places on Earth, Europe. If we see a difference, we interpret it as our failure to be as "sophisticated" and "mature" as they are. And we beat ourselves up because polls say that people in other countries don't have a favorable opinion of the US. Nations are not people, but they function organically in ways similar to the ways people do. They can, for instance, enjoy a collective confidence or suffer a shared loss. In other words, just like families and organizations, they have a kind of psychology which, I think, can be healthy or not.

So, back to GW and the war -- I agree with the need for diplomacy, the benefit of cooperation, and the good to be had from mutual accountability with other nations in forums like the UN. And I am well aware of the US's many mistakes to date (how could I not be?). But many people in power are openly flirting with failure now--some are even embracing it--as if we can right all wrongs by disempowering ourselves. As if we can just give up with no consequences. Or as if failing will harm only Bush. That's dangerous, not to mention weirdly self-destructive. I'd even call it dysfunctional.

The real lesson of Vietnam is that there are very real, long-lasting costs of beating and doubting and loathing ourselves into giving up which far exceed the costs of fighting to win. And I don't hear anyone talking about the impact these self-inflicted wounds will have on our national well-being. I don't want it for us, and I sure don't want to pass this dysfunctional, toxic, national self-contempt down to our children.