Vietnam

Vietnam

 

greenbacks for green marshes

and yellow oozing red

the joy of marches

the happy violence

as people carrying signs

are tear gassed with love

from establishment parents

sharing a sentiment

"no explanations, just do it because I said so"

 

the sacrifices abound

as does the hate on returning

to the lack of acceptance

doing duty to God and country

is a myth to many

who feel betrayed

by the very multitude

who were just a number in a lottery

and had no choice

when they were chosen

 

so many years later

we reflect failures

misadventures

agent Orange minds

squeezed shut

by a plethora of political shame

 

send us your strong

so we can shatter their futures

with guilt, regret

bewilderment as to why

Is this what God wanted?

 

Is this what I think about

when praying in Church

were we made in his image

 

and did that image

tote a gun, a grenade

and a lack of consideration 

for human life?

 

I am wearing out my rosary

trying to find the answers

and the beads are disintegrating

in my hands.

 

erin-cilberto

8/10/25

Reviews

[Relic]

Ain't no time to wonder why, whoopie we're all gonna die.

People burning draft cards, long hair being cut off, LSD....it's as though the government didn't approve of the hippie generation and wanted to teach them to be men, but they destroyed them in the process. I like the truth and irony in this one, J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, destroyed so many...
thank you, Relic.
j.

[FlatDaddy]

My oldest brother served two tours in Viet Nam. He came home after the first tour very sick from malaria so bad it nearly killed him. I sat with him, mopping the sweat from his brow while he shook for hours at a time. A year later, after I graduated from high school, I gave up a scholarshp and joined up instead, but they sent me to Germany. I wrote my congressman, asking him to intervene -- my brother was there again, on his second tour and I wanted to join him. They kept me in Germany; however, I was in a mobile outfit that went to many countries -- but not Nam. Over my 3 1/2 years there, I met and talked with people from many lands. I payed attention to the news. I finally realized we were not the "saviors" we were told we were by our government. My pride turned to shame. My brother survived his second tour but stayed in for 30 years. When I got out I marched in protests. I do that now, too, using my power wheelchair because my back is shot (no, an accident did that). I hate what our leaders have made us. So many of our kids died in a shameful combat; many more are now unable to get the medical care they need. But worst of all, thousands still believe the lies and have joined private militia groups like "The Proud Boys" or are now members of Trumps ICE shock troops, and it's getting worse; Trump is trying to turn us into an autocracy, and it's working for him. I have another protest to attend this Saturday. at the Texas Capitol. Most of America -- including most of YOU -- will be sitting in front of the TV at home, drinking beer and watching some sporting event. Go Team!

Thanks for this, Jacob.
FD

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am so sorry as to what your brother went through...My sister had a best friend, she was planning his coming home party...two days before he was to be sent home, he was killed. She's never gotten over that.
99% of what war stands for is crap...it is senseless.
thank you, FlatDaddy.
j.

[FlatDaddy]

Thank you, J

[redzone]

America, in its long history, is a country that would shame a nation of savages (paraphrased from Fredrick Douglass' July 4th speech). The horror of this is that while written in 1952, it is even more true today. Far too many refuse to open their eyes to the real history of this country. They refuse to see how they once "drafted" our children to be baby killers, to today becoming "volunteers" to commit even more acts of mass murder and war crimes. They have turned our kids into war criminals right before our eyes, and who now roam our streets as Ice agents, police, and other thugs for a fascist America.

For utter barbarity, the US has no rival.

Thank you Jacob, for putting before us some of the reality and unlearned lessons from back then and into today.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, we never learn from mistakes, we just make them over and over again.
j.

[Desert Knave]

Strong words here to try to describe a chapter in America's past that still hasn't been explained very well by the people who sent kids off to die there. ~Jim

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Jim. And there are no explanations for what were bogus reasons for us being there.
j.

[emmajoygreen]

Tragic words and true, jacob.

I follow the line that - if war is the only way of beating evil, why has there needed to be more than one.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, so many wars, so much tragedy...to do what?
Prove who is king of the jungle?
Do we fight wars and then beat our chests in victory? to what end?
thank you, em.
j.