Vietnam Quote by Michael Herr
““Anyway, you couldn’t use standard methods to date the doom; might as well say that Vietnam was where the Trail of Tears was headed all along, the turnaround point where it would touch and come back to form a containing perimeter; might just as well lay it on the proto-Gringos who found the New England woods too raw and empty for their peace and filled them up with their own imported devils.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Dispatches, 1977
The quote draws a parallel between Vietnam and historic suffering, suggesting a pattern of exploitation and tragedy driven by outsiders.
In simple terms: Vietnam is likened to past tragedies caused by outsiders.
Key Takeaway
Recognize repeating cycles of exploitation.
Themes
history
war
colonialism
tragedy
Mood
somber
critical
Type
historical
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- military strategy
- foreign policy analysis
- historical comparison
- ethical reflection
Key Concepts
imperialism
cyclical violence
cultural clash
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we avoid repeating historical mistakes?
- What responsibility do outsiders have in shaping outcomes?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex events by forcing a single narrative.
![“Going out at night the medics gave you pills, Dexedrine breath like dead snakes kept too long in a jar. [...] I knew one 4th division Lurp who took his pills by the fistful, downs from the left pocket of his tiger suit and ups from the right, one to cut the trail for him and the other to send him…” quote by Michael Herr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d2/michael-herr-21675_too-long_going-out-at-night-the-medics-gave-you-p_1189943.jpg)
![“We went to America a few times and [Brian] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there came a time when George [Harrison] and I said 'Listen, when they ask next time, we're going to say we don't like that war and we think they should get right out.' That's…” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/512/john-lennon-322_america_we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian_12070.jpg)
