We’re forgetting lessons from Vietnam War

Those of us who remember the Vietnam War seem to be a shrinking minority. Nobody in our government seems to remember it. After 17 years of involvement and the waste of unbelievable amounts of money and lives, we accomplished absolutely nothing. More bluntly, we lost. None of the things our government promised would result from our involvement happened. Our government refused to listen to the people until riots broke out in the streets.

The lesson of Vietnam was quite bold and obvious: We cannot be the police of the world. People in other parts of the world usually do not react the way our government predicts. Now our economy is in a huge mess that nobody 40 years ago dreamed possible. The people here are suffering greatly. Poverty, depression, drug abuse and suicides are soaring. Hardly a day goes by that there isn’t a shooting somewhere.

When is our government going to learn the lessons of the past, start relying on international efforts to handle problems overseas, and start doing something for the people it is supposed to represent? Do we need riots in the streets again? I am sorry that terrible things happen in other countries. But I am tired of seeing nothing done about the terrible things happening right here. It is not just Obama who is at fault. It is the Congress and Senate who bear the primary blame.

Richard P. Lorimer

Streamwood