The Vietnam War impacted so much more than its title implies. Throughout it, I anticipate and wait for moments that mention Laos, the neighboring country where my parents are from, but also find it painful to watch these stories of people who look like them too. ![]() It’s a rather welcome change from the dry matter-of-fact talking points of scholars, because studying wars and living through them are completely different narratives. These are regular people, and they are retelling their own history. Some names don’t even have a corresponding title, just where they’re from. I learned a lot, too, and I appreciate that much of it comes from interviews with not only Americans but also the Vietnamese - former soldiers of both the North and South armies, the Viet Minh, province chiefs, sons and daughters of government officials. The series is 10 episodes long, I imagine, to cover the vast perspectives of the many, many people involved, and in part because of how little the American audience knows - a theme repeated throughout. ![]() There have been mixed emotions for me watching Ken Burns’ “The Vietnam War.” There are parts where I sit with my arms folded, muttering to myself how much I already know, wondering why we are 40 years late in executing this. To learn more about the topic, watch Ken Burns and Lynn Novicks’ 10-part documentary “The Vietnam War.” WHYY members will have extended on-demand access to the series via WHYY Passport through the end of 2017. This story is part of a WHYY series examining how the United States, four decades later, is still processing the Vietnam War.
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