History Repeats Itself Is Perhaps Term Paper

And the root culture should always be respected. This is perhaps the greatest lesson to be learned from both wars. A lack of cultural respect is at the basis of many atrocities that have been committed in the name of each respective war considered above. It is all too easy to assume guilt rather than innocence, especially if a great upheaval of emotion is at the basis of such an assumption. Rather, critical thinking and proper investigative procedures should be used to prove either guilt or innocence. This is after all the basis of the American justice system - that each citizen, regardless of heritage or religion, should be given the opportunity to be heard by a jury of his or her peers.

Finally, the ultimate impact of the Vietnam war is the most important lesson.As mentioned above - all parties lose: Some American soldiers returned home permanently damaged, while the Vietnam people were simply exhausted, and the American reputation was severely damaged. It is not too late to stop the Iraq war from having the same effect.

Sources

Ahrari, Ehsan. Iraq vs. Vietnam: Similarities and differences. Asia Times, Apr. 2, 2003. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED02Ak05.html

Geyer, Georgie Anne. Vietnam and Iraq have more similarities than differences. The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Nov. 10, 2003. http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2003/11/10_geyer_iraq-vietnam.htm

Rogers, Ian Pajer. Similarities drawn between Iraq and Vietnam. The New Hampshire, May 4, 2007. http://media.www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2004/04/16/Opinion/Similarities.Drawn.Between.Iraq.And.Vietnam-662649-page2.shtml.....