Review of Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry (2004) by Janice F — 09 Oct 2004

It was to easy to forget what happened during the Vietnam War. This movie went beyond the politics of today and took me back to how it changed America and the men in it. At first we all supported the War as a way of spreading freedom throughout the world and as I went through middle school and high school the reasons became lost as the death toll rose and the boys from my high school started dying.

Everyday the bloody scenes on the news changed us. It was the free fire zones where soldiers were ordered to kill everyone in them: Ask no questions and none were friendlies. It broke the men raised in America that were taught to respect life.

Not all men fought in free fire zones, some are in denial, others feel betrayed that their secrets were revealed and this is part of what divides Vets today. Some harsh critics are just simply republican vets stormtrooping for Bush.

The atrocities were the result of orders from the top. I blame the leaders. The atrocities are a proven fact. It was the courage of the kids who grew up in the shadow of this hell and the soldiers who lived through it and had the courage to face the truth and tell it, that ended that war.

By the end my husband and my cousin Johnny, who played the guitar for me as a child, were lost forever to the ground. We as a generation went on to fight for women, racial equality and many of the freedoms that Americans enjoy today.

Two of the lessons learned are: 1) Freedom and democracy in a nation comes only when the people are ready and fight for it themselves. 2) Outsiders will always be seen as invaders as the civilian death toll rises.

Democracy can't be forced on others. By the end of the Vietnam War nearly 59,000 men died. And little advertised is that nearly as many have committed suicide since then. This is not because we protested the war it is because men were asked to do things that were against their moral values and human nature.

It was to easy to forget what happened. If you're under 45 see this movie and don't let history repeat itself, if you're over 45 see this movie and remember why we have to be vigilant.