The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #21004   Message #224590
Posted By: Whistle Stop
08-May-00 - 08:24 AM
Thread Name: BS: Were Vietnam veterans spat upon?
Subject: RE: BS: Were Vietnam veterans spat upon?
McGrath, I'm glad you mentioned the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. I don't know whether anything along those lines would help us Americans with our lingering Vietnam baggage, particularly after all this time has gone by. But I am very impressed with this approach to healing deep wounds from a long period of conflict and injustice. I know it isn't perfect -- I've heard some criticisms from the people of South Africa, more or less saying that the voluntary nature of the thing means that people who should be part of it are still shielded from full disclosure, and that some of the participants just pay lip service to the process in order to get a free ride. But even an imperfect attempt is worth something, and I think South Africans will be better off for it.