Ho's Legacy in Other Nations
The United States of America's Failure and Vietnam Syndrome
Ho and Vietnam's victory showed the U.S. wasn't invincible. America's failure to stop Communism in Vietnam decreased America's confidence.
"For the United States, this first defeat in our nation's history would result in a collapse of confidence in American leadership not only in Asia but throughout the world...Our defeat and humiliation in South Vietnam without question would promote recklessness in the councils of those great powers who have not yet abandoned their goals of world conquest."
-President Nixon's speech "Silent Majority." Vietnam War: Primary Sources
"For the United States, this first defeat in our nation's history would result in a collapse of confidence in American leadership not only in Asia but throughout the world...Our defeat and humiliation in South Vietnam without question would promote recklessness in the councils of those great powers who have not yet abandoned their goals of world conquest."
-President Nixon's speech "Silent Majority." Vietnam War: Primary Sources
The Vietnam War left Americans distrustful of the U.S. government (because of the violence and corruption during that period). This attitude against war is called the Vietnam Syndrome. "Much of that Syndrome had been created by the North Vietnamese...they told us...we were the aggressors bent on imperialistic conquests...we were told that peace would come if we simply stop interfering and go home." -Ronald Reagan, Speech at "Veterans of Foreign Affairs" Convention. presidency.ucsb.edu |
“Getting involved and not being able to get up, like Gulliver tied down by the Lilliputians suffering constant blows, that’s the concern.”
-Carlyle Thayer, American professor on Vietnam. Metaphor on America's fail in Vietnam, and fear of another failure of the U.S. Military. stripes.com/news |
International Respect Through Memorials
There are 16+ nations (including Vietnam) that have memorials of Ho. Countries like Lao and Madagascar respected Ho for being their ally.
"I think it’s a good idea [to have a monument in the capital] because of the friendship [between Laos and Vietnam]. It has been a good relationship for years, a traditional relationship." -An anonymous Lao officer. rfa.org "Mister President [Ho Chi Minh], it has escaped no one's attention that the nature of the problem in Madagascar is identical to the one in Indochina...We have faith, but we lack experience; you have both." -Jacques and Raymond Rabemananjara, representatives from Madagascar, ask Ho for his insight. Ho Chi Minh: A Biography. |
“We believe that unveiling of a statue of Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in our country is very timely and historically important as I believe he was a great leader who spearheaded a major liberation battle against powerful imperial forces in the Indo-China region."
-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka President. ft.ik Nations respect the deceased leader, and his determination to help his people. |