Vietnam Diaries (Day 18): The Remnants of War

I arrived at my final destination - Ho Chi Minh City. The city has seen many decades of naming and renaming the city and its streets under the influence of the Chinese, French, American-backed Republicans and eventually the Communist regimes. However, despite their best efforts, I don't think it is easy for people to let go of the city's original name Saigon,  as it is more commonly and dearly called, much like Bombay over Mumbai.

I dedicated my first afternoon in the city visiting the War Remnants Museum. Despite being a largely one-sided story shared from only the Vietnamese perspective, the museum was still beautifully curated. It helped visitors experience the horrors of war and witness the loss of humanity in the face of blind aggression for political gains. After the Museum of Murder Jews of Europe in Berlin, I would probably rank this museum my second best experience in historic story-telling.

Disclaimer: Some of the images in the post are graphic and gruesome so please read ahead only if you have mentally prepared yourself for it. 

Effects of War on the Common Folks

The most powerful exhibit in the museum was the photogallery of journalists who specialize in war and combat photography. It was called "Requiem" and clearly, for a reason. Not only is it important to remember the stories captured by these photographs, but also the stories of these photographers. These are 330 photographs from 134 photographers from 11 nations. These 134 photographers were all killed while on assignment during the American-Vietnamese war. Many of the pictures on display were from their final film rolls recovered from various sources, occasionally years after their demise.

Their pictures brought out the trauma of soldiers on all sides - American, Vietnamese, and the six other nations that fought with them. They depicted the suffering of the men, women, and child, those who died and those who survived with lifelong scars the two decades of wars. Even as I was walking through the chronological exhibit, I realized the war went on for so long that journalistic media moved from black & white photography to color videography in this period. 

I think the world owes a great debt to these photographers. It was because of them the truth underlying the government propaganda was exposed to the world. Their stories showed the futility of the war and the tremendous damage it was inflicting on both sides. Their stories helped build momentum in the movement for peace, not just in the world, but even the countries guilty of the aggression. 

Even 50 years after the war, the effect of Agent Orange, a chemical used by the US Army, is visible on the survivors (has passed on for three generations now)

Having seen the dangers of war up close, one would think you would stay as far away from the battle-zone as possible. However, the obligation these journalists exhibited to the truth was exemplary. Reading their stories demonstrated to me what true courage means in the face of adversity. I am sharing an example of one such story below.

The Photograph that featured on the cover of LIFE Magazine

Larry Burrow's reflections on one of his most prominent photographs

Larry's Commitment to the Truth

If these photographers were alive today, I wonder what they would say about the current state of affairs. In the times of Fake News and Alternate Truths, when the world faces urgent, and occasionally life-threatening crises, the role of honest journalism is even more important. While statistics can impact only those who understand them, it is hard-hitting stories that catalyze change across the masses.

The resulting built-up of public pressure on the American Government

Personally, I am committed to testing every report using fact-checking services (like this) as well as supporting honest journalism with paid subscriptions or donations.  It'll be an insult to those who fought for the truth if we let our choices be driven by singular, biased, narratives. 

The Photographers who Dared: Do you have it in you to fight the good fight?