"What responsibility does the US have toward Vietnamese who believe they've suffered illnesses as a result of their exposure to the dioxin Agent Orange? "

None!

Responsibility equals blame, liability, accountability. How does the United States fit into that position? Have we forgotten why Agent Orange was used in Vietnam? Have we forgotten the American men and boys that gave their lives in Vietnam? Why does the United States have to continually clean up other counties?

You shoot at me. I shoot back. Why am I expected to come back and fix the bullet holes?
"Approximately 20 million gallons of herbicides were used in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 to remove unwanted plant life and leaves which otherwise provided cover for enemy forces during the Vietnam Conflict. " (10) Military.com, "Agent Orange"

Issues concerning the contamination of dioxin are not just centered on Vietnam. It is sitting in our own back yards.

In the United States the same herbicides were being used too give us a green lawn. My neighbors would regularly have their lawns spayed. Immediately afterward their children would be running, and playing on the wet chemicals. My conversations' were concerning the safety of those chemicals. I had asked one mother. "Aren't you afraid of the side effects?"

She told me, she was only worried about having the best looking lawn on the block.

I looked at her and shook my head, "It has the same ingredient as Agent Orange, 2.4-D, doesn't that scare you?"

She looked at me like I was nuts. Then pointed to the man spraying, "he said it is safe."

I watched the man with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth spraying her lawn. I took my kids and went home.

We don't think for ourselves; seems like we never did. All it takes is one guy to tell you something is safe; then it must be.

We think what we are told to. It's easier than facing reality.

The reality with Vietnam was; our children were fighting a war. They were given chemicals to help save their lives by killing the plants, which in turn exposed the enemy.

Is it now our responsibility to pay for the cleanup of dioxin?

No!

Should we then ignore the issues?

No!

Dioxin is a world wide problem. Not just Vietnam.

In 1960's in Czechoslovakia, Spolana chemical plant in Neratovice, workers were exposed. ;( #7) Answers.com, 'Dioxin exposure incidents'

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about What responsibility does the US have toward Vietnamese who believe they've suffered illnesses as a result of their exposure to the dioxin Agent Orange??
We want to hear your view. Write now!