Hi Derek, An 88%, HIGH B+, is a *problem* for you on your first forum? I think the exact opposite is true. I'm very encouraged by your participation in the form. You should be, too. It is clear that you're not reading the scores correctly. Ignore the number in the parentheses. That number will always read one. You indeed scored two points on a couple of posts. You also posted before the initial deadline, great. You were also wise enough to participate in both form topics. Excellent idea. Below, you will find my analysis of your posts and replies. Why Vietnam and Longest War Re: Why Vietnam? and The Longest War by Derek Pesterfield - Wednesday, October 7, 2015, 11:52 PM I believe that the single fact or event shared in the "Why Vietnam" video that most significantly related to any event or development that was presented in Chapter 1 of the Herring textbook is the fact that the French and the Vietnamese went to war over France's independence for nearly 8 years from 1946 to 1954 in what is known as the Indochina War. Both sources do agree that the war was in fact a fight for Vietnamese independence. I do believe that the war was over the Vietnamese peoples longing for independence and freedom from a colonization based system of rule that the French held on them at the time. Learning about the Indochina War has also helped me to understand just how much Vietnams people had been through just a couple years before the Vietnam War between Vietnam and America broke out. It helps me to be more empathetic, and really feel for them as a people, a country, and a culture. Sum of ratings:1 The only problem I had with this post was your lack of citations, such as a page number from your book for a specific quote from the video. Re: A Shared View by Derek Pesterfield - Sunday, October 11, 2015, 10:28 PM Cherokee, I think you did a really great analysis and comparison for the United States reasoning for not wanting South Vietnam to fall to communion. I really like how you referenced the Domino Theory. It makes the reasoning for initially going into Vietnam (right, wrong, or indifferent) that much more understandable. Sum of ratings: 0 This reply, while kind, falls under the category of quote "good job Cherokee", since all you did was to repeat what she had written. Feel free to do this in the future, because you cannot earn negative points (penalties), but make it worth a point or two by adding in your agreement about the domino theory, and including a page number from the Herring textbook which would prove that you're praise for Cherokee is correct. Indochina by Derek Pesterfield - Thursday, October 8, 2015, 8:40 AM Indochina is the title to my above post^ Sum of ratings: (1) 0 Obviously, no points for fixing a typo. Patriots and PBS National Liberation Front/Viet Cong by Derek Pesterfield - Sunday, October 4, 2015, 4:09 PM In episode 2 of the PBS documentary series “Vietnam: A Television History”, it is stated that in 1960 the formation of the National Liberation Front in the south was formed to fend off the anti-communist Americans forces, more popularly known as the Viet Cong. This is significantly related to Tran Thi Gung’s story in Chapter 1 of the Appy book. When she was a kid, her father was killed for being a member of the Viet Cong, and Tran was told to fetch his body. Because of this, Tran decided to take revenge on her father’s death and join the National Liberation Front, or Viet Cong. The connection is clear. In 1960 the National Liberation Front or Viet Cong was founded, and 1 year after Tran’s father was murdered for being a member of the Viet Cong she felt compelled to join the “resistance” in 1963. Sum of ratings:2 (1) You scored a 2 for this post. Good job. It didn't rise to a three, because it is more narrative in nature. You are simply retelling trans story. Also, the specific connection to PBS was not clear/missing. Still, a fine post to get things started. Re: The Story of Tran by Derek Pesterfield - Sunday, October 11, 2015, 9:47 PM Cherokee, I agree with you. I also think that a combination of Tran's father being killed and the condition of her homeland Vietnam being war-torn apart were key in playing a role in her decision to join the Viet Cong. I can't say that I wouldn't do the same thing if a similar political war situation was taking place in our home country of the United States. With the complexity (ulterior motives, not a complexity as in a thought out and executed military plan by the U.S.) of politics controlling the war and the emotional losses and issues that are most definitely a product of war, I find myself having nothing but empathy for Tran. If she is alive today I hope she has found peace within herself, and a life as unaffected by the tragedies that occurred on Vietnamese soil as possible. Sum of ratings:2 (1) This reply also scored a 2. You added something to the conversation. Can you see how it was better than your reply to Cherokee (in the other topic above)? Re: Patriots and PBS by Derek Pesterfield - Thursday, October 8, 2015, 9:06 AM Mitchell, I really like your analysis and connection on Week 2's Patriots forum question. Although there may have been ulterior motives for the United States trying to help South Vietnam defend itself from communism, such as the United States setting up diplomatic relations and having an "political eye", so to speak, in Asia. But ultimately, I believe the US made the decision with good intentions and were just in over their head going into the war. Sum of ratings:1 (1) This scored a 1. Fine reply, on the topic, but could have included something specific (a citation from the sources?) rather than the vague "I believe...." last sentence. Re: A reason for fighting by Derek Pesterfield - Sunday, October 11, 2015, 10:19 PM John, I actually wrote about the same story from the Appy book. I feel that Tran's story gave us as readers really good insight into how it might actually feel to be a Vietnamese citizen, and see how the emotional toll of the war could influence a persons decision to join a resistance, or the Vietcong in this case. I also think the empathy you feel after reading it is strong, and really humbling. Sum of ratings: 0 (1) This is a zero point reply because it basically restates what you said about Tran earlier, AND you are congratulating someone for choosing the same story you did. Re: Patriots and PBS by Derek Pesterfield - Sunday, October 11, 2015, 10:23 PM Sean, I think your post was written quite well. It actually helped me to get a better understanding of what was going on with Diem in South Vietnam and Ho in the North. Boiling it down to the basics is in my opinion so much better and clear than some of the militaristic language used. It can be so convoluted at times, with so much unnecessary information. Sum of ratings: 0 (1) Please go back and read Sean's post. Were you just being nice here? He used no citations and said what could easily be seen as common knowledge. Not sure what you meant by your second sentence. The last sentence was intriguing to me, and would have earn a point or two if you had actually explained/cited/analyzed what information you found to be convoluted and/or unnecessary. That unexplained comment left me hanging... what did Derek mean? That's it for a quick overview of your first forum posts and replies. Was it helpful? Still have questions? Do let me know. I'm looking forward to your second forum interactions with your new group members.