| REVIEWER | RATING & REVIEW |
 | CanadaSucks (50)
05/15/2008 | I've known a few art-and-architecture fans who (quietly) bemoan what they call a bland and flat momument that (they claim) has been given undue praise- but I've always liked it. Give me a monument where people can look at names, adjust their eyes, and then see themselves and get lost in a moment of quiet contemplation. I like the simple lines and stark simplicity of the place. But you can quibble with one thing hence the four-star rating- it's a monument with emotion and subjectivity removed. . .it speaks nothing to the elements of the waste, corruption, and social impact of this war. It is a good monument, it is worth a look, but as far as monuments go I find it goes out of its way to play it quite safe in terms of the social and historical implications of Vietnam. In short, it's a fascinating tribute to the soldiers that says nothing else about this sham of a political, militaristic, and logistical f#ck up.
(6 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | numbah16tdhaha (162)
05/15/2008 |  When I was quite a bit younger than I am today I went with my mom to see it when they did one of those tours where they take it around the country. Mom was looking for something as we looked over it and I quickly understood that she was looking for a childhood friend who was killed in Vietnam at the rather young age of 19. She had spoken of him only once with me prior to that, but I remember her stopping when she found his name and reaching out to touch the wall as I have so often seen done. It had a different effect on me when I saw my mom touch the wall. I was curious about this guy, pissed off about his death based on what I knew about the war, and a little sad all at the same. Years later as I was about to go to boot camp, she told me the reason that me joining the Marines scared her so much is that her friend was a Marine too. I often thought of her friend as I served and even though I never met him, he kept me going in some rough stuff like a good brother in the Corps should. I guess I finally get what Mom felt, too, since I now have the name of a friend in my head who has no wall yet.
(5 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | zuchinibut (45)
05/14/2008 | I wonder if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will lose some of its power when those who lived through those times have all passed away. It is still very moving for me as a younger American because I can't remember walking past the Memorial at day or night without seeing Vietnam Vets near the wall. It is an incredibly emotional experience to witness those who were there take in the Memorial.
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | irishgit (155)
05/14/2008 | Perhaps because I have a relative with his name on this wall, it never fails to move me deeply.
I think, however, that it is the subtlety of its design that really tugs at the emotions.
One comes upon it almost by surprise, even when it is the objective, and it never fails to have a profound impact. I have been there many times, and every time I have seen people wrapped in grief.
(7 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 1 agree) |
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