The news release stated, "In Viet Nam, the first Gap franchise opened in Ho Chi Minh City at the end of September and two more will follow in the city's commercial hub by the end of the year. "Asians are very aspirational. They have always wanted this," said a Gap spokesperson. The store opening featured trays of champagne and mint vodka with famous Vietnamese actors, models, and singers on hand."
So forty years after 60,000 young Americans of my generation died over there it turns out that the Vietnamese weren't really trying to topple the first domino that would lead to the spread of godless, monolithic Communism throughout Asia and then to the rest of the world. All they really wanted was to buy comfort fit, boot-length jeans. Instead of sending the 101st Airborne over there, we should have built a few Levi's Factory Outlets.
We veterans shouldn't be bitter on Veteran's Day. Still, it is interesting that young men (and women) have their lives shattered by war while corporations (who are people, too) survive and prosper even when they are on the losing side. It's no coincidence that Indiana Jones hung for dear life from a Mercedes-Benz hood ornament during that harrowing chase in the first movie. M-B manufactured many Wehrmacht vehicles and survived the war to put 350SLs on the driveways of our McMansions today. Bayer developed the gas used at Auschwitz and survived the war to put aspirin in our medicine chests. Mitsubishi built the Zero airplanes that strafed my father on Okinawa and survived to build cars and to can tuna. Meanwhile, Bethlehem Steel manufactured much of the armament that enabled us to win WW II and today is out of business. Maybe it's better to lose the war if you're a corporation.
Newscasters urge us to "thank a veteran for their service and sacrifice" today. Let's limit that to flesh and blood veterans who risked life, limb, and mental health. Our corporate (who are people, too) veterans will make out OK regardless.
No comments:
Post a Comment