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Finding the Dragon Lady


"Deeply intriguing...one hell of a story." - Daily Beast
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Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

Created: 10/07/14

Replies: 6

Posted Oct. 07, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

Do you think Madame Nhu was fairly judged by the journalists and American politicians who expressed an opinion of her actions? Would she be viewed differently by today's society?


Posted Oct. 29, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 251

RE: Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

Yes, she was fairly judged. There were journalists who admired her and journalists who disliked her, all for their own reasons and observations. Our government felt that she was interfering with their plans to fight the communists and that she and her husband and brother-in-law needed to be removed. That was probably correct, as the repression of the Ngo regime played right into the hands of the communist rebels.


Posted Nov. 01, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 1160

RE: Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

While I think history has borne out the opinion that she was a difficult woman, I guess I find it hard to believe that when Kennedy called her a bitch that he had enough information at the time to make the assessment. It seemed dismissive, like she was more of an annoyance than a true influence. I think today she wouldn't be seen so much as an interfering woman as a dangerous one.


Posted Nov. 01, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mal

Join Date: 09/09/13

Posts: 164

RE: Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

Being a woman during this era was tough. Factor in she was outspoken, attractive and a feminist didn't gain her fans. I'm not sure how she would be viewed today, times have changed but memories keep records forever. Maybe she would have carried herself differently today than in those days.


Posted Nov. 02, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kateg

Join Date: 04/28/11

Posts: 29

RE: Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

In the West, the role of women was beginning to change. In the East, women seemed to be staying in very traditional roles, but they also seemed to be more influential in their husband's lives. They ran their households and seemingly deferred to the men in their lives, but they were strong. Madame Nhu was a very strong personality and was used to being included in and sometimes leading the conversation. Jackie Kennedy had different concerns and while I view her as a strong woman, she appeared to have minimal interest in the governance of the United States. I don't think Madame Nhu understood Jackie Kennedy and the Kennedys did not understand how the government of Viet Nam allowed Madame Nhu to have so much influence. It would be many years before the West encouraged women to take a more active role in politics, commerce and other aspects of society. To actually answer the question, I think she was judged fairly at the time, I think history may be a little harsher. Not everything she did or guided the government may be known yet.


Posted Nov. 04, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Peggy H

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 272

RE: Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

I don't think she was understood at the time. This was at a time when an Asian woman was probably not understood or even admired for her actions. Add to this the fact that she was attractive and outspoken, not like the American political wives of the 60's. Remember too that although she could speak English, she probably did not know the nuances. She also would speak without thinking. What has not been mentioned is the religious aspect of the problems in South Vietnam.


Posted Nov. 05, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sweeney

Join Date: 05/24/11

Posts: 207

RE: Was Madame Nhu fairly judged? Would she be viewed differently today?

I am not sure that Madame Nhu could be fairly judged at the time. However, with more information available about all of the forces coming to bear at the time; it is possible to more evenly assess her now.


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