Gradually I came to realize that people will more readily swallow lies than truth, as if the taste of lies was homey, appetizing: a habit.
Martha GellhornRead
America has made no reparation to the Vietnamese, nothing. We are the richest people in the world and they are among the poorest. We savaged them, though they had never hurt us, and we cannot find it in our hearts, our honor, to give them help-because the government of Vietnam is Communist. And perhaps because they won.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques America's lack of reparative action towards Vietnam despite its wealth and the historical suffering inflicted upon it.
Martha Gellhorn's quote reflects a profound moral questioning of America's responsibility to provide reparations to the Vietnamese people after the devastation caused by the Vietnam War. It highlights the stark contrast between the wealth of the United States and the poverty of Vietnam, emphasizing the ethical dilemma rooted in political ideologies and the reluctance to extend aid due to historical animosities and the outcome of the war.
Themes
ReparationVietnamJusticeWealthResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about reparations and historical injustices in a classroom setting.
More from Martha Gellhorn
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I followed the war wherever I could reach it.
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Thousand got away to other countries; thousands returned to Spain tempted by false promises of kindness. By the tens of thousands, these Spaniards died of neglect in the concentration camps.
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