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I deliberately did not read anything about the Vietnam War because I felt the politics of the war eclipsed what happened to the veterans. The politics were irrelevant to what this memorial was.
Maya Lin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Maya Lin emphasizes that the personal experiences of veterans are more important than the political aspects of the Vietnam War.

Maya Lin's quote reflects her vision and intent behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. By choosing not to focus on the political debates surrounding the Vietnam War, she aimed to create a space that honors the profound sacrifices and experiences of the veterans themselves, separating their reality from the often contentious political narrative associated with the war. This perspective highlights the importance of recognizing the human stories behind historical events.

Themes

VeteransMemorialPoliticsWarExperience

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used during a speech at a Veterans Day ceremony to highlight the importance of honoring veterans beyond the political discussions.

More from Maya Lin

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A lot of my works deal with a passage, which is about time. I don't see anything that I do as a static object in space. It has to exist as a journey in time.
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When I was building the Vietnam Memorial, I never once asked the veterans what it was like in the war, because from my point of view, you don't pry into other people's business.
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