Ngo Dinh Diem ?? - What exactly was he like?

[Sasafrás]

I am in AP US History and we are nearing the end of the year, so all of the students have to outline and then discuss aloud in class different chapters close to the end of the book. I have the chapter about the 1960s. I have a question. What exactly was Ngo Dinh Diem like? What do you all think of him? I'm not too sure what to think, but there is a Vietnamese girl in the class (who just happens to be Catholic) who says that he wasn't a bad person at all in spite of what Americans tend to believe. I, on the other hand, have gotten a somewhat bad impression of him from what I read about him. What were his good and bad qualities? (I don't want biased opinions - just state the facts) The history book and Encarta do not go into as much depth as I'd like..

EDIT: He was anti-Communist.. Yeah, I forgot that..... But he refused to hold elections at one point.. ?

:confused:

~ Shayla


(Edited by La Rainbeaux at 8:29 pm on May 1, 2002)

[I LOVE HO CHI MINH]

He was corrupt and didnt have the support of the people. Vietnamese hate him him because he didnt introduce reforms as In North Vietnam Ho chi minh did. In South Vietnam there was not distribution of wealth

[Sasafrás]

He had preferences for Catholics even though Buddhists were the majority, correct? Did the Catholics obtain most of the wealth?


(Edited by La Rainbeaux at 8:40 pm on May 1, 2002)

[I LOVE HO CHI MINH]

like 2/3 of the countries were buddhist and he came from a middle to rich roman catholic family. Thats one reason why he didnt have support from the citizen. Catholics obtain most of the wealth exactly

[Sasafrás]

I expected you to respond because of your name.. Jaja! :)

Gracias por la informacion!

Anyone else??

[MattTheKat]

I believe it was his wife who referred to Buddhists lighting themselves on fire as "barbecues." They were definetly harsh towards the Buddhists. I also believe it was under his rule that it was dictated that no Buddhists could fly their flag on Buddha's birthday. There was also alot of high level skimming of resources that should have gone to the country under his rule.

[CheGuevara]

One specific example of his corruption was with regard to the 'strategic hamlets.' America gave him money to fund their construction, and Diem kept the money for himself and forced the peasants who were being forced to move to pay for the construction materials. As for elections, at the recommendation of the US, he did not participate in the planned countrywide (North and South Vietnam) elections called for by the Geneva Accords, and instead held elections only in South Vietnam. Not only that, but he fixed these elections, receiving 98% of the vote(for example, 600,000 ballots were cast in Saigon, while there were only 400,000 registered votes)Also, his brother, Nhu, was head of the secret police. I think it was his wife that referred to the buddhists as barbecues, although I'm not sure about their whole wife situation.

[BOZG]

As always, a dictator who terrorised the Buddhists and backed by the Americans.

I think the picture of Quang Duc, one of the Buddhist monks who burned himself to death is possibly the most powerful picture I've ever seen.

[I Will Deny You]

I know a kid in AP US History who said he learned about Abbie Hoffman a few days ago. So kudos on your course selection. Yippie!

Diem was only in power because of the United States, and as soon as supporting him stopped being conveniant they dropped him and he was a goner. I've got a funny feeling he was supported because he was a Catholic.

If a person who steals money from the poor and refuses to hold elections required by international law can't be classified as "bad", then who can?

[Sasafrás]

Quote: from I Will Deny You on 8:06 pm on May 2, 2002
I know a kid in AP US History who said he learned about Abbie Hoffman a few days ago. So kudos on your course selection. Yippie!Yeah. In fact, I have to explain Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and the Yippies to that class in later.

So he stole money from peasants? See, I read somewhere that he gave peasants their land back. And, I was told today by another Vietnamese person (who is actually Buddhist!) that Ngo Dinh Diem was not bad at all.. This is confusing.

[CheGuevara]

My textbook said that he participated in very limited land reform programs.

[Sasafrás]

What's your textbook called? Who's the publisher?

Mine is The Enduring Vision and it's by D.C. Heath and Company..