Support thy Neighbor Successfully prevailing in a nation is not done with superior force, but by connecting with the people through emotional and intellectual appeals. The Viet Cong were more effective than both the Republicans and the Americans by winning the “hearts and minds” of the Vietnamese through various actions and mentalities. The Viet Cong won the support of the Vietnamese people because of their political, social, military, and financial choices throughout the war. The choice to pick a leader was clear for the Vietnamese people. The Vietnamese people chose to support the force that had the same goals for the war as they did. America’s goal was to prevent communism from spreading to South Vietnam. America’s plan to prevail was tainted because the Vietnamese people had no concept of democracy and thought how “absurd it would be for so large and wealthy a nation [America] to covet our poor little country for its rice fields, swamps, and pagodas” (Hayslip, XIII). The people didn’t understand America’s interest in Vietnam and thus saw them as outsiders attempting to divide their cherished land and dictate their lives. The Republican’s goal was to stabilize the nation with America’s financial and political assistance. The Republicans became less credible and legitimate because of their associations with America. The Viet Cong’s goal was to obtain freedom, independence, and happiness through the Vietnamese perspective. The Viet Cong represented the Vietnamese people because of their shared goals for their nation. In comparing America to the Vietnamese forces, America never really had a fair shot to win the Vietnamese support because of their association with the French; whom the Vietnamese have rightfully grown to hate since colonial days. Also, the Viet Cong advertised America as greedy people who wanted to imperialize their nation. Lastly, the Viet Cong distastefully wrote songs about Americans that played with the Vietnamese people’s worst fear: the death of their family. America understood their disadvantages and had to compensate for their lack of supporters by brining in a larger army that the Vietnamese people loathed. The Republicans were guilty by association and therefore had a bad reputation in regards to goals and beliefs. The Vietnamese people had a place for the Americans and Republicans in their minds and hearts, but it was not in a favorable place. The two Vietnamese leaders include President Diem of the Republicans and Ho Chi Minh of the Viet Cong. Diem was unpopular with the Vietnamese people because his Catholic religion associated himself with the French and because he was on America’s payroll. Diem’s religion alone was enough to make him suspicious in the predominant Buddhist nation. Minh, on the other had, was referred to as a "trusted family friend…[that loved] our troubled country"(Hayslip, XI). Hayslip said that the only reason they even showed loyalty for President Diem was because it “was more duty to a landlord than love for a founding father”. Minh promised everything that President Diem stood in the way of: freedom of colonial domination, unification of the nation to determine its own destiny, and the ability to live life in accordance to ancient ways. The Viet Cong never took the loyalty of their supporters for granted. For example, “They [VC] rallied and rewarded and lectured us sternly, as the situation demanded, while the Republicans assumed we would be loyal because we lived south of a line some diplomats had drawn on a map”(Hayslip, XII). The Viet Cong gave lessons about the war and informed prospective supporters about what is going on because the Viet Cong understood that politics held no relevance in the everyday life of an average Vietnamese. It is key for the Viet Cong to inform the Vietnamese people of the war and what their goals are in order to gain their share of support. President Diem, however, expected to have sheep for followers and never truly explained the depth of the situation. The Viet Cong made sure that their supporters knew what their fight was for: independence and cultural preservation. The Viet Cong's actions prove that they had the Vietnamese peoples best interests at heart; politically and culturally. The Viet Cong deemed favorable towards the Vietnamese people because they did not prioritize funds for military use and did not exploit the villagers. Americans and Republicans came into the village with their excessive American equipment that was calculated for a completely different war. In contrast, the Viet Cong “made do with what they had and seldom wasted their best ammunition – the goodwill of the people”(Hayslip, XIII). The Viet Cong soldiers made every shot count because they were low on ammunition, but also because they cared for the wellbeing of the people and their homes. In a sense, the Viet Cong soldiers had an advantage of being low on military funds because it helped them find alternative fighting techniques that were less destructive towards society. The Viet Cong made up for their lack of military equipment with their desire to win the battle for their people, regardless if that meant having to fight in rags with little recognition. Although the American and Republican presence was strong in the villages, the Viet Cong still fought back with what they had, which was cleverness, terror, and patience. The Viet Cong won over their support because of their sensitivity towards avoiding destruction. Viet Cong political cadres presented themselves as the fathers of the Vietnamese nation or even as its teachers. The relationship between Viet Cong leaders and the people was based on fear and respect, in accordance with Vietnamese tradition. The Republicans and Americans, however, didn’t build any type of relationship with the people and depended on fear and terror for support. The Viet Cong cadremen, however, were gradually taking harsher steps to control their supporters. The terrorism was organized, planned, and exercised against individuals, who failed to support the Viet Cong, which was portrayed as the punishment for a disobedient son. Punishments were explained through traditional rather than political-ideological concepts because tradition was deeply valued. The Viet Cong stayed true to their traditions to never lose their identity and their supporters. The selflessness of the soldiers also shined through their kindness. “As the war around Ky La dragged on, the Viet Cong established regular tasks for the villagers, such as cooking for them. The Viet Cong never asked for anything special and refused to take food if it meant the villagers would have nothing to eat”(Hayslip, 48). The Viet Cong soldiers truly cared for the well being of their neighbors and it was evident by their actions. Basically, the Viet Cong relied on the support of the population, even a passive support, and returned any kindness when support was provided. The Viet Cong fought with respect because they understood the value of their land, homes, and ancestors. According to cadre leaders, “the Republicans pillage, rape, and plunder…we [VC] preserve your houses, crops, and family.”(Hayslip, XIII). Three traditional spheres influenced the life of the Vietnamese peasant: family, village, and religion. Of these, the family sphere held the greatest significance: it was this circle that ultimately influenced a decision to join the Viet Cong. The Vietnamese supported the Viet Cong to preserve their traditional way of life, which includes protection of land and family from social, cultural, and economic changes. The Viet Cong knew how to utilize tradition as means for achieving its own goals. The Viet Cong treated their supporters with respect and encouraged their basic human rights unlike the Republicans or Americans. Hayslip states, “Because the Viet Cong encouraged us to voice our basic human feelings through patriotic songs, the tortured, self-imposed silence we endured around Republicans only made us hate the government more.”(Hayslip, XII). This encouragement created a closer community during a devastating time and the helped pacify the village whereas the ruthless actions done by the Americans and Republicans drove the Vietnamese people closer to the Viet Cong cause. Pacification contributed greatly to winning allegiance of the Vietnamese people. At the beginning of the war, Hayslip notes that the Communists told the villagers that they are fighting in order to preserve their Buddhist traditions from the Catholic republicans and foreigners. These traditions—respecting the land and worshipping one’s ancestors—are foundations to the villagers’ way of life. Diem was a Catholic determined to govern Vietnam by Catholic principles. The Vietnamese people identified themselves with their Buddhist religion and President Diem truly threatened to take away their identity. It is the Buddhist religion that tied the Vietnamese people to their lands, to their shrines and ancestors, and to their family values. Without Buddhism, the Vietnamese people had nothing to live for. The Vietnamese people chose to support the Viet Cong in order to keep their identity and preserve their way of life. The Viet Cong soldiers represented the Vietnamese people in ways that the Americans and Republicans couldn't. The Viet Cong soldiers and Vietnamese people shared traditional values and war goals, and that can stand alone as to how the Viet Cong won the hearts and minds of the people. What drew the Vietnamese people loser to the Viet Cong cause were the unjustifiable acts of the Republicans and Americans. When a nation acts together, they have the power to achieve virtually anything they want, and the Viet Cong always recognized and respected this strength.