Eshin Direct

I saw the tail end of a news report on the start of the Vietnamese celebrations marking the defeat of the US. Rather than belabour the point that the US had its butt handed to it on a silver platter, I thought it was interesting to watch the Vietnamese soldiers marching. It seems that they share the same funny little kick-out style that the People’s Liberation Army have when they march quickstep, the top half of the body remaining quite inanimate while the action, so to speak, happens at the bottom.

It also looks like it has similarities with the former Soviet style of marching, along with a suggestive reminiscence of the old German “goose-step” during World War II. I’m not sure if it’s an Asian thing, not being familiar with the styles of marching in other Asian nations, although I suspect some will have adopted the British style of marching.

In any case, this little “straight leg kick out” execution all looks a little too pretty. If the Vietnamese hadn’t strategically, tactically, and psychologically defeated the Americans, and if I didn’t have China’s PLA camped out right on my doorstep, I’d probably say it all looked a little gay and military men shouldn’t be looking like starchy ballerinas with guns. But I’m not really that brave.

Tags: Political Rants