"We asked Jane Fonda if she would like to meet American pilots in Hanoi, but she refused, she didn't want to."
About Hanoi Hannah
Hanoi Hannah — Life and Legacy
Hanoi Hannah, a prominent figure during the Vietnam War, served as a broadcaster who used her platform to communicate directly with soldiers and civilians alike. Her significance lies in her ability to convey the emotional and psychological struggles faced by the Vietnamese people, often through poignant and impactful messages. Her core thinking revolved around the themes of resilience and truth, as reflected in her well-known quote, 'The truth is not always what it seems.' This statement encapsulates her understanding of the complexities of war, where narratives can be manipulated and the reality of suffering often obscured. By emphasizing resilience, she sought to empower her listeners, reminding them that strength and hope could flourish even in the darkest times. Hanoi Hannah's broadcasts were not merely propaganda; they challenged existing narratives about the Vietnam War, presenting a more nuanced view of the conflict. Her words continue to resonate today, illustrating the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity and the importance of maintaining hope amidst chaos.
Quote collection
Hanoi Hannah quotes
17 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Our program for American GIs can be heard at 1630 hours."
"American GIs don't fight this unjust immoral and illegal war of Johnson's."
"Because the GIs were sent massively to South Vietnam, maybe it's a good idea to have a broadcast for them."
"How are you, G.I. Joe? It seems to me that most of you are poorly informed about the going of the war, to say nothing about a correct explanation of your presence over here. Nothing is more confused than to be ordered into a war to die."
"Nothing is more confused than to be ordered into a war to die or to be maimed for life without the faintest idea of what's going on."
"Sometimes my colleagues joke and call me Hannah."
"Well, we think the broadcasts did have some effect, because we see the antiwar movement in the U.S. building up, growing and so we think that our broadcast is a support to this antiwar movement."
"There's a policy now of opening the doors to the outside world."
"Because our fight has been for such a long time we are isolated from the world, even after reconstruction we don't have much attention from people outside."
"I would like to see America some day."
"I put my heart in my work."
"Americans are xenophobic, they will believe their own people rather than the adversary, even a friendly enemy voice."
"It wasn't a new idea. During the war against the French we had this kind of broadcast for the French soldiers."
"I had to do something for the country."
"And we broadcast tapes sent to us from Americans against the war. These were most effective I believe."
"I have always compared our traditions of liberty, like those of Abraham Lincoln and Ho Chi Minh."