The Vietnamese wanted freedom just as America did in its war against Great Britain. .
Aside from the reason why Communism is in the Viet Kong, King also believes that America should put itself in Vietnam's shoes. He writes, "when it helps us to see the enemy's point of view, to hear his questions, to know of his assessment of ourselves we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition" (King 854). Here King exemplifies his thinking that America does not have empathy for the people it is at war with. This statement asserts little more than a mother asking her child, "would you want that done to you?" Everyone is taught to do unto others as you would want others to do unto you. Should America act any differently? Also, I find it very interesting that King refers to the Vietnamese as our brothers. He doesn't simply say "the Vietnamese who are called the opposition" (Dodd 810). This evokes sympathy in the audience. I find myself wondering if we really are so different from them. When I hear the term "brother" I think of someone who cares about me and wishes me no harm. Brothers also share the same blood. Is our blood any different from a Vietnamese person's? It makes the reader wonder how we can be at war with a people so similar to us.
Another meaningful part of King's speech is when he asks, "could it be that they do not know that the good news is meant for all men -- For communist and capitalist, for their children and ours, for black and white, for revolutionary and conservative?" (King 854) here he compares communism to capitalism. He does this for obvious reasons. Communism and capitalism are total opposites. Communism is a theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members. In contrast, capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of capital.