|
If I’m not careful about how I write this, you’ll think I’m horrible when you read it.
For over a year, I’ve debated whether or not I should even try to write this column. I’m taking the risk because, buried beneath my preposterous premise, is a message that I believe we all need to believe.
I talked about it with Diane while we were hiking up Mission Peak. Diane Phan is Vietnamese-American. She’s an ex-student. She’s one of my favorite people.
But if the United States hadn’t fought in Vietnam, our paths would have never crossed. And I wouldn’t have met at least a dozen other Vietnamese-American students and friends who are only here because we were there.
Undoubtedly, the Vietnam War was an American tragedy and a Vietnamese calamity. I’ve visited the Vietnamese Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. I’ve watched my students etch the names of some of some of the 58,169 Americans whose names are carved into it. Over 11,000 of those names were teenagers when they fell.
Additionally,
• Over 300,000 Americans were wounded.
• 444,000 North Vietnamese were killed.
• At least 220,000 South Vietnamese were killed.
• Over half a million Vietnamese civilians died during the war.
• 3,500,000 acres of Vietnam were sprayed with defoliants that will continue to kill trees and other vegetation for another century.
• Cancer in three generations of Americans and Vietnamese may be traced to the defoliant, Agent Orange.
So it’s ludicrous to even hint that something good could come from that.
Yet, like the flower that pushes its way through a hole in the concrete, something beautiful did. Diane did. So did Jackie, Amy, Catherine, Stephanie, Kevin, Hannie, Anh, Brigitte, Sammy, Sterling and Victoria. Their families came to America as an unintended consequence of one of America’s worst blunders.
The lesson, I think – I’m hoping - is this: No matter what the tragedy, no matter how dreadful, eventually something positive can come from it. It may not come anywhere close to making up for the tragedy. But it’s something.
No, I’m not suggesting that I’m glad we had Vietnam because, without it, I wouldn’t have met Jackie or Stephanie. I am saying that although Vietnam was horrific, there is at least a sliver of a silver lining. Not just for me, but for anyone whose life has been enriched by a Vietnamese-American.
I’ve experienced my share of pain: I’ve lost a pile of money in this real estate mess. My father died before I could get to his bedside to say goodbye and before he could get to know his granddaughters. My daughter has Type I diabetes. Yet, so far, my life has been blessed. My worst misfortunes have been bearable.
That’s why I so need to know that if, God forbid, something horrendous should occur, if I can somehow patiently endure, something positive will eventually rear its lovely head.
|
