From: doky@pluto.uda.dgcd.doc.ca (Hien Doky)
Subject: Nov 11, 1992
Originator: daemon@media-lab.media.mit.edu
Reply-To: doky@pluto.uda.dgcd.doc.ca
Organization: SCV Relay
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 15:04:04 GMT



In 1858, the French started to openly invade Vietnam. It wasn't until 1884
that the French had the control of our main cities. In those years, much
blood had been spilled, yet the resistance of our people went on. From the
countryside, Vietnamese gathered, from walks of life and from all religions,
in an attempt to free their homeland. Many more died, yet their legacies 
live on.

A few years before 1945, the Japanese had the French cornered. In September
1945, Japan gave up its authority on Vietnam due to its defeat in the 2nd
World War. Vietnamese people thought they were free. Many joined together
to start rewriting a new and independent era of our history. Within the
governing body, the Viet Minh - one of the anti-French movements - tighten
its grip on power by starting to eliminate Vietnamese from other
movements. While this went on, the French, backed by the British, tried
to regain control of Vietnam - its old colony. The Viet Minh, still hiding
its communist belief, threaten by the French had called on Vietnamese from
all movements to rejoin to fight a common enemy - the French. Vietnamese
from all other movements responded to the call this fight, because after
all they were Vietnamese. The Viet Minh, during the period of 1945 to
1954, had continued its policy of eliminating Vietnamese from movements
other than its own, even though these Vietnamese were highly ranked and
highly dedicated to the fight for freedom for Vietnam. The betrayal went
on until 1954, the French lost to the people of Vietnam. We once more
thought Vietnam had finally achieved independence and peace. Peace was
short lived. Half of the country was against the Viet Minh, now fully 
recognized as a tool of expansion of global communism. The country is
splitted from the 17th parallel. 

From 1954 to 1975, the Vietnamese civil war claimed many lives. It spared
no one, neither old nor young. Many from the North walked many miles
South to "liberate" their brothers, according to the teachings of the
Communist party. Many remained in the Tru+o+`ng So+n mountain to be
known as those who "sinh Ba('c tu+? Nam". Many from the South tried to
defend it, under a corrupted and incompetent leadership. Many of them
sacrifice the future of themselves, of their families to carry out their
duties - as defenders of their homes. After 1975, persecutions went on.
Religions banned. Human rights violated. Many fled the country to meet
their deaths, face to face, in the cold South China sea.

On November 11, i recall the history of our country and burn an incent
stick for those who died for the freedom of Vietnam. Those who died in
the war, as long as they died believing that they died for a free Vienam - 
including those who were tricked by the Communist party, are all remembered.
These included Vietnamese, Canadian, American, Australian, Korean, Fillipino...
people. These were humans, much like you and i.

Looking at Vietnam now, one can not believe that those deaths mean nothing
to the Communist regime. The country is still poor, poorer than ever.
The future is bleak, bleaker than one could imagine. And the damage will
take generations to heal. To those who died, who gave up their futures, 
can we, SCVers, promise to continue their dream ? Make Vietnam strong,
make it so that those deaths mean something, make it so that the next
generations will have enough to eat, and will have books to learn from.

One simple thing we can do is to stop dividing among ourselves. Make ouselves
strong and united. Plant the seed of hope, of friendship, of understanding 
on SCV. If we can't even do that, how can we help our country ?

Hie^?n



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