NLG International Committee Delegation Blog

It's been fascinating being here, not least to see the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective. Monday we got a tour of the Army Museum, and heard the pride (justifiably) with which the people discuss winning the War and defeating the US.

Today Karen and I sat in on an incredible discussion between NLG law students and Vietnamese students, some law, some language students,a nd after feeli ng each other out and comparing educational systems, Dan brought the discussion to the heart of the issue, The War. The Vietnamese students are very angry about Agent Orange (the Orange Poison as they aptly call it) and everyone seems to know people who are affected by it, now into a third generation. As always in the world, we have a lot to answer for!

When the war itself came up, they were staggeringly gracious, differentiating between Lyndon Johnson and the American people. Citing the Mobilization march, and other demonstrations, they are taught, and talk about how the American people stood in solidarity with the people of Vietnam and made the government stop fighting the war.

They talked about how Americam soldiers were victims and suffer as well.

I couldn't not say something: They give us way too much credit! It was a struggle then as it is a struggle now to get Americans into the streets, and to actually empathize about the suffering of others, to actually see the world beyond the U.S.

In the midst of cryi ng, I was able to apologize and to tell them how glad I was that they had won the war and to sit here in a free Vietnam.

Dan, Karen, and others made wonderful eloquent statements.

One of the Vietnamese quoted Uncle Ho saying that we will drive the AMericans out of teh country and then, when they ask to come back as equals, to roll out the carpet and welcome us back. And, here we are.

We hugged and cried together, and posed for pictures. It was an amzing connection. Solidarity in beautiful radiance.

Two clear lessons, probably more:

1) Every little demonstration that we suffer through where we think no one is watching, no media are covering it, and 50 people show up, makes a difference in solidarity. People are watching, and 30 years from now, maybe the Iraqis will learn about our marches in their history books.

2) Imperialism can be defeated, by determined nations, underarmed, poor, but determined. The empire cannot maintain occupations in the face of committed resistance, and Empires always fall.

The Vietnamese, are extremely welcoming, generous, gracious, and immensely inspiring.

Every town, and most parks and street corners have shrines to the dead of the American War, and yet they welcome us.

There is the old stupid cliche spouted during the War and now again about Iraqis, Afghanis, etc. that they don't value life as we do.

In fact, it's become very clear, they value life in ways that we as Americans can barely begin to understand.

From Hanoi, The City of Peace, may peace be with you all,

Larry Hildes