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Vietnamese American: The Best
Outcome of Vietnam War
Nguyen Y Duc, MD,
The Vietnamese American
Heritage Foundation
The 5th
Triennial Vietnam Symposium at the Viet Nam Center-Texas Tech University
March 18, 05
There was a long
discussion by the principal parties who were involved in the Vietnam War
about the shape of the table used for The Paris International Conference
in 1972. The conference was formed with the efforts of ending the long
and costly war for all sides. The proposals ran from 2 sides, to 4
sides, and ended up with an oval shape. The reason for the issue coming
up was all sides wanted their recognition as a principal party and their
rights be addressed in the negotiation. The discussion was who was
really fighting with whom? Were Americans fighting against The North
Vietnamese? Or was The South Republic of Vietnam fighting against North
Vietnam with the help of the Americans. Additionally, how did The
National Liberation Front of South Vietnam fit into the picture? Was it
a puppet of North Vietnam? Or it is an independent force?
At the time, the efforts
to satisfy a table requirement seems ridiculous and trivia, but they
represent the difficulty in reconciling all sides involved in the
conflict. The Paris treaty offered an exit for American military
adventure, sealed the fate of her ally -South Vietnamese, and warranted
a hollow victory for her adversary -North Vietnam. Looking back with a
calm and more mature observation, the treaty marked the end of an area
of painful losses for all sides involved in the nightmarish war.
Regardless of the war negative impacts, this paper aims to focus on the
positive outcome of the war. An outcome confirms our hope and belief in
freedom and humanity. That positive outcome is the existence and growth
of the disaporic Vietnamese integration into the world nations,
particularly the Vietnamese Americans.
There is no winner
in Vietnam War
No matter what side you
are on, in our opinion, there was no winner in the Vietnam War: America
lost over 50,000 lives, billions of dollars, her reputation as a
trustful ally, and the unity of her citizens for decades. The so-called
National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, supported by North Vietnam,
who claimed to have won, lost millions lives. This Liberation Front was
forced to disband completely one year after the war was over. Some of
their leaders can still be seen in the current Vietnamese Communist
Governments, mostly in unimportant positions, others have completely
disappeared from public sight. North Vietnam, who also claimed to have
won, also lost countless lives. The hollow triumph brought the power and
privilege to a small number within the Communist party. These members
have gotten rich and powerful, but the vast majority of the over 80
million Vietnamese People are living in poverty and hopeless future. Per
capita income in Viet Nam is $220 and disparities in income are large
and growing. In addition, the collapse of the International Communist
System in Russia and Eastern Europe, the failure of a communist
economics in Viet Nam has bought the Communist Vietnam to its knees.
According to a report of the United Nations, from 1983 to 1985, there
was an un-reported famine in Vietnam that killed thousands of people,
especially people in the countryside. This was due to the fact that the
Vietnamese government instituted a series of domestic policies that
brought the country to the brink of starvation. The most significant of
these policies was the collectivization of agriculture in the South.
This policy proved to be a terrific failure and crop yields declined
dramatically.
In recent years, the
Communist Vietnamese Government has been adopting a program known as
"Doi moi". This movement originated in Russia, and is an attempt to
improve the Vietnamese Economy and to strengthen their relationship with
the free world. As a result, the standard of living for the Vietnamese
people has marginally improved. However, the Communist Regime’s fear of
loosing power has over ridden the need of a fundamental change. This
same change could help Vietnam take off and move forward as a modern and
prosperous country. Today, Vietnam is one of the last four Communist
countries left, and it is also one of the poorest countries in the
world.
Out of the conflict, the
South Republic of Vietnam also lost over 200,000 servicemen and women
along with their powers of government, freedom, economy, education,
finance, media, culture, and even religion. These important elements in
their lives were either thrown out or made illegal. Thousands of South
Vietnamese Military Personnel, Government Officers and other opponents
of the Communist Government were imprisoned for decades. Many of them
died while in prison due to malnutrition, torture, and general lack of
health care.
The best outcome
of the Vietnam War
In the aftermath of the
Vietnam War, in our opinion, the only group of people who had a positive
outcome was the Vietnamese Americans )and others Vietnamese communities
in the free world) After the fall of Saigon in April 1975, the United
Stated extended its generous hand, accepting thousands of Vietnamese
refugees as citizens of this great nation.
a- The history:
Before 1975, only a few
thousand Vietnamese people lived in America. This is the majority of
those who were spouses of American civilians, military personnel that
served in South Vietnam, and students or members of the Vietnamese
diplomatic corps. Since April 30th, 1975, the number of Vietnamese
refugees in America has increased rapidly, up 150% in the 80s and 90s.
According to the 2000 Census, Vietnamese residents in America account
for 1,5millions persons, behind the Chinese (2,400,000), Filipinos
(1,800,000), and Indians (1,600,000), and ahead of the Koreans
(1,000,000). This figure has made the Vietnamese American the fourth
largest minority group in the US. Over half of the group population is
concentrated in the states of California, Texas, Louisiana and Maryland.
b- "Freedom or die"
Courage
Vietnamese American
initially fled their native homeland after the North Vietnamese
communist invasion of the South Viet Nam in 1975. Their means of exodus
include ocean escapes on tiny boats, or walking through deadly
battlefields of Cambodia and Laos between 1978, to 1995. Others came to
the US through programs authorized by US Government as a result of
thousands of Vietnamese perished on the high sea or in the jungles of
Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand.
There were many waves of
Vietnamese who determined to seek for liberty and freedom from political
oppression.
Right before the collapse
of South Vietnam, a certain number of people with connections with the
American Government were given permission to leave. This included
members of the South Vietnamese military who had connections with either
the American Embassy or the General Headquarters of the American Army in
Saigon. This group of immigrants is estimated at 150,000 left the
country by plane.
After that, another wave,
accounted for another 150,000, escaped by boat and were subsequently
rescued by the allied forces beyond the territorial waters of Vietnam
during the period between 1975, and 1978.
From 1978, to 1982, a
repressive movement was raging in Vietnam against Vietnamese people of
Chinese descent, and thus resulted in another wave of refugees. This
wave included people of Vietnamese and Chinese decent. They left by sea,
and in ships of all sizes. They were categorized as "boat people," and
they risked their lives for freedom. Their slogan was:" Freedom or die."
They escaped in the hopes of reaching any free neighboring coastal
region such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand or
Singapore. In fighting for their survival, many went to their deaths.
Most did not live long enough to see any coastline at all. Entire
families were wiped out by angry hurricanes, as bait to the roving
sharks, or were raped and killed by pirates. According to the United
States High Commissioner for Refugees, there was an estimated 700,000
Vietnamese escapees perished at sea during those years.
Once on solid land,
survivors were gathered into refugee camps where they lived in destitute
and extreme anxiety while waiting for approval to enter third countries.
This group accounts for about 500,000 people.
c-The Generous and the
Compassion Fatigue
The unprecedented and
dismal exodus raised international concerns. Many third countries in
Asia, who helped to hold the Vietnamese refugees while they were waiting
to settle in final country, addressed their fatigue of dealing with a
large number of refugees from Vietnam. The US Government, United
Nations, and other countries had numerous multi-lateral negotiations
resulting in humanitarian programs for orderly departure, such as the
Orderly Departure, the Home Coming Act, the Program for Unaccompanied
Minors and the Humanitarian Program for Former Political Detainees were
formed. From then on, Vietnamese refugees were given permission to
settle in America for family reunification of offspring of American
citizens or offspring of political refugees.
This latter group
accounted for over 300,000 and is also called Humanitarian Operation
(HO). In 1988, President Ronald Reagan personally signed a decree
allowing entry into America to all Vietnamese ex-prisoners who had
endured at least three years of re-education. They included Vietnamese
military and civilian members at all levels, sent to concentration camps
by the Communist Regime after the fall of South Vietnam. Depended on
their former ranks and contributions, their prison terms ranged from a
few months to 15 years. They were isolated in these camps which were
scattered all over the country. Severe restrictive measures and even
torture was applied to these prisoners. After a day of hard manual labor
for their own keep, they had to attend evening classes to be
indoctrinated with Marxist and Leninist theories in order to remove any
"imperialistic residue" from their minds. By best estimates, at least
65,000 persons were executed for political reasons between 1975 and 1983
according to many studies.
d-The Contributions
Vietnamese American
contribution to the American landscape is not just one of population.
Like many previous
immigrants, Vietnamese Americans have overcome their painful
experiences, utilized their rich culture and work ethic to achieve the
American dream. For the first ten years, countless stories attracted the
attention of this nation to the hardship of Vietnamese immigrants who
worked very hard to overcome their language and cultural barriers.
Though the struggle of Vietnamese Americans to integrate into American
Society still continues, the story of the Vietnamese American experience
is now replete with success. To name a few examples:
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Duong Nguyet Anh was the inventor of the bunker buster bomb that
help American troop won the battlefield in Afghanistan.
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Pro football player Nguyen Dat plays linebacker for the NFL Dallas
Cowboys.
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Nguyen Hung Viet contributed his research to power NASA Columbia
space shuttle.
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Professor Dinh Viet was appointed as the Deputy of US Justice
Department in President Bush’s first term.
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Mina Nguyen was appointed as Director of Public Relation of Labor
Department.
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Professor Truong Hong Son is one the most respectful scholars at
NASA.
One can go on and on about
the achievements of Vietnamese Americans. To Vietnamese Americans,
working hard and being successful was one way to express their gratitude
to the generosity of the American people who have embraced them as true
members of the American family. Vietnamese Americans have strived to
enrich every sector of American society. From the economy, to education,
to culture to the arts and sports, Vietnamese Americans have set their
footprints and made a positive impact on the American Landscape.
Vietnamese Americans are also making positive contributions to the War
in Iraq. Many Vietnamese Americans in the United States armed forces are
defending freedom on the front lines in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other
parts of the globe. They have enjoyed the American glory, prosperity and
also share the global burdens and responsibilities that the US has under
taken.
The success of Vietnamese
Americans also benefits Vietnam. Vietnamese Americans have added an
estimate of 5 - 8 billion dollars yearly to the Vietnamese economy.
While living comfortable
lives in US, Vietnamese American still have compassion for their loved
ones in Vietnam. Gifts to their loved ones accounted for over 3 billions
US dollars via conventional monetary transfer sources such as banks, and
financial institutions. Vietnamese American investing in Vietnam is
still quite small- about 200 million/year- compared with its ability of
22 billions/year. The reason for this gap is due to the humanitarian
conditions in Vietnam. Most fundamental human rights such as freedom of
religion, freedom of speech, freedom of organization, etc… are still
denied daily in Vietnam. Moreover, the unfair competition between state
owned and private owned companies are so great that the chance for
successful foreign investment is next to impossible. Most of all, the
inconsistent and insincere policies of the Vietnamese Government toward
the Vietnamese communities overseas is the biggest obstacle for
enthusiastic investment by Vietnamese Americans to invest in Vietnam.
In the past, the
Vietnamese Communist Government has labeled Vietnamese Americans as
"traitors" or "criminals". Now with their economic success, Vietnamese
Americans have become "patriots" or "a far away brother and sister".
Whatever their label is, the annual income of the 2 million Vietnamese
Americans equated to the national income of the entire country of
Vietnam, which has a population of 80 million people. This is an
undeniable truth. Citing this sad fact is not to show off the Vietnamese
American records, but to contrast a difference between a free and
oppressed society and their influences on the lives and abilities of
their citizens. The younger generations of Vietnamese Americans are
highly educated and experienced in many critical fields and industries.
This knowledge and skill filters back to Vietnam and not only helps
Vietnam to re-integrate into the world economy, but will also force
Vietnam towards a more free and prosperous country.
Treasure our
History
This year, while we are
celebrating the 30th year of freedom for over 2 millions Vietnamese
Americans, we also look back to our 30 years of history to appreciate
the efforts, sacrifice, and achievements of the first generation of
Vietnamese Americans. We are proud to say that the Vietnamese American
History is a story of courage, determination, and achievement. We want
to save this treasured story for the younger generation of Vietnamese
Americans and for generations to come.
The Vietnamese American
Heritage Foundation has in our possession over 200,000 pages of
documents. These documents were donated by our members and other
individuals in Vietnamese American Community. There are tens of
thousands of pages of documents, letters, pictures related to the exodus
from Vietnamese. There are thousand of pages that capture the
experiences of the boat people who escaped under the watch of the
Vietnamese Communist Government, and faced the dangers of ocean and
pirates. There are thousands of other pages describing life in communist
prisons, thousand of pages recording the efforts of lobbying with
American Legislators, Administrators, and other US government agencies,
as well as the Vietnamese Government to in hopes of achieving freedom.
In some cases these efforts are still on going.
Unlike other immigrant
groups that have their roots planted deep back pass to the sacrifices
for freedom in the Civil War and War for Independence, our bloodshed was
in our journey to get here. However, we do have to struggle for our
existence. In the US, there was endless lobbying work with the
Legislator, the Administrations, and the Department of Justice to
convince them that there are the good reasons to embrace Vietnamese
Refugees. These efforts also required a smart strategy and much patience
from the Vietnamese American Community in the last three decades.
One still can remember
when Ms. Khuc Minh Tho, the chairwoman of The Family Vietnamese
Political Prisoners Association (FVPPA) and other Vietnamese American
organizations asked the Vietnamese Communist Government to free all
political prisoners and let them settle in US, the Vietnamese Communist
Government loudly denied this request and announced: "there were no
political prisoners in Vietnam". Through the contacts of family members
of these prisoners, FVPPA enlisted a number of prisons through out
Vietnam documenting political prisoners that were held in these camps.
The International Red
Cross visited these camps later and confirmed that there are tens of
thousands of political prisoners in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Communist
Government since then has sit down to officially negotiation the issue
of political prisoners in Vietnam. This discussion resulted in the
Humanitarian Program introduced by Resolution 205 to President Reagan by
Senator Edward Kennedy (Democrat), and Senator Robert Dole (Republican)
on January 5, 1987. There were more than 30 Congressmen and
Congresswomen of both parties, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State, Mr. Robert Funseth that worked as the principal negotiators to
introduce Resolution 212 on September, 1987. The agreement was signed on
July 30, 1989, by both the US and Vietnamese Communist Government.
Solution 212 became the fundamental legal document to free Vietnamese
political prisoners and to settle them and their families to the US.
There are many other
stories of Vietnamese Americans who struggled and overcome their hurdles
to have a productive and successful life. These stories need to be
shared to empower both younger generations of Vietnamese American and
Americans alike. These treasures must be preserved and passed on.
Conclusion
In the essence of these
efforts, The Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation is honored to
announce that the Vietnam Center of Texas Tech University in Lubbock,
Texas, is helping us to build a Vietnamese American Archive. It is our
hope that, through this archive and the center’s support, our unique
story and history will be preserved. This archive is not just for
Vietnamese Americans, but it is a chronicle that captures the spirit of
freedom common to all Americans, and therefore is meant for all
Americans.
The Vietnamese American
Heritage Foundation wishes to keep in touch with you so that we can
share the progress of this project. Thank you and God bless!
VAHF
P.ỌBox 29534
Austin, TX 78755
Email:
VAHF04@bmail.com
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