Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Quang Nguyen: Thank you Viet Nam Veterans and all Veterans
Active Rain ^ | 7/24/2010 | Quang Nguyen

Posted on 08/23/2010 12:25:23 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack

35 years ago if you were to tell me that I am going to stand up here speaking in English to a large group of patriots, I’d laugh at you. Every morning I wake up thanking God for putting family and me in the greatest country on earth.

I just want you all to know that the American dream does exist and I am living the American dream. I was asked to speak to you about my experience as a first generation Vietnamese American, but I rather speak to you as an American.

If you hadn’t noticed, I am not white and I feel pretty comfortable with my people.

I am a proud US citizen and here is my proof… It took me 8 years to get it, waiting in endless lines, but I got it and I am very proud of it. Guess what, I did it legally and it ain’t from the state of Hawaii.

I still remember the images of the Tet offensive in 1968. I was six years old. Now you might want to question how a 6year old boy could remember anything. Trust me, those images can never be erased. I can’t even imagine what it was like for young American soldiers, 10,000 miles away from home, fighting on my behalf. 35 years ago, I left South Vietnam to come to America for political asylum. The war had ended. At the age of 13, I left with the understanding that I may or may not ever get to see my siblings or parents again. I was one of the first lucky 100,000 Vietnamese allowed to come to the US. Somehow, my family and I were reunited 5 months later, amazingly, in California. It was a miracle from God.

If you haven’t heard lately that this is the greatest country on earth, let me tell you, IT IS!!! It is the freedom and the opportunities presented to me that put me here with all of you tonight. I also remember the barriers that I had to overcome every step of the way. My high school counselor told me that I could not make it to college due to my poor communication skills. I proved him wrong. I finished college. You see… All you have to do is to give this little boy an opportunity and encourage him to take and run with it. Well, I took the opportunities and here I am. This person standing tonight in front of you could not exist under a socialist/communist environment. By the way, if you think socialism is the way to go, I am sure many people here will chip in to get you a one-way ticket out of here. And if you didn’t know, the only difference between socialism and communism is an AK-47 aiming at your head. That was what I knew and grew up with.

In 1983, I stood with a thousand new immigrants, reciting the pledge of allegiance and listening to the National Anthem for the first time as an American. To this day, I can’t remember anything sweeter and more patriotic than that moment in my life.

Fast forwarding, somehow I finished high school, finished college, and like any other goofball 21 year old kid, I was having a great time with my life, I had a nice job and a nice apartment in Southern California. In someway and somehow, I had forgotten how I got here and why I am here.

One day I was at a gas station, I saw a veteran pumping gas on the other side of the island. I didn’t know what made me do it, but I walked over and asked if he had served in Vietnam. He smiled and said Yes. I shook and held his hand. His eyes started to well up. I walked away as fast as I could and at that very moment, I was emotionally rocked, this was a profound moment in life. I knew something had to change in my life. It was time for me to learn how to be a good citizen. It was time for me to give back.

You see… America is not place on the map; it isn’t a physical location. It is an ideal, a concept. And if you are an American, you must understand the concept, you must buy into this concept and most importantly, you have to fight and defend this concept. This is about Freedom… and not free stuff. And that is why I am standing up here. Brothers and sisters, to be a real American, the very least you must do is to learn English and understand it well. In my humble opinion, you cannot be a faithful patriotic citizen if you can’t speak the language of the country you live in. Take this document of 46 pages… Last I looked on the internet, there wasn’t a Vietnamese translation of the US constitution. It took me a long time to get to the point of being able to converse and until this day, I still struggle to come up with the right words. It’s not easy, but if it’s too easy, it’s not worth doing.

Before I got to know this 46- page document, I learned of the 500,000 Americans who fought for this little boy. I learned of the 58,000 names scribed on the black wall at the Vietnam War memorial. You are my heroes. You are my founders.

When I was eligible to vote, I went out and performed my civic duty. For all of you young people out there, who just turned 18, I encourage you to exercise your duty as an American to be an informed voter no matter where you are or what you do. America fought and died for your rights. DON’T LET HER DOWN!!!

At this time, I would like to ask all the Vietnam veterans to please stand. I thank you for my life. I thank you for your sacrifices, and I thank you for giving me the freedom and the liberties I have today. I now ask All veterans, firefighters, and police officers, to please stand. On behalf of all first generation immigrants, I thank you for your service and may God bless you all and may God bless America!


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans; Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: nguyen; quang; veterans; vietnam
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last
Video of speech is available at source url.
1 posted on 08/23/2010 12:25:26 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
Guess what, I did it legally and it ain’t from the state of Hawaii.

I like him already.

2 posted on 08/23/2010 12:30:35 PM PDT by b4its2late (Ignorance allows liberalism to prosper.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

You’re welcome.


3 posted on 08/23/2010 12:31:27 PM PDT by brivette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
"You see… America is not place on the map; it isn’t a physical location. It is an ideal, a concept. And if you are an American, you must understand the concept, you must buy into this concept and most importantly, you have to fight and defend this concept. This is about Freedom… and not free stuff."

It's funny how usually it is the immigrant (the legals ones that is) that best understand and appreciate being an American. Those of us who grew up with this privilege can never truly appreciate what they know about, the loss of liberty and freedom.
4 posted on 08/23/2010 12:32:30 PM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

Lovely! It’s so nice to hear from someone who “gets it”.


5 posted on 08/23/2010 12:34:08 PM PDT by Amberdawn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Old Teufel Hunden

You’re exactly right. My ex-wife is a Korean I met while serving in the ROK. While the marriage thing didn’t last, she never failed to be appreciative for the things the US stands for and the cost of freedom.


6 posted on 08/23/2010 12:34:27 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: onedoug

ping


7 posted on 08/23/2010 12:35:53 PM PDT by stylecouncilor (What Would Jim Thompson Do?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

8 posted on 08/23/2010 12:37:06 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack; Gosh I love this neighborhood; captain cynic
Ping

In the Insurance Agency where I used to work, many of the immigrant citizens were more informed and knowledgeable about the workings of government than the “natural born citizens”. Especially the ones from Vietnam. It was a pleasure to have discussions and to see how much they appreciated this country.

9 posted on 08/23/2010 12:39:54 PM PDT by GILTN1stborn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
"My ex-wife is a Korean"

There's a perfect example, South Korea. Especially if you live in Seoul where you grow up next to a country that is hell bent on your destruction. Sure, if North Korea invaded they would eventually be defeated by South Korea and the Americans, but not before cities like Seoul would be virtually destroyed and now with the North's nuclear weapons probably glowing. It's something we don't experience and can't truly understand unless you grow up like that.
10 posted on 08/23/2010 12:40:33 PM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Old Teufel Hunden
It's funny how usually it is the immigrant (the legals ones that is) that best understand and appreciate being an American.

Actually I break down the group even further. The "economic refugees", legal or illegal, are the ones that look to America as a source of cash. They really could care less about the country or its inhabitants.

On the other hand the immigrants who come here because of political persecution in their homeland are usually the ones that love what America stands for and bust their nut to make sure they get a piece of the freedom pie. I welcome all such people regardless of race, etc., because THEY understand what America is all about.

11 posted on 08/23/2010 12:41:12 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (It's easy being a communist when you're rich.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

Thanks for posting this. Makes my day.

10st Abn Div
70-71


12 posted on 08/23/2010 12:46:18 PM PDT by miele man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack; All

Welcome home, guys. Welcome.

Your difficulties back home here are lessons. Your hardships and horrible, disgraceful treatment are teachers now. You can help all those who are sorely misused now.

Your strength and perseverance is a model and inspiration for us all.

God bless you all. Everyone.


13 posted on 08/23/2010 12:47:28 PM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spirito Sancto.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: miele man

Glad you liked it! I thought it was inspiring.


14 posted on 08/23/2010 12:52:38 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

By one year, I was too young to serve in Vietnam before the drawdown, but my sincerest thanks go out to each and every one of the warriors who stood tall for America during that time and served in that war. God bless you all.


15 posted on 08/23/2010 12:53:06 PM PDT by ScottinVA (The West needs to act NOW to aggressively treat its metastasizing islaminoma!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: miele man

Makes my day, too.

C 1/501, 101st Airborne Div. ‘71-’72


16 posted on 08/23/2010 1:00:11 PM PDT by unkus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
My Brother-in-Law, a naturalized citizen, is on his way to Europe and the beaches of Normandy. He continues to give endless thanks to The Greatest Generation for saving his Dutch family from the Nazis.
17 posted on 08/23/2010 1:02:14 PM PDT by Does so (The buck stops there! No, over there! No, wait, over there!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.
This is about Freedom… and not free stuff.

Thank YOU, Quang. This veteran came back to an America that did not welcome us back because of the lies of Walter Cronkite, John Kerry and Jane Fonda. This veteran came back to an America that spit on soldiers 12 hours off of the battlefield. This veteran came back to an America that denied us jobs and careers because, when our country called, we answered, and were called killers, dopers, and baby rapists for it.

Your speech reminds us that we did something good. And, THAT is worth all the pain, anguish and shame that we were made to feel for going to Vietnam.
18 posted on 08/23/2010 1:06:37 PM PDT by DustyMoment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xvq2er

Ping


19 posted on 08/23/2010 1:18:08 PM PDT by xvq2er
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: unkus; miele man

Thanks to all of you guys for your service...


20 posted on 08/23/2010 1:21:21 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (I aspire to a large carbon footprint; just like Al Gore's)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson