[RaceBannon]

Refuges my ship picked p in 1981:

[ThanhPhero]

The diaspora has had one, perhaps unexpected, effect on the Viet Kieu, at least in the couple of communities with which I am familiar. The Chinese population, which did not run so much as it was pushed out, and the Kinh (ethnic Viets) are thoroughly mixed and all are Vietnamese now. Before 1975, the two groups were almost entirely separate and despised one another. There was little intermarriage. Their children and grandchildren here seem to have erased the distinctions with their parents' blessing. 20 years ago the Chinese refugees were reluctant to speak of their heritage but now it is as big a deal as us saying our forebears were Irish or Italian. And the attitude has changed in Viet Nam, also. It is like they all went through the fire together.

For a really fine vacation, go to Viet Nam. Take a tour or two then walk about for a few days in one of the smaller cities like Nha Trang or Phan Thiet and talk to anyone who would talk to you. Many have enough English that you can talk. It is all a tremendous ego boost, especially when you realize it is not just hype and the Dollar. When you get away from Sai Gon and the tourist industry you find that the people think America is the Promised Land and Americans are the Reason Why.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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You're going to bring so very much to and from "JOURNEY from the FALL" ..so very much, RaceBannon.

Thank you for being these massively suffering people's first light of hope back in 1981.

Pray for Freedom's return to Vietnam soonest, please.


AR

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