FOR
YOUNGER GENERATION:
THE
MEANING OF BLACK APRIL 30
With the coming of April 30,
I’d first like to remind the younger generation, born after 1975, of one
important issue many of you still dont realize: The National Mourning Day of
April 30 is a sad day because on that day, we, the South Vietnamese, lost our
country into the brutal hands of North Vietnamese communists from
Despite this, many Vietnamese college students in
I hope Vietnamese grandparents and parents still remember to teach their
children the common Vietnamese proverb that was widely taught in our Southern
schools in the
The brave and tearful sacrifices of half a million Vietnamese, escaping by boat
in the vast sea awakened the conscience of the United Nations. The UN High
Commissioner for Vietnamese Refugees took care of the expenses to set up
Refugee Camps in the
Next, I’d like the younger generation to acknowledge another important part of
history from 1988 to 1989. US President, Ronald Reagan was successful in his
great task, helping former political prisoners of
In 1988, President Reagan signed a decree permitting all Military, Citizens,
Professionals and Government Officials of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), all
ranks and levels included (who suffered for at least 3 years in the VC
concentration camps) and their families, could apply for settlement in America
legally. Meaning, the political prisoners and their families didnt have to
escape by hiding dangerously and walking to
Just one year before, in 1987, many US Congress members from both Republican
and Democrat parties, along with former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State,
Mr. Robert Funseth, made great efforts as the main negotiators to present
Resolution 212. When the diplomats traveled to Vietnam to talk with Vietnamese
Communists to liberate prisoners of RVN, who were enduring torturous treatment
in VC concentration camps with severe hard labor (that treacherous VC called
“re-education” places), the VC argued against them roughly. They said: “No, we
dont let them free. If we free those political and military prisoners of RVN,
they would stand up and rebel across the country. Then, how can we control the
people? Does your
The VC did not anticipate President Reagan would quickly affirm and reply that
the RVN prisoners were welcome to immigrate to
Clearly, to the former prisoners of RVN: After the heavy rain, comes a bright
sky. Lets hope and pray, even when we are betrayed, deceived, failed, or meet
adversity... All things shall pass ... along with the temporary human life.
Lets trust those who work for the right cause and have kindness. We will rise
above adversity, have opportunities to come across, and support one another for
success.
Commemoration for April 30
TRẦN THỦY TIÊN – M.S.
@Diễn Đàn
Người Dân Việt
Source: