THE POWER OF HOPE–A VIETNAMESE GIRL’S STORY

We should never underestimate the power of hope as demonstrated by this Vietnamese girl’s story.

I was waiting for the rain to slack up to go to my car and a young woman and her two children walked up and waited with me. We began to talk. She told me that she was going to be sure to vote this year. I asked her what was happening to make voting this year such an urgent issue. She told me her story.

When the Americans left Vietnam. The Communist took over. They made slaves of the losers of the war. The survivors were given rations and were not paid for their labors. Her mother and father were eighteen and nineteen years old at the time. They fled to America. They believed that if they could get to America, they could survive. She was born in America. She was educated, married and has two children. She believes her parents might not have survived and she would never have been born if they had not come to America.  Her parents related to her that while they were suffering, their only hope was to somehow get to America. This hope kept them alive.

I think of the immigrants dying and suffering today who face a different America. They may have been facing a similar fate or worse conditions. The power of hope may be the only thing keeping them alive. America should show them that same compassion and support. This Vietnamese girl would not be alive but for the power of hope on the part of her parents.

Helen                                       All Rights Reserved