"A Time to Heal"

I am pleased that Seton Hall has placed these pictures. Otherwise, I'd have no way to know the common Vietnamese. Speaking as a member of "Generation X," I must add that I know precious little of the people, culture and way of life of these people. Most Vietnamese that I've met are the families of remnants of the SVA. Most keep changing the subject why I ask them about their homeland. I wasn't alive during most of the War in SouthEast Asia, but I feel that it is past time to put our differences behind us and learn from one another. I am not interested in politics. I only know that the U.S. and Vietnam have been terrible enemies in the past and now it is time to be friends and heal the past. This appears to be easier said than done, as our relationship seems rather shaky. Recently, Vietnam threatened to jam "Voice of Free Asia" transmissions. I was quite chagrined at hearing this news. It seems that most aspects of our relations are positive. Here in the Seattle, WA area, there is a movement for people to go to Vietnam to remove mines from the old DMZ and replace them for trees in the old craters. I hate to see any of us fight, simply because we don't like each other's governments. I cannot find any reliable news of the region on the Web. VNA does not report on the net (at least not in English) and the only news I can find is anti-communist propaganda from the former SVA communities in Seattle, San Jose and Orange County. I wish this were not so. As a well-known American, Rodney King, said in Los Angeles, "Can't we all just get along?" -Russ Richards TARichards@worldnet.att.net