Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam
Date …
month … year …
Open Letter
To: Mr. Barack Obama,
current President of the United States of America.
Dear Sir,
My name is
Nguyen Van Lang, born in 1932, a citizen of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
and a Vietnam veteran (who had fought against foreign aggressors since I was 14
years old). I would like to express some of my thoughts and requests on the occasion of our forty-year Victory Day
(30/4/1975 – 30/4/2015) to you as follows:
The war in Vietnam ended exactly 40 years
but until now I still do not understand why the American troops had to invade
our country, a country far away from the United States thousands of miles without
any animosity? And when the war ended, why the US government still refuses
to pay compensation for Vietnam according to the International Convention? M many people all over the world always have good
comments about the United States as: civilized, modern, rich and always
"respect the law", but... The war caused by the US had lasted 30
years and left a lot of sadness and loss for my country. The American people
also suffered when the wives lost their husbands and the children lost their fathers.
Some alive ones were painfully tortured by AO, after all they are just victims
of war. Many Vietnamese who were victims of US AO only
live from day to day in excruciatingly
painful or in deep coma, people with right senses
witnessed this scene without heartache, torment and rage against those who committed
the crime.
After the
war ended, I do not deny the US has also made many efforts to clear up certain
(somewhat) the too huge loss in this country, such as eliminating the embargo,
family reunification programs, crossbred policy… but in my opinion these are
not enough, because human life is the most valuable asset and no offset.
History turned the page, and the people of
Vietnam with traditionally humanitarian are willing to overlook any crime that
the US military had caused in this country, considering that American soldiers
are not guilty as well. (Except some truly evil mass murderers and the massacre
of hundreds of innocent people in Son My…)
Everything is over, saying too much will not
solve anything, let us deal with the consequences from both sides, especially
the United States, the cause of all causes. American nature is very real, so
may I ask Mr. President and the US Government do the best for Vietnam - if possible
- to help offset the damage of war back in this country.
To help in a practical way to Vietnam, I request
the US to support the construction (non-refundable aid) of some work of
humanitarian and cultural meanings as follows:
1/ Build a large hospital specializing in
the treatment of diseases caused by AO for patients in Vietnam, partly to
reduce pain for patients and have allowances for their families. The US should also have a program like this.
2/ Build five modern hospitals equipped with
modern machinery and advanced science for five cities of Hanoi, Hue, Saigon,
Hai Phong, Can Tho to help poor patients Vietnam receiving the best treatment
facilities and medical background of a modern civilized country as wealthy as
the US.
3/ Build five world-class universities in
such five cities for Vietnam. Many Vietnamese youths study well but cannot
afford to study in some renowned universities such as the US for their poor
families and unable to fulfill their capabilities. This is a major disadvantage
for them and our country.
4/ Build five national libraries (such as the
National Library of France, located in Paris) to help the students,
intellectuals, researchers in researching, studying and improving knowledge to
contribute in the construction of a more and more prosperous Vietnam
as many countries all over the world. I know that the US has helped some
heavily affected countries after WW2 to become more powerful both in economic
and defense... (of course not to mention the efforts of these countries).
My above requests, if received the attention
and support of the US government, will express goodwill and responsibility of Mr.
President and the US Government to Vietnam. Many thanks for your concern. Wish
you all the best.
Sincerely yours,
Signature
Nguyen
Van Lang
(Vietnam veteran)
