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In Reply to: Re: Vietnam posted by mark on December 31, 2006 at 08:30:50:
If you ever do go to S-E Asia, it's not too hard to add Indochina to your route. If you ever do find it in you to visit that region, it might turn out to be a very healing experience.
For instance, I met Laotians from the world's all-time most-bombed-out area, where there are still unexploded ordinances killing and maiming people daily. Yet the people were so spiritual and forgiving it was unreal. When asked how they felt about Americans, they replied sincerely, "it wasn't you who dropped the bombs on me right? So what's the problem?"
Even when they met ex-airforce pilots who did drop the bombs on them, they would say something typcial like, "we never met, you didn't have a chance to meet me as a friend, or you would never have tried to kill me." I met some who joked about the American souvenirs, millions of tons of scrap metal from the bombs, which they harvest (at great risk) and sell.
Many vets have returned and found so much healing and forgiveness from people who consider the past the past. Even people who were shooting at each other have become good friends and had dinner together. The "American War" as they call it, was something nobody wanted.
I hope you find some healing in your life from your experiences there.
