Our Burden

Sharon Hong

In the article “Love, Money, Prison, Sin, Revenge” by Andrew Lam, I see how Lam tries to understand the struggle of the Nguyen brothers with his experience as being a Vietnamese immigrant. Even though the actions of the three boys were irrational, I do not blame them for thinking in such a way. The burden to save their country and bring honor was more than anything they could face. The want for revenge and their rights back was enough to pull such actions. These Vietnamese youths felt distant from the American culture and could not become American due to the fact that America is partly to blame for the conquering of Saigon. The way to end this misplacement is to start with these youths, and be more understanding as Americans. Schools should encourage students to embrace not only their heritage, but also American customs as well. Instead of turning away from these people, it is our job to help people fit in and resolve any misunderstandings. As Lam effectively uses his personal experience to help relate to the three boy’s feelings, I see how Vietnamese Americans find the struggles with the new culture. Reading this essay has made me realized how important it is to keep an open mind and to keep myself from judging before I know the whole story. My question is “is it their fault for feeling such a way or America?” and “how can we do better to prevent something like this?”.