|
RICO'S UN-WAR PAGE: Beyond Anti-war
|
|
It starts (and ends) with the kids
|
In 1967-68 I made war in Viet Nam. What a stupid thing to do. In 1994 and 1998 I went back. I took a lot of pictures butThis is a postcard. Its one in my collection on pictures of children on buffaloes. If you can add to my collection I'd be really grateful. Be sure to go to the second page for more.
|
|
Landing in Sai Gon in the spring of 1994, I was surprised to find a free-wheeling, commercial city after all we had been told about Communism.
Private ownership of property and business are nearly universal. The American dollar was the main (and most valued) currency. The city, while noisy, was extremely peaceful. Example: A frail old lady, sitting on a busy sidewalk, all alone, selling notions (ilegal here) held a big wad of cash which she kept in a cigar box beneath her chair. How long could she keep that cash in your city?
|
This is really the symbol of Viet Nam
|
|
|
It's Not a Comfortable Ride. I Know!
|
I couldn't wait to get out of the city, though. The soul of Viet Nam is in the country-side. The first stop was Plei Khu, in the central highlands.
The population is poorer than Sai Gon but, although I looked hard, I could see no signs of malnutrition in the children (or anyone). The markets were overflowing with food and consumer items and the roof-tops bristled with TV antennae.The students had it the worst; living in cramped quarters with few amenities. Also at a low standard of living were the mountain people. Racially different from the Viet Namese, they live villages built on their age-old design and quite apart from the Viet Namese and with few modern conveniences. School, medical care and other assistance are provided by the government.
|
|
|
|
Favorite Links
|
|