Letter from Chanh Huu Nguyen
Seoul Prison, Korea
May 15, 2006
My brothers and sisters,
Today, in Vietnam, a child will be born. He will enter this world with the same cries and struggles you and I had when we entered this world. He will naturally yearn for the comfort and gentle care of his loving mother. Within these simple moments, a profound truth in the nature of humanity becomes clear - that in essence, we are all very much the same. Yet, this child, born in the corrupted system of Vietnam will begin a life stripped of the basic elements of human rights and fundamental freedoms that many of us consider to be universal.
Near the late 20th century, Vietnam entered an unforgettable era of tremendous conflicts, untold sufferings, and unimaginable crimes. The Vietnam War stretched for almost 20 years of bloodshed, filling the smoky eastern sky with the screams and cries of wounded men, women, and children. In reality, the Vietnam War was not merely a war between two conflicting nations, but a clash of two ideologies that have divided our world and have brought about untold sufferings. Caught in the tug-of-war between the worlds most powerful, between Democracy and Communism, between freedom and tyranny - Vietnam was ripped apart, and our people would have to endure decades of endless suffering and immeasurable injustice.
As we enter the 21st century, unprecedented technological and economic progress is taking place in countries all over the free world. We are soaring higher and stretching further, beyond anything our ancestors have ever dreamt. This is evident of the boundless potential that humanity possesses. But today, if we want to see clearer and further – we must realize that the future holds no place for the destructiveness of political tyranny. We will see, now more than ever, that we possess the knowledge and power to vanquish extreme poverty and ignorance – if only we have the heart and will to do so.
My friends, between these cold bleak prison walls and sleepless nights, I have had many moments of profound thoughts – many of which are of my beloved wife, my four sons, and the wonderful people who have devoted their lives in the cause of democracy and freedom for Vietnam. Within these thoughts, I cannot help but feel immensely grateful for such an amazing life. Over 20 years ago, on the silent shore of Nha Trang, we left Vietnam on a small fishing boat with nothing but the wet, ripped shirts on our backs and a tiny flickering light of hope that maybe – just maybe, we will live to see tomorrow. Since then, the road to freedom has been long and strenuous, but at every sharp turn and corner, I have had the unmistakable fortune to share this path with the best of all men and women. It is to you, that I offer my most sincere and profound gratitude.
We have shared such an incredible journey - a journey that has taken us across the world in search of a simple idea- freedom. Within this idea, we have built our new life and raised our children under its glorious shade – yet as we stand on these foreign shores, we shall never forget those suffering beyond the horizon. The silent cries of children living in poverty and destitution will not go unheard, the unuttered prayers of tortured political dissidents will not be neglected, and the untold sufferings of young Vietnamese girls sold into prostitution shall not be forsaken.
A thousand tears cannot adequately express the inconceivable suffering endured by our beloved people – many of whom are too young and too poor to even comprehend the injustice of their turmoil. That child born in Vietnam does not know why he has to live in fear, or why he has to go hungry, or why he has to reject his belief, nor does he know why he must keep silent against injustice. But sadly - he must.
Yes, the world has made boundless leaps, economically and socially. But, we must realize that progress cannot be measured solely by economic gains – but by the resulting impact on human dignity and quality of life. We must never shy or lose focus on what is ultimately important. We must never forget that it is not the betterment of a nation we solely strive for, instead our focus must be set on the individual man, woman, and child. In the end, they are all that truly matters.
My brothers and sisters, it is essential that we realize our true enemy, which has no face, and no body. Yet, its suffocating hands have caused a nation of over 80 million people to live in fear, hatred, and oppression. This enemy is the ideology of Communism and tyranny. No one today can claim ignorance of the unspeakable horrors that this ideology has inflicted on the starving people of North Korea. No one today can deny the immense suffering that this enemy has induced upon the suppressed people of Cuba. No one today can deny the endless agony and pain as a result of this self righteous ideology. Yet, despite this apparent truth, there are some who continue to cling on to its destructiveness – driven by unquenchable arrogance and greed. Ironically and hypocritically, these few individuals are the very reason why entire nations and peoples continue to live in poverty, injustice, and oppression.
In truth, our people have always been divided - before, our division was marked by an invisible line that separated north and south. Today, our division has no marks, no borders – but the cut is much deeper. Today, after decades of inconceivable hatred and conflicts - we must rise together as one nation, and one people. We must listen to the silent cries and prayers of our 80 million fellow countrymen, starving for democracy and freedom – and tear away that which divides us. Tear away the fear that weakens our faith, tear away the greed that corrupts our will, and tear away the hatred that divides us. Together, undoubtedly - we can and will defeat our enemy and bring forth a new era of change, opportunities, and progress.
My brothers and sisters,
I am sure that you and I share the same beautiful dream, a dream that lies within the hearts and minds of every loving Vietnamese person around the world. A dream that one day, every child in Vietnam will be able to laugh, learn, and experience the beauty of their youth in absence of fear and oppression. A dream that one day Vietnamese people of all religious backgrounds will be able to practice and pray freely in temples and churches in all corners of Vietnam – free from the cold chains of suppression. A dream that one day, our countrymen will be able to fearlessly express and share the contents within the depths of their hearts and minds, and that one day our country will be able to provide its people the opportunity to pursue a life worthy of living – a life of growth in the spiritual, mental, and physical. A dream that one day our great nation, will have a government truly reflective of its people, built on the foundations of democracy and human rights, where the ultimate goal is for the people.
Someday… our country will no longer be seared by the flames of corruption, greed, and ignorance, but instead – embraced in the sheltering fabric of compassion, wisdom, and progress.
My brothers and sisters, in my heart, I believe this dream is real- as real and tangible as these walls, which confines my body, but never my soul, and never the free spirit that exist in all men.
