Every men
and women who endured or suffered loss through war has a story. A narrative
telling the story of those whom served, those whom suffered and those whom died
all too soon. Every perspective, ill regardless of who or where they were
during the time of war, every individual has a narrative that needs to be told.
However not all narratives are reflected, shared or is ever unearthed to be
shared. Nguyen (2016) shares oral collections/histories
of love, lost and wartime of men and women during and after the Vietnam war. Stories
and histories that unless sought after, will never unearth the heroic actions
or bravery of those whom served, fled, or endured wartime. As in the case of
Nguyen Huu An, and his friendship with Tran Ding Tu. Nguyen shares their intimate
story of boy hood, friends since childhood to their last parting good-byes on
the battle field, only for An to find out many years after the war had ended of
the passing of his friend Tu and the last heroic actions he took to serve his
country.
Now
stories like these are unearthed through activists like An, who continues to
support and search for long lost family, friends and surviving war buddies. But
what about those whom remain in the shadows or lost among the buried in mass
graves? Unfortunately, not every story can be told. Every Southeast Asian
American have a story of what led them and their families to the United States.
It may be war, famine or search of a better life, ill regardless, there’s a
story. Stories such as these have profoundly impacted Southeast Asian
communities as younger generations strive to identify with their roots yet
assimilate in a rapidly changing American society. Understanding and interpretation
of second or third hand historical content can become complex and confusing for
second or third generation Southeast Asian American youths resulting to an emerging
and budding identity crisis and intergenerational trauma among younger generations
(Yang & Ding, 2018). In a report conducted by Yang & Ding (2018) through the
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, the minimal research on intergenerational
trauma, lack of readily available culturally appropriate services and high
rates of poverty among Southeast Asian youth has resulted to low rates of high
school completion and high rates of arrest.
Question:
What are
your thoughts on historical narratives and its impact on the Southeast Asian
American youths today? Do you think that historical narratives such as those
shared in the South Vietnamese Soldiers can help shape the identities of Southeast Asian American youths? Or do you think
that such narratives should be used to help impart and inform the broader
society as a whole?
Image is
of Cambodian community elders sharing personal photos before, during and after
the war with youth providing first-hand accounts of genocide, life in refugee
camps and resettlement.
PC: Cambodian Association
of Greater Philadelphia, Inc.
References:
Nguyen, N. H. C. (2016). South Vietnamese Soldiers: Memories of the Vietnam War and After:
Memories of the Vietnam War and After: ABC-CLIO.
Yang, N. I., & Ding, Q. (2018). Intergenerational Trauma and Southeast Asian
American Youth in California. Retrieved from http://www.equalmeasure.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Rise_YangDinh_R1.pdf
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