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Colorful Kites in the Blue Sky Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Ha Thi Lan Anh, Canada Apr 7, 2003
Peace & Conflict   Opinions

  

Colorful Kites in the Blue Sky Khuyen is a 15 years old differently-abled girl who love reading books, travelling and writing. Khuyen's parents are farmers and living in Nam Dinh province with her two younger sisters. She is a member of the Voice of Green Bees group - a youth media team of the national Radio of Vietnam which involved differently-abled, orphan, street and working children and youth aged 12 to 20. This is Khuyen's first story that was broadcast on the radio in which she shares with us her feelings and insight of how it is for her to be a child in a post war country.

***

Everyone has a childhood with toys and kites. But I and sister do not.

When American invaded Vietnam, my father joined the military to protect the country. After the war was over and my father returned, I and my sisters were born. However,unfortunately, we are not as normal as other people. Even though we were born after the war and hence never did create or fight in or witness that war, it has clinged to us all our life. Our bodies are brought to live with a thing called Orange Agent - the thing that American soldiers poured into our country during the war that killed so many lives including plants and people. And so many years later, now in peace time, there are children like me and my sister who are struggling with an invisible and intense war. Because it is inside our body. It makes our bodies feel sick and paintful. Everyday for us is not about toys and kites but a struggle.

Because we look different, sometimes we are teased and made fun of by our friends. I used to live in complexity and confusion. I was afraid to go out and play. My world was the four walls inside my home. From there i watched out. Outside was another world where i saw my friends laughing and playing happily with the kites. My eyes liked to follow their colorful kites flying high in the blue sky. Because i wanted to play so much too, i tried a couple of times to go out. But they refused to let me join. I went home carrying a sadness.

Even though it is sad that I and my sisters do not have many friends, we do not feel bad about life. My mom, dad and grandparents love us a lot and always try to make us feel loved. Even though we still follow the dream of the kites flying in the the blue sky, we feel comforted in their warmth.

But we had to leave them. The time has passed,and so is our childhood. We were sent to Peace Village - the school and hospital where there are lovely mothers (we call them mothers, they are actually our doctors and teachers) who help us to overcome our pains and teach us interesting things. There, finally, I have met my true friends. They are like me. And they accept me to be part of their life. Now I feel happy and fully enjoy life.

Colorful kites in the blue sky has come true. I can see and I can play. Now I feel peace.





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Ha Thi Lan Anh


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Comments


Peace
Michael Vadera | Nov 8th, 2003
Hello Ha, Your story is the first I've read on my first visit to takingitglobal. I'm very happy to have read your story of hope in Vietnam. My colleagues who've emigrated from Vietnam are always smiling, remembering how beautiful Vietnam was before the war, and still is in their hearts. They tell me how much their home villages and cities have changed since they left with heartfelt gladness and nostalgia. Regards, Mike Vadera



War crime
Hong-Anh Nguyen | Feb 22nd, 2004
I promise i will try to give a hand in finding the evidence for this crime of the USA in Vietnam. My Mom says, all know that we were destroyed by so-called Orange Agent, but we do NOT have the clear evidences to make USA admit and be responsible for what they have done to our generation(s) next !!!

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