blog 1

I studied the surface of the Vietnam War during my junior year in high school; however I did not learn some o f the detail that were covered in the PBS Documentary that we watched. I never knew just how involved the United States was in supporting Ngo Dinh Diem. I also never knew how oppressive Diem was towards citizens who were not Catholic but still were against the Communist rule.
This is the story of an old man who is contemplating Vietnam on his death bed through the outlet of two narratives. Dao, the old man, first is confused and excited to see Ho Chi Minh, his friend prior to the war. Dao is drawn to Hi Chi Minh’s sweet smell as is reminds him of the detailed past they both shared before separated by beliefs and war. It is clear that Dao was divided by Minh during their time in France because he chose a Buddhist following while Minh explored more radical political views. Yet, both were connected to the war because both endured hardships. Dao, unlike Minh never participated as much in the politics of war. The second narrative in the story is more current and realistic. Dao’s family waits over him thinking he is on his death bed, although Dao claims to be alert. His son-in-law and grandson discuss their involvement in the murder of a Vietnamese man in New Orleans because of his embrace of American culture. Of the many Vietnamese living in New Orleans, he embraced the culture too much.Butler connected these two stories to show the cause and effect of past and present struggles. The background that Dao knew Minh before he caused such hardship is a new perspective. The two layers in the story prove that the war and even Vietnam before the war, has still effected and old man to go to the afterlife without peace. He cannot let go of Minh and his sugar expertise. He longs for his wife, dead children, and now knows from Minh that he may not see them. Vietnam is a culture satiated with layers of struggles, struggles still existed in two generations past him.