“40, 50 years ago, Americans - the majority of Americans did not want to accept these Vietnamese refugees who they saw as completely foreign. Now there are new foreigners - Syrians and other people from the Middle East, people of Muslim backgrounds. And the sense among many Americans is, well, these people are completely different from us, and they're not like the Vietnamese who are much more assimilable. And I think that's very, very doubtful. I think that the majority of these new foreigners, if given the opportunity, will be able to assimilate and deal with American culture.” PeopleIfsThinkingWantYearsWellsDifferentAbleCultureOpportunityGivenDealsAcceptingSawsMiddleYears AgoMajorityEastBackgroundsMiddle EastRefugeeAmerican CultureForeignersDoubtfulVietnameseVietnamese Refugees Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
“People might like to think a war is done when a cease fire is signed, but for most people who lived through a war it goes on for decades.” PeopleThinkingWarDoneMightFireGoes OnDecadesCease Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
“Immigrants, as troubling as they are to some people, are an integral part of what the American Dream is supposed to be. They're understandable to a considerable number of Americans.” PeopleDreamNumbersSupposed To BeImmigrantsAmerican Dream Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
“Refugees have been displaced by war or natural disaster or political catastrophes, and they are much more threatening because they are reminders to people that all the comforts that we take for granted can be taken away in just a moment.” PeopleHas BeensWarMomentsPoliticalNaturalTakenComfortDisasterGrantedCatastropheThreateningRefugeeRemindersNatural Disaster Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
“People may be vaguely aware that there's suffering in Iraq and Afghanistan, but simply because the media are filled with American-centric versions, we still see the experiences through the American perspective. We are just completely ignorant of what might be happening to other people.” PeopleMayStillsMightSufferingMediaPerspectiveHappeningsFilledIraqIgnorantVersionsAfghanistan Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
“When I was growing up, I cared very little for the customs of my parents, the special things that we're supposed to do as Vietnamese people. But now that I am a parent, I go out of my way to make sure that my son goes to visit his grandparents and participates in customs like the Lunar New Year celebration.” PeopleWayYearsLittlesParentGrowing UpGrowingSpecialSonMy WayMy SonCustomsCelebrationNew YearGrandparentVietnameseSpecial Things Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
