Phusebox

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March 16 2006

The immigrants from Indochina have flourished in our country, they are successful business owners and professionals, they succeed in our schools, and seamlessly mingle within our society. Many of these successful people were not always this accomplished, decades earlier they were struggling in third-world countries. Behind their eyes there are hundreds of stories, stories of terror, suffering, and death. During the 1970â€™s, the Vietnam War shook the lives of millions of the population of the Indochina region, fleeing war, oppression, and torture; the coming of these fiercely independent peoples has changed our foreign policy, our economy, and our culture.

The Indochinese government and culture of these refugees influence the war. During this time the French controlled Indochina as a colony (Tucker 305) Their oppressive laws ignited the communist Revolution (304). Examples of their laws were they were not allowed to have any say in the governmental policies and they were not allowed to attack an officer of the French army despite any harsh treatment (Singfried 37) Many people were growing restless and leaving the country. One of these people was Ho Chi Minh (Tucker 306) He left the country via fishing companies. During the end of World War II Minh was residing in Paris near the negotiations between the Axis and the Allied powers (306). Minh submitted a petition for the freedom of the Indochinese people. However, the council did not appear interested in the freedom of his people and the petition was refused (306).

Minh was desperate for his peopleâ€™s freedom. Seeing no other way to accomplish his task he joined the French Communist Party (306) who were working to free the Indochinese from the overruling governments (306). Minh became very active in this new faction, quickly gaining the attention of this superiors and respect from his comrades (306). However Minh became impatient and took action of his own; he called a secret meeting in Hong Kong and instated the brotherhood of the Vietnamese Communists or the Viet Minh (Thompson). This organization planned an attack on the French colonists which ignited an eight year struggle for their independence.

During the Vietnamese war many people were displaced and took refuge in other countries. Many homes were commandeered by Vietnamese soldiers so they could appear civilian (Stringly 16). Others were caught in the crossfire. On April 27, 1965 the village of Mai Lai was shaken by the war. American troops invaded the town massacring the villagers indiscriminately, there was no one found that was left alive. Others decided to wave during the fall of the Republic of Vietnam because of their fear from the communist leadersâ€™ vengeance. The first wave of refugees left by helicopter in the American base camps.

The second wave of the refugees was called the Boat People. They received their names from their rickety boats they used to travel across the South China Sea (Tuckier 12) many of these people died at sea. Some died from starvation or thirst, others died of the overexposure and may were murdered or pillaged by pirates (Stringly 18). Less than 2,000 refugees made it while the Vietnamese governments say that 30,000 left the country (Stringly 12). However there are strong indications point to higher numbers Many wonder why these people would face conditions that were so unfavorable to them. It was because they faced worse conditions if they stayed in the country. These people were taken over by a vengeful government who killed many leaders of the Republic and stole their savings, their land, and their homes (Thompson)

The communists were creating a new economy based on Socialism and were moving the southern population into New Economic Zones, grungy cities, or land that was not as fertile. Some were also moved into reeducation camps, where they were forcecd to work and warn the communist doctrines (Valdir 12)

The refugees that were brought to the United States received more help from our government than other refugees because the government had played a larger role in displacing their people (Rheinhardt, 12-15). The Indochinese has also been the most successful of all the refugees in succeeding in our economy. Over 30% of the refugees saw self employment as their best option (12-15). Many of the Indochinese grabbed hold of the beauty industry, quickly obtaining nail salons, barber shops, and sewing machines. The refugee population in many areas took major cities by storm, such as New York and Los Angelos, creating Chinatowns (12-15) where they sell their wares even to this day.

Loy Tam was one such refugee. When he moved to the states he obtained a job at a restaurant and his wife Pai was a seamstress. After a year he took interest in his wifes success (12-15). He soon obtained a garment making machine and began selling his wares. Three years later he had obtained six machines and was grossing over one million dollars (12-15) This kind of success is not precedented in other refugee groups. Loy Tam refers to their advantage as the â€œIndochineseâ€ mentality. (12-15)

The Fierce tenacity of these people is evident in their success. Now you can buy an Americanized version of their food in almost every city, their cartoons in our television and their salons in our phone books these independent people have most certainly taken our people by storm. They have also changed our government, because without these people we would not have the Refugee Act of 1970. They have changed our economy thorough their businesses caused by their initiative in fulfilling their needs. There is no doubt that these people have changed our country.