At the essence of We Should Never Meet, is a daunting message that calls for the importance of telling the stories of children who had no voice during The Vietnam War. The effects of war are not limited to war zones but are rather encompassing of a nation. Aimee Phan focuses on a neglected effect of war- the deaths and loss of innocence of children as an unjust by-product of war. Through Hoa, Phan creates a contrast between the infancy of children not exposed to war versus children who grow up during war. As Hoa is witnessing the practical way of potty-training orphans, she reminisces in distress remembering "her sons at this age, crawling on the floor, sucking her breast. They were never forced to hunch over a pail" (Phan 115). Through this image, Phan highlights the pervasiveness of war. These innocent orphans are potty-trained in a manner that is disturbingly similar to a militarized style of training. The orphans must be grouped, disciplined, squat for long periods of times, and obey the adults' commands. Unfortunately, the orphanages have little choice or flexibility due to the increasing number of children and high risk of epidemics. Children are not exempt to the effects of war and are often affected in unconscious ways. Furthermore, Phan acknowledges these cruel environments children endure are not a rarity. The multiple deaths of orphans and growing number of orphanages is truly an epidemic. During Steven's and Hoa's trip to deliver supplies to different orphanages, Hoa states she cannot cave during the first visit. In other words, Hoa has become accustomed to the visible malnutrition of the babies, the lack of supplies in the orphanages, and the crowded living situations. Hoa had to put her feelings aside in order to think practically and not emotionally. Ultimately, the deaths of these children and their loss of innocence create a dichotomy for people like Hoa. Although she continues to view South Vietnam as home, she also recognizes the nightmare and death sentence it represents for many children. It is a grim reality for these orphaned, Amerasian children. Perhaps it is because of this cruel depiction of children in war culture that it is easier to neglect the conversation. However, Phan highlights the necessity to tell the story of the multiple children who suffered during and after the Vietnam War. Phan does not necessarily present Operation Babylift as the solution, she simply recognizes for many children it was the only option.
By Alejandra M.
I agree that the way they potty-trained the orphans were military style. It is true that Babylift Operation was the only options these orphans had to survive. Adding to your comment, your post highlights the fact that these children lived in such cruel environments that it created long lasting effects. Many of the orphans cannot form bonds because of such cruel conditions.
ReplyDeleteBy Dania T.
I hadn't actually thought of these stories as being a voice for the children who had no voice in the Vietnam War. Hoa is essentially our eyes and ears for those who suffered during wartime like the potty-trained orphans. We don't know what's exactly going through their heads so we rely on Hoa's memories of her sons growing up in a more peaceful time as an indirect way to describe just how bad the current situation is.
ReplyDeleteBy Lauren S.
I agree with Alejandra's interpretation of the life of an Orphan because living as one often has many struggles, especially for the people who keep them alive. For Hoa, to take care of the babies and orphans definitely represented her difficulties caring for them because they suffered from health issues and needed someone to care for them, since most of them did not or barely survived. However, some orphans kept alive because of the help Hoa gave to them, which portrayed her commitment to the job, even in the face of dying children right before her eyes. In that case, every orphan had to live poorly because of the Vietnam war and that did alter the way they felt, in regards to their adoption, but with uncertainty.
ReplyDeleteBy Kevin L.
This is very nicely stated. The experiences that Hoa faces in the midst of the war are very eye opening. I think it was good for her story to be placed in the midst of these other stories because as readers we get to see the war and problems that the Amerasian children faced through the eyes of a Vietnamese adult. The example you brought up about Hoa witnessing the children being potty trained, really gives insight to the dilemma she was faced with. The struggle of loving her country but also witnessing what the war that her country was a part of was doing to these poor children. The internal struggle of wanting her children to be safe but also not wanting them to leave her was also a huge dilemma she faced in the story that shows how much weight the war put on her shoulders. I also agree that Phan's portrayal of Operation Baby-lift was not the solution but as you said, was the only option and only means of survival for these children.
ReplyDeleteBy Ariel R.