dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

> VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANT
>
>
> On Saturday, July 24th, 2010 the town of Prescott Valley, AZ, hosted a
> Freedom Rally. Quang Nguyen was asked to speak on his experience of coming
> to America and what it means.
>
>
> He spoke the following in dedication to all Vietnam Veterans. Thought you
> might enjoy hearing what he had to say.
>
>
> Start quote:
>
>
> "35 years ago, if you were to tell me that I am going to stand up here
> speaking to a couple thousand patriots, in English, I'd laugh at you. Man,
> every morning I wake up thanking God for putting me and my family in the
> greatest country on earth. I just want you all to know that the American
> dream does exist and I am living the American dream. I was asked to speak to
> you about my experience as a first generation Vietnamese-American, but I'd
> rather speak to you as an American.
>
>
> "If you hadn't noticed, I am not white and I feel pretty comfortable with my
> people. I am a proud U.S. citizen and here is my proof. It took me 8 years
> to get it, waiting in endless lines, but I got it, and I am very proud of
> it.
>
>
> "I still remember the images of the Tet offensive in 1968, I was six years
> old. Now you might want to question how a 6-year-old boy could remember
> anything. Trust me, those images can never be erased. I can't even imagine
> what it was like for young American soldiers, 10,000 miles away from home,
> fighting on my behalf.
>
>
> "35 years ago, I left South Vietnam for political asylum. The war had ended.
> At the age of 13, I left with the understanding that I may or may not ever
> get to see my siblings or parents again. I was one of the first lucky
> 100,000 Vietnamese allowed to come to the U.S. Somehow, my family and I were
> reunited 5 months later, amazingly, in California. It was a miracle from
> God.
>
>
> "If you haven't heard lately that this is the greatest country on earth, I
> am telling you that right now. It was the freedom and the opportunities
> presented to me that put me here with all of you tonight. I also remember
> the barriers that I had to overcome every step of the way. My high school
> counselor told me that I cannot make it to college due to my poor
> communication skills. I proved him wrong. I finished college. You see, all
> you have to do is to give this little boy an opportunity and encourage him
> to take and run with it. Well, I took the opportunity and here I am.
>
>
> "This person standing tonight in front of you could not exist under a
> socialist/communist environment. By the way, if you think socialism is the
> way to go, I am sure many people here will chip in to get you a one-way
> ticket out of here. And if you didn't know, the only difference between
> socialism and communism is an AK-47 aimed at your head. That was my
> experience.
>
>
> "In 1982, I stood with a thousand new immigrants, reciting the Pledge of
> Allegiance and listening to the National Anthem for the first time as an
> American. To this day, I can't remember anything sweeter and more patriotic
> than that moment in my life.
>
>
> "Fast forwarding, somehow I finished high school, finished college, and like
> any other goofball 21 year old kid, I was having a great time with my life.
> I had a nice job and a nice apartment in Southern California. In some way
> and somehow, I had forgotten how I got here and why I was here.
>
>
> "One day I was at a gas station, I saw a veteran pumping gas on the other
> side of the island. I don't know what made me do it, but I walked over and
> asked if he had served in Vietnam. He smiled and said yes. I shook and held
> his hand. The grown man began to well up. I walked away as fast as I could
> and at that very moment, I was emotionally rocked. This was a profound
> moment in my life. I knew something had to change in my life. It was time
> for me to learn how to be a good citizen. It was time for me to give back.
>
>
> "You see, America is not just a place on the map, it isn't just a physical
> location. It is an ideal, a concept. And if you are an American, you must
> understand the concept, you must accept this concept, and most importantly,
> you have to fight and defend this concept. This is about Freedom and not
> free stuff. And that is why I am standing up here.
> "Brothers and sisters, to be a real American, the very least you must do is
> to learn English and understand it well. In my humble opinion, you cannot be
> a faithful patriotic citizen if you can't speak the language of the country
> you live in. Take this document of 46 pages - last I looked on the Internet,
> there wasn't a Vietnamese translation of the U.S. Constitution. It took me a
> long time to get to the point of being able to converse and until this day,
> I still struggle to come up with the right words. It's not easy, but if it's
> too easy, it's not worth doing.
>
>
> "Before I knew this 46-page document, I learned of the 500,000 Americans who
> fought for this little boy. I learned of the 58,000 names scribed on the
> black wall at the Vietnam Memorial. You are my heroes. You are my founders.
>
>
> "At this time, I would like to ask all the Vietnam veterans to please stand.
> I thank you for my life. I thank you for your sacrifices, and I thank you
> for giving me the freedom and liberty I have today. I now ask all veterans,
> firefighters, and police officers, to please stand. On behalf of all first
> generation immigrants, I thank you for your services and may God bless you
> all."
>
> Quang Nguyen
> Creative Director/Founder
> Caddis Advertising, LLC
> "God Bless America "
> "One Flag, One Language, One Nation Under God"
>
>
>
> For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
> For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
>

Dennis

Wrangler Loc: North Texas

That talk was difficult to read between the tears. All I can say is, "You are welcome, Quang Nguyen. Welcome home, brother."

d3200prime

Words escape me at the moment, but friends, Mr. Quang Nguyen is an American, in every sense.

idaholover Loc: Nampa ID

Not possible to read without a box of Kleenex! Thanks for putting this up there Dennis. Mr. Nguyen is an proof that Devine providence played a roll in our founding. He is an angel.

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

our next door neighbours are from Vietnam. They came here with 2 little children then had a third, unplanned baby. They are the nicest people I know,

I said to the Dad, " Tran, I have never seen a man work as much as you do". He replied. "I work the same in Vietnam and could not put food on the table".

Since they arrived here he has trained and works as an electrician, and the lady has trained and works as an accountant. Everyone in our little street loves them all.

Kentski Loc: Michigan

Made my day...thanks for posting.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

Thank you or posting this. Tears were in my eyes.

Ken Schwegler, Viet Nam vet.

Fkaufman3 Loc: Florida, LA ie lower Alabama

We adopted a 1 yr orphan from VN while working with operation babylift at end of war, we brought 23 babies and some older children to Hawaii, my son now is married with two girls and is a professor at a major university. My time in country was short but I'm glad for my son and several other lives we touched.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

I have NEVER read a dissertation like this one, on what it is to be an American. Our country is truly blessed among all the countries of the world. Our concept of freedom shines as bright today as when our founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Thank you for posting that speech.
Rich...

DAVE FISHING Loc: Phoenix,Arizona

Two Feathers

Thanks Dennis and I agree with the others on this post . He should write a book and maybe it would reach some of the none caring natural citizens.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

[quote=dennis2146]> VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANT
>
>
> On Saturday, July 24th, 2010 the town of Prescott Valley, AZ, hosted a
> Freedom Rally. Quang Nguyen was asked to speak on his experience of coming
> to America and what it means.
>
>
> He spoke the following in dedication to all Vietnam Veterans. Thought you
> might enjoy hearing what he had to say.
>
>
> Start quote:
>
>
> "35 years ago, if you were to tell me that I am going to stand up here
> speaking to a couple thousand patriots, in English, I'd laugh at you. Man,
> every morning I wake up thanking God for putting me and my family in the
> greatest country on earth. I just want you all to know that the American
> dream does exist and I am living the American dream. I was asked to speak to
> you about my experience as a first generation Vietnamese-American, but I'd
> rather speak to you as an American.
>
>
> "If you hadn't noticed, I am not white and I feel pretty comfortable with my
> people. I am a proud U.S. citizen and here is my proof. It took me 8 years
> to get it, waiting in endless lines, but I got it, and I am very proud of
> it.
>
>
> "I still remember the images of the Tet offensive in 1968, I was six years
> old. Now you might want to question how a 6-year-old boy could remember
> anything. Trust me, those images can never be erased. I can't even imagine
> what it was like for young American soldiers, 10,000 miles away from home,
> fighting on my behalf.
>
>
> "35 years ago, I left South Vietnam for political asylum. The war had ended.
> At the age of 13, I left with the understanding that I may or may not ever
> get to see my siblings or parents again. I was one of the first lucky
> 100,000 Vietnamese allowed to come to the U.S. Somehow, my family and I were
> reunited 5 months later, amazingly, in California. It was a miracle from
> God.
>
>
> "If you haven't heard lately that this is the greatest country on earth, I
> am telling you that right now. It was the freedom and the opportunities
> presented to me that put me here with all of you tonight. I also remember
> the barriers that I had to overcome every step of the way. My high school
> counselor told me that I cannot make it to college due to my poor
> communication skills. I proved him wrong. I finished college. You see, all
> you have to do is to give this little boy an opportunity and encourage him
> to take and run with it. Well, I took the opportunity and here I am.
>
>
> "This person standing tonight in front of you could not exist under a
> socialist/communist environment. By the way, if you think socialism is the
> way to go, I am sure many people here will chip in to get you a one-way
> ticket out of here. And if you didn't know, the only difference between
> socialism and communism is an AK-47 aimed at your head. That was my
> experience.
>
>
> "In 1982, I stood with a thousand new immigrants, reciting the Pledge of
> Allegiance and listening to the National Anthem for the first time as an
> American. To this day, I can't remember anything sweeter and more patriotic
> than that moment in my life.
>
>
> "Fast forwarding, somehow I finished high school, finished college, and like
> any other goofball 21 year old kid, I was having a great time with my life.
> I had a nice job and a nice apartment in Southern California. In some way
> and somehow, I had forgotten how I got here and why I was here.
>
>
> "One day I was at a gas station, I saw a veteran pumping gas on the other
> side of the island. I don't know what made me do it, but I walked over and
> asked if he had served in Vietnam. He smiled and said yes. I shook and held
> his hand. The grown man began to well up. I walked away as fast as I could
> and at that very moment, I was emotionally rocked. This was a profound
> moment in my life. I knew something had to change in my life. It was time
> for me to learn how to be a good citizen. It was time for me to give back.
>
>
> "You see, America is not just a place on the map, it isn't just a physical
> location. It is an ideal, a concept. And if you are an American, you must
> understand the concept, you must accept this concept, and most importantly,
> you have to fight and defend this concept. This is about Freedom and not
> free stuff. And that is why I am standing up here.
> "Brothers and sisters, to be a real American, the very least you must do is
> to learn English and understand it well. In my humble opinion, you cannot be
> a faithful patriotic citizen if you can't speak the language of the country
> you live in. Take this document of 46 pages - last I looked on the Internet,
> there wasn't a Vietnamese translation of the U.S. Constitution. It took me a
> long time to get to the point of being able to converse and until this day,
> I still struggle to come up with the right words. It's not easy, but if it's
> too easy, it's not worth doing.
>
>
> "Before I knew this 46-page document, I learned of the 500,000 Americans who
> fought for this little boy. I learned of the 58,000 names scribed on the
> black wall at the Vietnam Memorial. You are my heroes. You are my founders.
>
>
> "At this time, I would like to ask all the Vietnam veterans to please stand.
> I thank you for my life. I thank you for your sacrifices, and I thank you
> for giving me the freedom and liberty I have today. I now ask all veterans,
> firefighters, and police officers, to please stand. On behalf of all first
> generation immigrants, I thank you for your services and may God bless you
> all."
>
> Quang Nguyen
> Creative Director/Founder
> Caddis Advertising, LLC
> "God Bless America "
> "One Flag, One Language, One Nation Under God"
>
>
>
> For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
> For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
>

It is people like this that makes one realize how great we have and that the sacrifices, though great, are worth it.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

It would be excellent if the news media spread this speech. Outstanding!
I very fondly recall a Vietnamese employee, who was outstanding both as a person and employee. She and her family made a great addition to our country! Her husband was attending college, and she was a third year pharmacy major, working, and raising a child. This was not long after the fall of South Vietnam.
I visited Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, while it housed around 50,000 Vietnam refugees, remember seeing many faces of patience, and hope. The old barracks they were placed in, were bulging at the seams!