Thursday, May 23

Today, I have began to better understand certain realities, one being that the US Government has been responsible for the killing and mutating of many innocent Vietnam citizens. The US government has not always done the right thing through the course of history, the war crimes in Vietnam being one of these instances. Leaving the museum a few hours ago, the agent orange photos are the most memorable. The effects of toxin agent orange are interminable. The mutation effects have been passed down through generations. A letter from a Vietnamese women to President Obama was posted at the end of the agent orange exhibit. The women was born without any legs, and with only one arm; she was writing to Obama reaching out for compensation. What I saw at the museum has been swirling in my head, I am interested in learning about more cases. I wonder in what other instances the US Government has displayed violent, without reason acts of violence against humanity. The museum today was very eye-opening. At night after the museum, we went out to dinner at the Rex Hotel. we had an unbelievable view of downtown on the rooftop restaurant. I ordered the filet mignon. It was the most flavorful, tender piece of meat I've ever had, it was wrapped with 2 pieces of bacon. After the Rex Hotel, we went on a bar crawl with the chief engineer at II,VI. He had invited us when we were on our company visit, and it was great to have a chance to talk with him and ask him questions in a more relaxed setting. I was amazed talking to his son, who has started his own life in Vietnam, following his father.