Finally, in Heaven and Earth, we observe American men coming back state side and committing suicide for what they did to those Asians for their duty to God and country. (Just this past week, Ft. Hood in Texas witnessed 4 such suicides.)
On Hollywood 33 TV here in Taiwan, I just re-watched the film 1994 film, Heaven and Earth, and the story is eerily reminiscent of what we have been seeing in other parts of Asia over this past decade.
NOTE: Back in the late 1990s, I used the film Heaven and Earth--along with Forrest Gump and the other Stone films--to teach about American memory in film when I taught foreign students about American history and movies. This is why I am pushing better film education in American schools, so that youth no how to handle media and memory better in coming generations.
WE ALL NEED REDEMPTION--and Pronto
The book, When Heaven and Earth Change Places(1989), was actually a story of change, growth and redemption of a Vietnamese victim of war. This book was optioned out to Oliver Stone almost immediately after he read it in 1989. This book begins to tell the true tale of Vietnamese born American Le Ly Hayslip.
In turn, near the end of the Stone movie, Heaven and
Earth, we get a glimpse of Hayslip returning to Vietnam
with her family and finally committing herself to make a continuing difference
in Southeast Asia. In fact, Hayslip soon helps
to create two great foundations to aid in Southeast Asian development and
reconstruction over the next decade. One of these organizations is the Global Village Foundation. This foundation focuses on improving education
and ending illiteracy and poverty related illiteracy in Asia.
The other is East Meets West Foundation. It offers medical and health care programs and projects as well as undertaking local infrastructural development and construction assistance. It also offers other health care educational assistance in addition to medical & dental training campaigns for kids and communities.
Well, if America is ever learn from its continuing involvement in Asian wars, Americans are going to have to start watching this older Oliver Stone film and reading non-fiction works like Le Ly Hayslip's tales now. Hopefully, redemption in Afghanistan and Iraq will not have to wait till future generation learn and grow up to the facts and horrors of becoming one's own worst enemy come war-time.
NOTE: Put pressure on
your political candidates to end war and fighting in Asia
this election!
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