Honoring Senator John McCain San Francisco Writer Anh Lê

SAN FRANCISCO - Sept. 2, 2018 - PRLog -- Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises~~~

In Memoriam

Honoring Senator John McCain

By Anh Lê

Like millions of Americans, I honor and pay my respect to Senator John McCain.

I am a Vietnamese. I am a Vietnamese American.

My family and I arrived in this country as immigrants. We have been richly blessed with the wonderful gifts and opportunities this country offers. The American people are a decent, good hearted, and generous people.

Like Senator McCain, both my parents suffered from cancer. I know what it is like to have my loved ones struck with cancer.

Like Senator McCain, both my parents experienced war.

During the French-Indochina War, my father was captured and imprisoned by the French. For two years, he was tortured, beaten, and interrogated by the French. The French applied electricity to his body and genitals in their torture. My father's sin, in the eyes of the French, was that he was a Vietnamese, and a highly educated one.

My mother was raped during the French-Indochina War.

Yet, through their strong human spirit and endurance, my parents survived.

During the Viet Nam War, my parents and our family prayed daily for peace. We prayed for the dropping of bombs over Viet Nam to cease. We prayed for the slaughter and killing of Vietnamese babies, children, women, and men to end. We prayed for the war to end.

We prayed for my grandparents, uncles, and aunts in Viet Nam. My mother did not get to see her parents and siblings for decades because of the war.

When the Viet Nam War ended on April 30, 1975, peace finally arrived in my native country, Viet Nam, "Nuoc Me De," the Land of my Birth.

I thank and am deeply grateful to Senator McCain for his role in the process of healing after the end of the War in Viet Nam for both the people of Viet Nam and the people of the United States.

Vietnamese and Americans alike are deeply grateful for his courage and his leadership in calling for the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and the U.S. May Viet Nam and the United States and our peoples enjoy enduring friendship. And may the Peace which arrived in Viet Nam for the Vietnamese people 43 years ago be everlasting.

I read Senator McCain's books, "Restless Wave," as well as "Character Is Destiny" and "Faith of My Fathers."

I am heartened by Senator McCain's call, in his book "Restless Wave," for our nation to return to civility, decency, and respect in how it conducts its discourse on the issues that confront our country. Respect, civility, and decency, not only in the halls of Congress, the White House, and government at the national, state, and local levels, but also among fellow Americans regardless of political party affiliation or personal perspective, racial or ethnic background, skin color, or socio-economic background.

I remember that during the 2008 presidential campaign, at a town hall meeting, when a Caucasian woman expressed her fear that Mr. Obama was "an Arab," and a Caucasian man said he was afraid for our country because of Senator McCain's opponent in that race,  Senator McCain simply told them and the American people, "(Senator Obama) He's a decent family man," and "I will be respectful. I admire Senator Obama and his accomplishments, and I will respect him. You do not have to be scared of him being President of the United States." I will remember those simple words and statements, spoken clearly and with heart and conviction by Senator McCain. Senator McCain displayed grace, eloquence, and character.

As we mourn the death of Senator McCain, we are glad to know that Senator McCain invited President Barack Obama, his Democratic opponent in the 2008 election, to deliver one of the eulogies at his funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

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Senator John McCain's Funeral Featuring Presidents Obama and Bush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYTWbM0wnXg