Shadow of the Dragon: Historical and Cultural Connections Take out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. You will write down everything in red type in this PowerPoint.

Vietnam Pronounced vee eht NAM Resembles an elongated “s” Country in Southeast Asia with its eastern coast on the South China Sea Bordered by China to the north and Laos and Cambodia to the west

The Vietnam War Vietnam was divided into North Vietnam (communist) and South Vietnam (non- communist) North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese rebels wanted the country to be united as a communist country Ultimately, U.S. sought to help the South Vietnamese, but efforts failed

Vietnam War Vietnam War was the second phase of fighting in Vietnam; previously, France had fought to control Vietnam U.S. sent aide to France and, later, South Vietnam as part of the Cold War policy U.S. feared that if one Southeast Asian nation became communist, others would follow (“domino effect”) French defeated by Vietnamese in 1954

Vietnam War Continued To date, longest war that the U.S. has been involved in ( ) By April 1969, the number of U.S. forces in South Vietnam reached its peak of more than 543,000 troops Fighting was brutal and relentless By July of that year, U.S troops slowly started to be removed In January 1973, there was a cease-fire; two months later most Americans left

Aftermath of Vietnam War South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam on April 30, 1975 It was an enormously destructive war Much of Vietnam was left in ruins U.S. military deaths reached about 1.3 million The U.S. role in the war became one of the most debated issues in the nation’s history Some believe our involvement was necessary and others call it cruel and wrong

Re-education Camps What do you think a re- education camp might be? What do you imagine occurs there? Concept of re-education camp was borrowed from the Chinese communists Camps came to the world’s attention after North Vietnam’s take over of the South in 1975

Re-education Camps Continued Camps were not thought of as prisons; separate from prison system Considered to be institutions where rehabilitation was accomplished through education and labor Only those who “deserved rehabilitation” were sent to camps (opposed to jail) Their political attitudes, work production records, and general behavior was closely monitored What do you believe “rehabilitation” consisted of?

Re-education Camps Continued There were three types of camps: short-term, long-term, and permanent incarceration Sang Le most likely would have been in the third type of camp This third type of social-reform camp was intended for permanent incarceration or until a person was “re-educated” This type involved indoctrination and forced labor A person was sentenced for a period of time (3-5 years) When time expired, they were most likely sentenced to more time

Vietnamese Refugees What do you think a refugee is? A refugee is a person who is forced to flee his/her country of origin and seek safety elsewhere Vietnamese comprise the largest population of Southeast Asian refugees in the U.S. With their American-born children, they number approximately 995,000

Vietnamese Refugees Continued Most refugees came from South Vietnam As conditions worsened, people left via boats; many died at sea As these reports became known, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees was able to negotiate an agreement to allow “orderly departure” This allowed for refugees to seek refuge with family members living abroad People without relatives abroad still fled via boats

Vietnamese Refugees Continued At the end of the war, thousands of Southern Vietnamese were in re- education camps (including some Americans) U.S. plead for the release of these people In 1988, many of these people were allowed to leave through the Orderly Departure Program

Vietnamese Refugees Continued Largest number of Vietnamese refugees live in Southern California (mostly Los Angeles and Orange County) Large numbers also live in Houston and Dallas, Texas, the suburbs of Washington D.C., & the states of Washington, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, and Illinois

Chinese/Vietnamese Zodiac The calendar is based on the cycles of the moon Beginning of the year falls between late January and early February Vietnamese adopted the same calendar as the Chinese

Zodiac Continued Legend has it that the Jade Emperor organized and conducted a race First 12 winners, in order they finished, created a lunar calendar Calendar changes every year; each year embodies an animal

Zodiac Continued People will become like the animal of the year they are born They take on the animal’s characteristics and identify with the animal for their entire life Animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit (Cat), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram (Goat), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig

Year of the Dragon Danny is said to be born in the year of the Dragon. Healthy, energetic, excitable, short- tempered, and stubborn Honest, sensitive, brave, and inspire trust and confidence Most eccentric & luckiest animal in Zodiac