Thứ Bảy, 19 tháng 11, 2016
let us thanks america
(letter to daughter, from a refugee-dad)
by t.van (english version by luu na )
source: t-van.net/
let us thanks america (letter to...)
t-van net/
let us thanks america
(letter to daughter, from a refugee-dad)
t-van net/
(letter to daughter, from a refugee-dad)
by t.van
ENGLISH VERSION BY LUU NA
My dear little girl!
It has been a week, since we each hung on opposite ends of the almost-thousand-mile line throughout the night. I could sense your despair as you looked at the dancing numbers on your screen. In our old house where you were born, growing, and then flying out of your nest for your own new life, I too, sit quietly in front of the computer, feeling those same feelings you had. Because those dancing numbers were not what you and I expected.
Alas, that unexpected surprise, however irritable,was not enough to disturb me. At this age, I have been through much worse, if not downright horrible, tragedies ... such as the end of the Vietnam War on the 30th of April, 1975, when you were still floating somewhere in the unknown universe. To you, I know, this [election] was an event that will mark your young soul as one simply unforgettable. Your sobbing voice at
2 a.m., simply asking "You haven't gone to bed yet, Dad?", was enough for me to understand the raging confused thoughts that were on your minds.
The race to the most powerful position in the world has ended. There is a winner, and of course a loser.
Together with millions, tens of millions, and hundreds of millions of people (Americans and non-Americans in the worlds) you had cried that night. Not for the lose, I know. For there is nothing to say about someone who loses in a political game, and I would not have had the motivation to write this letter to you and this generation of youth -- some of whom wept alone like you, others sharing their tears with friends and loved ones.
I know, all yours tears were shed not for the winner, but rather for the votes that nearly 60 million American citizens had casted for him. You wept, for what has been the most honorable symbol that America had to offer-a-mighty fortress to protect, to nourish, and to flourish the people-had crumbled, and this America no longer seems to be the America that the world could look up to and call on when it encountered a catastrophe.
May be you are asking yourself "Why?"
I also wonder "why?" myself: why traumatize yourself with the actions of some lucky tycoon who, at the end of his life, sought to gain fame to pair his wealth (?)
The answer for both of us: that is the problem. Simply for his own end-of-life fame, that tycoon had trampled on the fundamental ethics and basic morals of a human being Through lies, fabrications, and delusions, he convinced them that he is the angel sent from high above, who blessed by God as a miracle will make this country great s it is in his imagination and the darkest corners in the minds of every believer he had created.
I am the only one who can fix our problems! He proclaimed , as you can remember, when he talked about the problems of America-some of which were real and others quite exaggerated, misappropriated, or even nonexistent. I am the one who can fix our problems!
The fakes/imposters always appear in times of disarray and desperation ... as in the Philippines ( President Duterte), England (Brexit), and Turkey ( President Erdogan). And they have succeeded in destroying the best of man, by the orders of devils and of the temptingly sinful desires that we each carry as the mark of man. All of which were fortunately bounded by ethical standards, religious faiths, and legalities installed to prevent and punish if one allowed his raw animal instincts and desires to get the better part of him and escape and disrupt society.
And thus, the symbolic meaning of the winner in this unprecedented dirty and shameful election in American politics, is that the victory threatens to restore the darkest, animalistic part of man that have been guarded by justice and holiness.
You know, my love, among those Vietnamese refugees who came to the U.S. decades ago, many were so lucky to have met the kind hearted Americans who widely open their doors to the dismayed people, us, who fled our county for a better life.
Yet, there were not-so-lucky refugees who were prejudiced against, disgraced, disrespected, and even chased off and threatened by a handful of narrow minded locals. But thanks to a justice-bound system that governed bad acts, those not-so-lucky refugees were able to rebuilt their lives and given the opportunity to flourish.
Can you imagine if the Vietnamese refugees had come to America at this time? In the midst of Trump's bubble of deceitful propaganda of "restoring a great America" filling the air, invading all aspects of life: work, social, and cultural activities ... , one would ask, would we be as fortunate or have the same opportunities as the Vietnamese refugees dis years ago?
It seems that among the ex-refugees, some only see the Rambo part of America through the tycoon's arrogant, for-the-sake-of-venting words. They hope to see him crush hillbilly China and punish tyranny in Vietnam. In a more rational mindset, however, one will see that American foreign policy is set not only by the sitting President of the U.S. but also the Congress, by lobbyists, and above all, by the interest of the America. An aggressive or neutral policy depends on the benefits it brings to the America.
As such, longing for a better country by supporting a Rambo President is but a pathetic delusion. It calls for discriminations (based on races, colors, and religions), not in the U.S. policy, but in the minds of the 60 million Trump's voters-those who uphold a belief that immigrants make America worse and that immigrants are people who rob them their jobs, their lands and their privileges to a luxury lifestyle. If only a fraction of those 60 million voters take actions based on their belief installed Trump, the safety of the remaining 300 million is at risk.
Success never comes from those whose claim"I am the only who can fix our problems!" In a fair-play society, success is the result of hard working and self-propelling forwards better causes and better life. In this world, there is not a superior race with better minds, supreme intelligence, or super talents. Only well-soiled environments can provide such qualities, and America proves to offer this very environment and thus draws minds to its home. That is the incomparable greatness of America. America is great because it allows anyone the opportunity to become great. An 18-year-old Vietnamese would have never achieved his position as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics for a well-known Oklahoma University if he had still live in his homeland . This honor belongs to America, not Vietnam as some papers of the country noisily claimed.
To me,"Make America Great Again" is an enticement that will lessen America's greatness. How can this nation be great if it cannot house the world in its very home?
You work in the software fields, with friends and colleagues who come from all over the world and with various religions. As yous said, you and your colleagues and friends share passions in your work, from coding the meaningless numbers into means to heighten love, equality, and harmony in all aspects of life, and inventions that benefit the world. More than that, you and those talented from all races and all religions also share the melting pot where their passions row, their skills bringing people together.
My love,
I understand you and your dear friends have been living in confusion and fear of the unsafe and disrespect that can happen any time anywhere since the Election Day. News of riots add to your uneasiness. But remember, America is the country where one can voice his or her opinions. Open discrimination as well as violations of law do not make the country unlawful albeit inspired from the elect president. Rest assured that all crimes will be tried. America is not only of the 60 million Trump-voters, but also of the more than 60 million voters who voted otherwise, and of those 200 million who for various reasons did not cast their votes.
Love Trump hate, you know that. Justice belongs to the majority, and you are a part of that majority. You and your friends will win. With other hundred millions of Americans, let us prove to those who want to "Make America Great Again" that America is great because of what is has been doing: housing those dearest around you who are.
[t]he high, the low, the rich, the poor,
The black, the white, the red,
And all the chromatique inbetween ..., who vary in religion and belief but have only one desire--to make America the land that all eyes turn to when in need.
Achieving that will bring back tranquility to your soul and to the land that I came to live and where you were born.
Let us thank America, thank even the tycoon who just won, for because of him, you and I see the greatness of America,
Your Dad, a refugee.
t.vấn
(ENGLISH VERSION BY LUU NA)
http://t-van.net/?=29622
Thứ Hai, 14 tháng 11, 2016
'the warrior's homecoming', a poem by david lan pham -- source : art2all.net
the warrior's homecoming by david lan pham
art2all.net
the warrior 's homecoming
by david lan pham
Peace re -established,
The warrior returns home.
He walks on the deserted path
His body is partly mutilated.
The village bamboo hedge is burnt,
His home reduced into ash;
His friends separate from one another.
Everybody complains.
For the cause of his Fatherland,
He sacrificed blood and parts of his body,
Youth, hope,
And his juvenile love.
Returning to his origin,
He deems peace is reigning,
Everybody is happy.
What a surprise!
Sobs, mourings,
Imprisonment, oppression
Are found everywhere
In his lovely Vietnam.
No more war!
But no real peace!
The war continues
Via delirious complaints.
Petrified, the warrior sits
By his mother' s grave,
Sobbing and holding hid face in his hands.
His mother remains silent.
On the way home,
He deems he'll take car of his mother,
Share joy and bitterness with her
In her twilight years.
What a sorrow!
His mother left the world
Without saying good- bye.
It's no doubt she regretted
Not to see her dear son
The last day of her life.
From the bloody battlefields,
The warrior is still alive
Although some drop of his bloods
Were deeply absorbed in the entrails of his Fatherland.
In his quiet village
His mother passed away.
So dis his fiancee,
Leaving an unfinished love symphony
And her last farewell words
Which are tragic and grievous.
How about his friends?
They've already gone
To a certain horizon
Without any promise of returning.
In a stupor the warrior
Meanders around the village temple,
And finds his lonesome rest
In the shade of the banian tree.
During his fatigue sleep,
Due to hunger and suffering,
He has a nightmare, seeing
Blood, fire and destruction.
david lan pham F.A.B.I.
http://art2all.net/tho/phamdinhlan/english/phamdinhlan_TheWarriorsHomeComing.html
Two Hamlets in Nam Bô (Memoirs of Fife in Vietnam) / David Lan Pham
art2all.net
the warrior 's homecoming
by david lan pham
Peace re -established,
The warrior returns home.
He walks on the deserted path
His body is partly mutilated.
The village bamboo hedge is burnt,
His home reduced into ash;
His friends separate from one another.
Everybody complains.
For the cause of his Fatherland,
He sacrificed blood and parts of his body,
Youth, hope,
And his juvenile love.
Returning to his origin,
He deems peace is reigning,
Everybody is happy.
What a surprise!
Sobs, mourings,
Imprisonment, oppression
Are found everywhere
In his lovely Vietnam.
No more war!
But no real peace!
The war continues
Via delirious complaints.
Petrified, the warrior sits
By his mother' s grave,
Sobbing and holding hid face in his hands.
His mother remains silent.
On the way home,
He deems he'll take car of his mother,
Share joy and bitterness with her
In her twilight years.
What a sorrow!
His mother left the world
Without saying good- bye.
It's no doubt she regretted
Not to see her dear son
The last day of her life.
From the bloody battlefields,
The warrior is still alive
Although some drop of his bloods
Were deeply absorbed in the entrails of his Fatherland.
In his quiet village
His mother passed away.
So dis his fiancee,
Leaving an unfinished love symphony
And her last farewell words
Which are tragic and grievous.
How about his friends?
They've already gone
To a certain horizon
Without any promise of returning.
In a stupor the warrior
Meanders around the village temple,
And finds his lonesome rest
In the shade of the banian tree.
During his fatigue sleep,
Due to hunger and suffering,
He has a nightmare, seeing
Blood, fire and destruction.
david lan pham F.A.B.I.
http://art2all.net/tho/phamdinhlan/english/phamdinhlan_TheWarriorsHomeComing.html
david lan pham [i.e. phạm đình lân 1940- ]
David Lan Pham or Pham dinh Lân was born in Thu Dau Mot
(Binh Duong) Sourhern Vietnam, on February 1st, 1940. A graduate of the
University of Saigon he specialized in history and geography. He taught
history , and had cultural and journalistic activities in South Vietnam before
1975. David Lan Pham left Vietnam clandestiny by boat, and was
resettled in the U.S.A. in 1986. He worked for Catholic Social Service
Refugee Resettlement Program in South Alabama as the Social
Services ... David Lan, a subject of biographical record in Marquis Who's
Who in America (2003-2000) Marquis Who's Who in the World (2004-2006)
etc ...
Two Hamlets in Nam Bô (Memoirs of Fife in Vietnam) / David Lan Pham
Earthy Life / David Lan Pham
Thứ Sáu, 11 tháng 11, 2016
in memory, a poem by david lan pham -- http://art2ll.net/
in memory, a poem by david lan pham
art2all.net
in memory
by david lan pham
I bow my head in memory
Of the proud soldiers,
The patriots
And those who were fallen
How glorious and courageous
The soldiers were!
They died for their homeland
Without either statue or tombstone.
Listening to the call of their rivers and mountains
Enthusiastically they started their departure,
Leaving their comfortable life behind,
Throwing away their golden age
To accept any hardship,
Imprisonment and banishment,
Dance in the smoke of cannons,
And make friends with thorny life.
They embellished their rivers and mountains
With their bones and blood
Without regret
For their die for their country's survival.
They didn't live for their own life
But for their posterity,
Their homeland's peace and glory,
Their Vietnamese people,
Their happiness,
Their country's peace,
Justice for mankind,
The eternal truth,
The torch of conscience
Enlightening all the peoples in the world.
They were fallen with the smiles
In the abandoned graves,
In the virgin jungles and dark mountains,
Along certain paths of our country.
Their souls stay here,
In the wind and smoke of incense
In the musical sounds of requiem
And the farewell bell ring.
Adieu! Dear patriots!
In memory of you all
Who were fallen
For the sake of our country's glory.
DAVID LAN PHAM, F.A.B.I.
(photo: internet)
http://art2all.net/tho/phamdinhlan/english/phaamdinhlan_InMemory.html
" Adieu! Dear patriots/ In memory of you all ..."
photo by René Burri [1933- ]
Thứ Tư, 9 tháng 11, 2016
'tuổi Thân không tốt cung nô bộc' : thơ nguyễn thị thanh dương (source: internet)
tựa chính, 'NH TUỔI THÂN'/ nguyễn thị thanh dương
(source: internet)
'tuổi thân không tốt cung nô bộc'
(source: internet)
'tuổi thân không tốt cung nô bộc'
nguyễn thị thanh dương
Khi yêu nhau có ai xem tuổi,
dù anh tuổi gì em vẫn yêu anh
yêu một người mang cung mệnh tuổi Thân
nên em không muốn yêu người tuổi khác
Anh tuổi Thân thông mình và hoạt bát,
ăn nói lịch thiệp vui vẻ từ tâm,
giỏi việc đời lại giỏi cả văn chương,
anh hào hoa nên em ghen lắm đó.
'Khỉ ho cò gáy', 'chim kêu vượn hú',
đời có lúc vắng có lúc buồn tênh,
nhịp cầu nào đưa em đến gần anh,
đi qua cầu khi chông chênh em, bước.
Anh tuổi Thân không 'tủi thân' con giáp,
con giáp của anh hình ảnh dễ thương,
anh yêu đời dù có lúc gian nan,
anh chẳng ngại 'rung cây nhát khỉ'.
Mẹ bảo anh lấy anh là chuốc khổ,
tử vi tuổi Thân nhiều đoạn gập ghềnh,
anh đa đoan công việc và ái tình,
em sẽ bơ vơ bên lề cuộc sống.
Tuổi anh tuổi em tử vi không hợp,
tuổi Thân kỵ tuổi Tỵ, Ngọ, Hơi, Dần,
Mười hai con giáp em chẳng phân vân,
dù lấy anh cả 2 cùng gian khổ.
Anh mệnh Thủy xung khắc, em mệnh Hỏa
chuyện phu thề bất trắc nửa đoạn đường,
em cãi số Trời đến với người thương,
tính may rủi em sẵn sàng chấp nhận.
Anh tuổi Thân không tốt cung nô bộc,
nhiều người mến anh nhưng chẳng thủy chung,
em sẽ bên anh những bước đường cùng,
là bạn thân là người tình tri kỷ ...
Cùng lắng nghe bên đời nhau chuông gió,
cùng nghịch ngợm như 2 đứa trẻ thơ,
mặt nhăn như khỉ ăn ớt lúc đùa,
mặt trang nghiêm luc trầm tư suy nghĩ.
Em vẫn tin vào tử vi tướng số,
em vẫn tin vào những lời mẹ khuyên,
trên đời có nhiều tuổi em hợp duyên
nhưng người tuổi Thân em yêu quý nhất.
nguyễn thị thanh dương
(BÍNH THÂN 2016)
-----------
- chỉ in chữ hoa ở đấu mỗi đoạn thơ (Bt)
lời bàn
Trước tiên: tôi không biết nguồn của bài thơ xuất xứ từ đâu? Bởi, tôi đọc trên mạng; thấy nhiều 'lời đoán trong thơ' rất đúng với đời sống tôi (nay ở tuổi 85, Nhâm thân). Thế là tôi in ra, để đấy, có khi cần đọc lại chiêm nghiệm.
- điều đúng đầu tiên 'tuổi Thân không tốt cung nô bộc'. Đúng quá đi chứ, tôi từng có câu thơ 'Tôi bị nhiều phản bội nên vô cùng qúy chó'.
Từ năm 1962,tôi lên Dalat lần đầu tiên; từ quán cà phê Tùng đi ra, bỗng một con chó mầu nâu vẫy đuôi chồm lên liếm tay tôi, tôi nhổ nước bọt, chó liếm , rồi quấn quít theo tôi. Vài bạn thanh niên trẻ đi cùng ngạc nhiên, một cậu nói với tôi, "... thế anh về Saigon định đem nó theo sao. Con này lai berger, một con chó cái đang tơ". Chẳng hiểu bạn tôi nói có ẩn ý gì,'con chó cái đang tơ' -- nhưng tôi quyết định đứa 'cô bạn chó' này về Saigon thật sự.
Trong đầu tôi khi ấy lởn vởn câu thơ của Essénine, đại khái: 'chó cái ôi, uống rượu cùng ta nhé' .
Sự cô đơn tột cùng không có bạn là loài người'; thì 'có chó làm bạn tốt, trung thành, tuyệt đối không phản bội'.
Tôi đứa con chó về nhà trọ; cho tới ngày tôi về lại Saigon, tôi có 'cô bạn chó đồng hành'.
Về nhà trọ, người chủ trọ, anh Phạm Quang Huyến nuôi cơm tôi ở xóm đạo di cư Tân Chí Linh (Ngã 3 Ông Tạ); nay dọn về Ngã 4 Bẩy Hiền. Nhà anh Huyến có chú cho đực mầu trắng Lulu; khi chú thấy có con chó cái theo tôi về; chú ngửi ngửi; xù lông; ra cái điều nhắn nhủ, " mày là khách đấy".
- cô chó Lili của tôi cúp đuôi , định chạy; tôi phải kéo lại; rồi ôm cả 2 chú, như để như giới thiệu chúng làm quen với nhau
.- chú Lulu dễ thân thiện với cô chó Lili; tỏ ra rất dễ tâm đấu ý hợp.
Khi ấy, Khu Ngã 4 Bẩy Hiền còn rừng cao sư bạt ngàn; chỉ có một đường đi thẳng vào khu Phú thọ -- tôi thường vào khu rừng cao su đọc sách; và 2 chú Lulu + cô Lili đi theo. Tôi chăng võng vào 2 cây cao su đọc sách, chúng nằm dưới chân. Rồi cho tới một ngày, gia đình bác Huyển chủ trọ của tôi cùng 3 cháu phải bỏ nơi này, về nơi khác sinh sống. Con Lu Lu theo bác Huyến; cô chó Lili theo tôi về đường Thọai Ngọc Hầu (Ngã 3 Ông Tạ) tạm trọ tại một nhà người bạn, để ngủ đậu; còn ăn 'chúng tôi ra quán '.
Sau tôi viết truyện 'Con chó liêm sỉ' ( in trong tập truyện 'Khu rác ngoại thành'), ấy là nhờ 'cô chó cái Lili theo tôi từ Dalat về Saigon;.rồi 'chúng tôi thất lạc nhau '; ở đường Thoại ngọc Hầu, vào thời đoạn 1963- 64.
Dịch gỉa Đàm xuân Cận dịch 'Khu rác ngoại thành' thành 'The rubbih tip outside the city'/ Dai Nam Van Hien Books xuất bản ở Sài gòn 2 lần. ( trước 1975).
Sau 1975, ở Mỹ nhiều nhà xuất bản lục ra copy lại (gọi là used book) , bán với giá 'khủng'.
Chẳng hạn Rulon-Miller Books (ABAA/ ILAB) (St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.) copy cả 2 bản 'The Rubbish Tip Outside The City ...', rao bán trên mạng :
The rubbish outside the city and other stories.
Translated by Dam Xuan Can
(bản in năm 1970)
...
Add to Basket:
Price: US$ 812.00 (Convert Current)
Shipping: US$ 10.00 (Within USA)
Destination, Rates & Speeds
The rubbish tip outside the city and other stories.
Translated by Dam Xuan Can
(bản in năm 1971)
...
Add to Basket
Price : US $: 620.50 (Convert Currency)
Shipping: US$ 10.00 (Within USA)
Destination, Rates & Speeds
- viết tới đây, tôi muốn đề tặng 'The Rubbish Tip Outside The City ...' tới'
'Cô chó LILI' -- đã trên 50 năm thất lạc 'cô chó Lili' trên đường Thoại Ngọc Hầu, ở thời điểm 1963- 1964.
- và có lời xin lỗi bạn đọc: 'bởi, bài này có tới 2 bản ; đăng trên 2 Blogs của tôi' , mắc dầu nội dung 'lời bàn' khác hẳn nhau' .
- chẳng là, tôi viết bài này trước, để post lên 'Thephong' s poems' -- viết được 1/2 bài; rồi 'lưu' .
Bữa sau, mở ra, không thấy đâu; tưởng là bài đã xóa -- nay, đọc lại trên 'Thephong' s poems', vẫn thấy tồn tại, nhưng bài viết dở dang.
- bèn viết tiếp, re-post vậy . ./.
thế phong
Saigon , tháng 11. năm 2016.
- và có lời xin lỗi bạn đọc: 'bởi, bài này có tới 2 bản ; đăng trên 2 Blogs của tôi' , mắc dầu nội dung 'lời bàn' khác hẳn nhau' .
- chẳng là, tôi viết bài này trước, để post lên 'Thephong' s poems' -- viết được 1/2 bài; rồi 'lưu' .
Bữa sau, mở ra, không thấy đâu; tưởng là bài đã xóa -- nay, đọc lại trên 'Thephong' s poems', vẫn thấy tồn tại, nhưng bài viết dở dang.
- bèn viết tiếp, re-post vậy . ./.
thế phong
Saigon , tháng 11. năm 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------
tưởng nhớ
CÔ CHÓ LILI
mẹ đẻ
THE RUBBISH TIP OUTSIDE THE CITY
blog Virgil Gheorghiu
Saigon, may 15, 2020
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tưởng nhớ
CÔ CHÓ LILI
mẹ đẻ
THE RUBBISH TIP OUTSIDE THE CITY
blog Virgil Gheorghiu
Saigon, may 15, 2020
------------------------------------------------------------------
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