Horrors of War
on Moni Brar (Malawi), 29/Apr/2011 03:22, 34 days ago
Obliteration. Genocide. Devastation. Annihilation.These are the words that float through my mind as I walk through the Aggression War Crimes gallery at the War Remnants Museum in Hanoi. The feelings that course through my heart are equally strong.Horror. Shock. Anger. Rage. Hopelessness. Sadness. Numbness.Visiting this museum has been the single most powerful experience thus far in my trip to Vietnam. I was accompanied by Nam, a young student from Tra Vinh province who volunteered to guide Karl and me through the museum so we could learn more about the American War. As we walked through the Agent Orange Aftermath gallery, Nam kept his eyes fixated on me, watching my reactions.I won’t describe the photos I saw and the text I read because I don’t know where to begin.I can share with you how I felt– desperate to make sense of the images I was faced with, searching to understand how such events could take place and be tolerated, and trying, trying, trying to understand the horrors the Vietnamese people like Nam’s parents and grandparents witnessed and lived through.I don’t know what else to say.