ThirstyFish

Since it's founding, the United States has been both a "melting pot", and a "cultural mosaic". The American Mosaic series of posts attempt to capture the interweave of American society.

Vietnamese immigration to the United States started after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. It is estimated that up to 4 million Vietnamese civilians lost their lives during the conflict. The 1972 photograph of a 9 year old burned Vietnamese girl fleeing a napalm attack captured the atrocities of the war and had a significant impact in American society. Today, over 1.7 million Vietnamese Americans reside in the United States.

In 1887, ensuing a century of French involvement, Vietnam became a part of the French Colonial Empire. At the end of World War II, France lost its influence in the region, and U.S. involvement began. The Vietnam War started off as a proxy war between communism and capitalism, and for the following thirty years, Vietnam experienced the bloodiest and most destructive period in its history. Vietnam is among the most beautiful and fertile places on earth. Unfortunately, it is yet another example of The Paradox of Plenty.

Song of the Day: Khe Sanh - Cold Chisel (1978)