When Forgiveness Is Understood

I have chosen to return to Viet Nam where I served two tours of duty as an aircrew member at Tan Son Nhut Airbase, now renamed Tan Son Nhat International Airport, in Saigon. My squadron’s mission accounted for 90% of B-52 bombing strikes and 80% of the intelligence for the ground war. Living now amongst the Vietnamese has taught me many things, one of which is forgiveness.

I recently read a story from San Luis Obispo about Priscilla Vargas being charged in the tragic vehicular death of her 3 month old daughter (July 19, 2005; Tribune). How devastating it must be to lose a child, especially under these circumstances. When taking the baby out of the car seat to breast feed – hungry infants won’t wait for rest stops - a tragic accident occurred. What makes this more tragic is the reaction of the California Highway Patrol. They have requested felony child endangerment charges against the mother.

If I have learned anything about living in Viet Nam, especially as a veteran, is that horrific acts, even of war, can be forgiven. Traveling around the country, one can see the long terms effects of Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant/herbicide used in an indiscriminant manner. Many areas of forest and jungle are still devastated. Even more apparent is the human tragedy of Agent Orange. Congential deformities are evident in the people and seen everyday in the streets and orphanages; children born without eyes, limbs partially formed, brains severely damaged. I am currently teaching a student with a facial mass that severely distorts her features, but not the beauty in her heart. She was born in an area that had been sprayed during the war. She knows who is teaching her. There is no animosity on her part.

In March 2005, a United States Court federal judge decided to dismiss the Vietnamese victims' claim for Agent Orange damages against Dow, Monsanto, and the other chemical companies, citing, in his opinion, that although toxic, the use of Agent Orange did not consititue "chemical warfare." The decison may be appealed.

Facing the remnants of war everyday, the Vietnamese still manage to practice forgiveness towards the United States for the environmental, physchological and human damage. As an expatriate living in Viet Nam, my house is in the middle of a labrythine neighborhood. There are no other foreigners nearby. My Vietnamese neighbors know I am American and I served here during the war. However, they are aware that they fought the Chinese for a thousand years, the French for a hundred and the Americans for a mere dozen or so years. They celebrate the fact that, after so many years of violence and war, their country is now at peace. They help each other but they also accept the tragedies without having to compound the sorrow and misery.

Consider the tragedy of Priscilla Vargas. A mother who was simply removing her child from its seat to breast feed. No one can dispute that it is not only illegal but unsafe to remove a child from its seat while a vehicle is in motion. Yes, a grave error was made and no parent should ever experience the death of a child. However, the California Highway Patrol seems intent on adding to Ms. Vargas's sorrow, which I can only imagine is quite intense.

From my experiences in war and "working the streets" in law enforcement, I have seen human tragedy in the extreme. From these experiences, I cannot understand the need for the CHP to compound human suffering, save its own need to demonstrate the State's power. I submit Ms. Vargas's loss of her infant is more than enough misery for one person and charging her for this accident only adds to her suffering. If 80 million Vietnamese can forgive the U.S. for the destruction of the environment and the human toll estimated at around 3 million Vietnamese lost, then the CHP and the District Attorney's office should be able to find some level of compassion and understand Ms. Vargas's loss. Like the Vietnamese, I can only hope. Like the Vietnamese, I can forgive. I hope the CHP and DA can also.

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Tom Hutchings is a veteran of the American War in Viet Nam and served two tours. He was awarded four (4) Air Medals and was recently (January 2005) awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which had been overlooked at the time.

Hutchings is a former member of the SLO City Human Relations Commission, Paso Robles Library Board of Trustees, and served on the Hemet City Council in the early 1980s. He recently ran for the 33rd Assembly District as a Green.

Hutchings lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam and teaches underprivileged students. He is currently working on a novel.