Discuss: Agent Orange: A Chapter from History That Just Won’t End

Ben, you have turned into a great writer...I am very impressed.  And your hand never kept you from kicking my butt badly in basketball!  You should come back up to Logan soon to visit.

Ben, growing up with you I never ever thought in a million years your hand bothered you! getting to know you has a person and playing sports you were just another guy. congrats on a great piece.

Ben, I am proud of you for showing a side of you that we did not know.  And the writing! I was surprised at the depth of your skills.  The weaving of the present, the past and the personal revelations were great.  Who would have thought my little nephew who disrupted the vows at my wedding because “I gotta pee”, would turn into such a skilled writer.  Great job! ---Uncle Chuck

Harris, you are absolutely right.  The insanity and chaos caused by egomaniacal leaders and almost always felt most directly by those without voices needs to be exposed.  I am reminded of a Chuang Tzu quote: “Small fear is fever and worry.  Vast fear is deep and calm.” There are those of us who choose to give voice to the powerless through political means, and those of us who work through art.  Both are important, and neither is mutually exclusive.  My brother works for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.  The work he does for them is vital.  I write.  I teach young people.  This is my path, and I find it to be a path where subtlety and encouragement work well.  I suspect I am not alone.

Elsa, I have not been to Vietnam, but visiting the blog you shared with us has only deepened my conviction that I need to go.  I would love to cantact you, but I’m not sure how.

Thank you all for your comments.  The company we keep in this realm is better than good.

I’d like to invite you to read an essay that I wrote after recent visits to homes of second and third generation Agent Orange victims in Da Nang, Vietnam:  http://www.steadyfootsteps.org/2008/02/being_here_now.html
(The accompanying photo was taken by my adopted Vietnamese-born son.)

Ben - wow - powerful and passionate story.  Keep writing. Love, Aunt Sheri.

Kudos, Ben.
Exceptionally well done.

A respiratory therapist I work with returned to the job..I asked her where had she been..She said her husband had died..Just came down with lung cancer and died...Then she said he had been completely disabled from Agent Orange from Vietnam..She knows of my anti war activities..Why is she so pro military and pro war??I guess I should study Buddism some more...Thanks for the article..