Invictus

Hello all,

I couldn't pick a better day to finish reading Invictus, for many of you know that today is the International Human Rights Day. On this day in December 10, 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While today, you and I, living in America and other free societies are embracing freedom, do know, in places like Darfur, Sudan, Cuba, China and Vietnam, people are still striving and fighting for these basic human rights. Which is why, the story of South Africans (blacks) fight to end the apartheid couldn't have exemplified this any better.

Despite years under the apartheid, the people of South African proved that the values and principles written in creed of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cannot be extinguished. There are so many things remarkable about this story from the political prisoners that never gave up hope to the invincible, destructive ruby team that was no match for the spirits of 42 million.

I never looked much into Nelson Mandela’s life, but for South Africa, he would be compared to the Lincoln of America. Nelson Mandela’s political craftsmanship of using rugby was made with precision that ultimately, in my opinion, catapulted him to the threshold of political career/life. A nation coming together in "One Team, One Country", the slogan and event that rejoiced the nation and transformed foes into friends, strangers to neighbors and fear to understanding was just exhilarating to read, so I can't even fathom the idea of being at the epic center.

Where were you in June 24, 1995? It is amazing but who could have predicted that this date would change a course of a nation? While I’m still inspired by the story, I couldn't stop my mind from wondering off and envision such thing for the country of Vietnam. With each passing page, I tried to envision how this day would be like for Vietnam. A day where we will not fight over what political system is better and what government has the legitimacy because this day would be defined by freely, elected society.

I hold a lot of hope that this day will come because if the blacks and whites can mend differences after years of atrocity and war, then our circumstances and situations are far better off. Because if a man, wanted dead and lived in jail for 27 years by this enemy could extinguish them with a couple of speeches and pen strokes but chose nation building, then we as Vietnamese should be able to more than capability to set things aside and work together in a fair system for the sake of nation building. Don’t get me wrong, I am not naïve about the complicated matter of this, but the case of South Africa and United States are hard evident that people of that nation understand that power comes from the people, not from a barrow of a gun.

In many ways, reading this story has given me much hope for brighter Vietnam because elsewhere, in countries like South Africa, Poland and Chile, the situations were tougher and gruesome. Unfortunately today, our enemy is not more than a handful of our own people and its political system that is hindering our capacity. Like in those countries, where the people have decided to change, we too can make this happen. We can, if we chose to impose our will of a more justified life upon our oppressor. We can, if we are not withered by their harassment and brutality. We can, if we seek to end a repetitive life of repression and domination. We are close yet far because change does not happen on its own. We must ask for it. We me seek for it so we will pave the way for the next generation to define our people and place in world history.

Invictus, is not only an inspiring story of a nation, but a lesson of humanity and the human endurance to be free. On to my next book!

Go see and support the movie.

L3