Frightening parallels

Democracy failed in South Vietnam and a dystopian stupor followed. Neighbors were encouraged to report on neighbors. Self-professed liberators walked the streets while openly carrying and families disappeared in the night.

A false sense of unification and nationalism was artificially injected into a fearful public. It was one of many reasons why my mother made tremendous sacrifices to leave Vietnam and why we are Americans today.

But as difficult as it is to wrap my head around my family’s history, I cannot deny the dystopian parallels happening around me. For example, Homeland Security commercials encouraging the public to report their neighbors; families disappearing in all hours of the day and night; imprisoned people denied rights and due process. There are places and governments in the world who thrive on intimidation and fear.

Trust me when I tell you, they’re not democracies.

Freedom Nguyen

Buffalo Grove