It shows you how a group of immigrants can overcome resistance from the natives. I recall intensely angry and bitter feelings when the Vietnam War finally ended around 1971. Most Americans wanted nothing to do with anyone connected to that country or perhaps, not even to that race.
Go forward a couple of years, a Viet-American named Maya Lin, a 21, y/o college student, wins a design contest for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. There was a LOT of resistance and fury, but congress didn’t change there decision.
By 1982, that long black granite wall was up and available to the public. That wall shows the names of people who died or were declared as MIA during that wartime.
That memorial has since been embraced by the public as a profoundly important tribute to our troops.
I recall the anger quite vividly. Some of my family had lost their sons in that war. I have a cousin who remains subdued and sort of ‘not there’ to this very day. He also served.
He refuses to talk about it.
The war ended in 1975, not 1971. I remember, I was 16 years old at the time.
I talked about the refugees in this episode of my podcast:
https://blubrry.com/hoseasia/87495585/episode-122-the-boat-people/
David Tran is mentioned there, but for more about him, look up Episode 293 of another program, The China History Podcast.
I’ve been to the Mall at the Capital.
I’ve seen the Viet Nam wall.
It was somber but very moving.
Biden campaigned in the early 70s in Delaware about not letting “those people” emigrate to the US. Presumably after voting to cutoff funding to South Viet Nam, after which they ran out of ammunition, and the Communists invaded.
That’s where all the “Boat People” originated - refugees fleeing from their own country.