CAN NOT BE SILENT ANYMORE

Kiều Lan June 8, 2024

Vietnam, a land of captivating beauty with its emerald rice paddies, pristine beaches, and warm, resilient people. However, beneath the radiant smiles lies a stark reality marred by the shadows of poverty, inequality, corruption, a lack of rule of law, environmental degradation, and the looming threat of climate change. These invisible shackles hinder progress and stifle the aspirations of millions.

Poverty, a persistent affliction, relentlessly grips the nation, seeping into every corner, every ramshackle hut. Here, children with wide, soulful eyes are forced to abandon their education to aid their struggling families. Their smiles, once innocent, now bear the weight of sorrow and worry. Their daily meals consist of meager portions of cold rice and bitter vegetable soup, devoid of essential nutrients. The elderly gaze reflects a lifetime of hardship, etched with the burdens of survival and the haunting fear of an uncertain future.

Inequality, a chasm widening between the rich and the poor, threatens social stability and justice. A select few hoard vast wealth, indulging in extravagance while millions struggle to make ends meet. The dream of a life free from want, a life of fulfillment, seems like a distant, unattainable mirage.

Corruption, a cancerous tumor eroding trust in governance, permeates every facet of society, from healthcare and education to the economy and the justice system. The hard-earned tax money of the populace is siphoned off, lining the pockets of the corrupt, transforming into opulent mansions and luxury cars, corroding faith in fairness and equity.

A deficient rule of law stifles the voices of the people, silencing dissent. Freedom of speech, assembly, and the press are curtailed, preventing citizens from denouncing injustice, corruption, or demanding their rightful entitlements.

Environmental pollution casts a suffocating veil over the nation, with the air growing increasingly hazy, water sources becoming heavily contaminated, and land succumbing to degradation. The health of the populace, particularly children and the elderly, is gravely imperiled. Natural ecosystems are ravaged, adversely impacting agriculture and tourism.

Climate change unleashes its fury, with intensifying floods, droughts, and storms wreaking havoc on crops, homes, and claiming lives. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities, forcing displacement and the abandonment of ancestral lands.

These intertwined issues paint a somber portrait of the lives of countless Vietnamese citizens. Their smiles, not always expressions of joy, often mask resignation and helplessness in the face of relentless adversity.

As children of this nation, we cannot remain silent in the face of these injustices and inequities. Each individual must unite, lending a hand, striving for a more just and civilized society. Let us raise our voices against corruption, safeguard our environment, and combat climate change. Let us extend a helping hand to those in need, empowering them to rise above their circumstances.

Only through collective unity and unwavering determination can we dispel these shadows and pave the way for a Vietnam that truly embodies prosperity, civility, and where every citizen can flourish in a life of happiness and fulfillment.