Heaven and Earth Chapter 9

"Daughters and Sons"

"Census takers could only come, take a look at the number of orphans, beggars, bastard Amerasian kids, and "hump-backed" (freshly dug) graves that had increased since their last visit, and know that the village--and the way of life it once knew--was dying.  In a way, Ky La had spawned its own "lost generation": brothers and sisters who had never known love, family rituals, and peace--only terror, starvation, and war.  I wondered how many would know how to survive when the shooting finally stopped."

Last year in World Civilization, we spent a lot of time covering the Black Death and associated plagues.  There were millions of recorded and probably unrecorded deaths world-wide, and even entire cities were devastated like certain villages in Vietnam were during the war.  Everyone in both situations was horrified by the effects of the battles and plagues.

Le Ly began this chapter with a short Anecdote, a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event, about her aunt Luc.   Her family had been killed, and then she eventually died, living in her own filth.

Le Ly also saw her mother when she returned to Vietnam.  At first, Mama Du asked after Le Ly's sister Lan and told her about people she used to know.  She barely acknowledged her long-lost American daughter, but she began to talk to her more and actually let Le Ly hug her at the end of the chapter.