On my third day in Vietnam, I traveled to Tay Ninh to explore the Cao Dai Temple and the Cu Chi Tunnels—unknowingly an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Unimaginably, Tay Ninh taught me lessons on developing any lifestyle of my choice and the importance of courage in the whirlwind of facing your fears.
1. Cao Dai Temple: Developing a dedication, precision, and submission are essential in developing a lifestyle of choice.
To commence my third day travels in Vietnam, I traveled to Cao Dai Temple to explore the syncretic religion of Caodaism—an amalgamation of Buddhism, Christianity, and Taoism—developed in the 1926. Incorporating architectural design elements from various regions and philosophies, the vibrant temple attest to the power of leadership; you can shift yourself, shift your community, shift an entire region, shift a country, and shift the world.
Interesting, in that this religion is fairly new, the notion that an individual may cultivate a following and curate a lifestyle to follow is powerful in itself. Where there is a need, there is a way. Watching followers of this faith worship and practice their ritualistic activities attests to the levels of dedication, precision, and submission required to adopt a particular lifestyle of choice.
2. Cu Chi Tunnels & Gun Range: When you voluntarily face your fears, charge forth regardless of the weight of your fear.
A complex navigation of the Cu Chi Tunnels created a life changing experience and one of the most intensive experiences I encountered. These tunnels are explained as, “a system of deeply underground tunnels having several floors and alleys and ranches like spider web…with places for dining, living, meeting and fighting. The tunnel system embodies the strong will, intelligence, and pride of Cu Chi people, a symbol of revolutionary heroism of Vietnamese people.” An additional description to characterize these tunnels are, “small.”
As a gentleman who is 6’3” it was definitely challenging to navigate these tunnels. Although the navigation of the actual tunnels were only about fifty meters, at one point, the only way to navigate them were to crawl or slide. Prior to entering, I was aware of their tightness—I was not aware of the bats in these tunnels. In this tunnel with no immediate exit, at one point, a flying bat is trying to escape. Anxious and fearful, I had to charge forth to press toward my destination—honestly one of the most frightening experiences. Nevertheless, not as frightening as a war zone in action above your head; the tunnels were a refuge for Vietnamese soldiers during the war, they had to make these tunnels home as their homes above ground were destroyed.
Following the tunnels, my group and I traveled to an AK47 firing range—for my first experience shooting a gun. Not as intensive as I anticipated, however, this shooting experience enlightened me to the power, energy, preparation, and precision required in operating the intensive machinery during the Vietnam War. Lives and the continuation of life depended on preparation of soldiers and the precision of their aim.
For the duration of my tour of Vietnam, a primary thought in touring the battle sites and war landmarks was that my forefathers were enlisted to fight on the behalf of a country who did not fight for their equal rights wholeheartedly. From an African-American perspective, blacks were thrust into this war by America to fight for America—during a period of time Blacks were unable to get America to fight for our rights as equal citizens in the United States.
From a Vietnamese perspective, Americans infiltrated their home annihilating their belongings, annihilating their people, and annihilating their country. If Vietnam were to offer any lesson, it would be forgiveness and subsequent awareness. Vietnam is aware of what Americans did to them, nonetheless. Through the tour of Vietnam and my encounters with the Vietnamese people, they are aware of the wrong committed against them and they are committed to advancing amidst their past—using forgiveness and remembrance as a vehicle of advancement.
