Hanoi,
Vietnam
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
When most people hear the word "Communism" they usually atomically have negative thoughts. I am not a supporter of the Communism in any way shape or form. I think the "Communist system" sounds great in theory (every one equal working for the greater good of society) but it has proven itself over and over through out time that it does not work, it usually just leads to an out of control dictator! I was lucky enough to get to spend almost a month of this year in Cuba. Like it or not Cuba as we know it seems to be coming to an end. I am really excited that I got a chance to experience the real "Cuba!" It was a rough/learning experience for me. I just want to say that I will not be sad when the system goes down and the people are given there freedom. The things most people think of when they think of Communism is: a ruthless dictator, people being repressed, shortage of food, and people living in fear, that is Cuba 100% but Vietnam is completely different. When you see Vietnam on the surface it seems to be no different then anywhere else in the world. For starters there is a really high standard of life here for a "developing" country. Traveling here is actually kind of boring at times because things are quit normal. People are very clean and healthy, the children seem to go to school, there is very little begging, very little prostitution, etc... I sometimes start to think about how civilized things are and then something always brings me back to reality of I am in "Vietnam" whether it be someone passing me by on a bicycle with a 300 lb live pig "hog tied" on the back, or a heard of goats walking down the street. There is always some thing to make me appreciate the fact that I am extremely far away from home. It is actually a really exciting time to be here in Vietnam. The country is in the middle of a very interesting/complicated change; they now have a free market/capitalistic economy and at the same time an ultra conservative communist government. So basically they have the freedom to make money and own property, but not the basic freedom to voice a political opinion. In an attempt to expand their economy they have reopened the door to tourism and private investment along with making amends with the US government. Could this be the Vietnam Communist government on its last leg? When people get a glimpse of the "outside" world they usually want out themselves. Unlike the Cubans the Vietnamese have the freedom to leave the country, but just where do you go when you are surrounded by similar if not worse living conditions?
The only remaining Communist states of the world:
*People's Republic of China
*Republic of Cuba
*Lao People's Democratic Republic
*Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North)
*Socialist Republic of Vietnam
-If "Uncle Kim Jong" gives me a visa I am there! I will have the whole set which will be a nice compliment to my "axis of evil" set I am working on now!
An interesting look at the religions of Vietnam:
Buddhist 9.3%
Catholic 6.7%
Hoa Hao 1.5%
Cao Dai 1.1%
Protestant 0.5%
Muslim 0.1%
None 80.8%
It is crazy to think that 8 out of 10 people are Atheist!
All the Communist countries I have been to have had freedom of worship. I know Cuba has always been open to religion, but I am not sure about the rest? Usually a communist government professes atheism. In Communism religion is usually considered to be a form of superstion or a remnant of the "old thinking."
"You know, Dude, I myself dabbled in pacifism once. Not in 'Nam of course." ~Walter Sobchak
Rain Drops Keep Failing On My Head...............~Nomad
