Pain and Hope

Pain and Hope: The Vietnam War has become a phenomenon of our nation’s modern-day warfare and culture, whose effects have come up to daylight and whose debate has yet to be finalized. This war has had a great influence on America’s society, politics, and economy. Socially, the Vietnam war has shattered its people’s faith in American exceptionalism and gave rise to the antiwar movement. Politically, the Vietnam war helped establish the 26th Amendment and the War Powers Resolution. And economically, the Vietnam war stressed the production of normal goods, rose inflation, and increased labor costs. However, Fadiman in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, recounts the history of the Hmong people, from being driven from their homes in both China and Laos to fighting in Vietnam war and being abandoned by the U.S. government. The majority of Hmong people lost their loved ones as a result of the Vietnam war. They lost their relatives, possessions, and country to immigrate into the United States. However, one thing the new arrivals held onto was hope. This is evident as Lia's family never gave up hope that their daughter's soul would return.