One can hardly blame these people. In fact. if I were in their shoes I would wonder if the failure of America to live up to its commitments to the South Vietnamese and Cambodians was an indication that America had become a paper tiger. I would further wonder whether the hue and cry about the Vietnamese refugees were not evidence of a lack of humanity as well. As an American. the whole episode. from the beginning to its present state. makes me sick at heart and fearful for the future of our country. However. I am not one of those doomsayers who believe all is lost and nothing can be done to turn things around. First of all. a nation which contributed $25.2 billion to charity last year alone has within itself the ability to welcome with open arms these South Vietnamese refugees. All it needs to do is put aside unreasoned fears. selfish interests and personal prejudices in our best national tradition. Secondly. there are some lessons to be learned from our experience in Southeast Asia that should help us not only in accommodating these refugees but also in preventing similar situations from occurring in the future. The lessons are simple really. The first is. as Thomas Jefferson once said. to recognize that "the price of liberty is eternal vigilance." Any thought of retiring within "Fortress America" at this point in history would be suicidal.
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