Speech #990029270

For as soon as the war was over. they tried to sa.e themselves as wellby boat. by foot. by any means available to them. We helped them greatly in that effort. by leading all of the governments and citizens of the world in resettling them and finding new homes and new lives for those who. while certainly being victims of the war. would have been even greater victims of "the peace." It is so important to remember thatwhile visions of Vietnamese celebrations parade and flicker across our television screenswe have much less to be "ashamed of" than some might have us believe. The hundreds of thousands of Southeast Asian refugees have taught us that the way a compasMay . 1985 COt sionate and noble nation earns the allegiance of Its citizens is not by "reeducation." but through trust and hope and opportunity and participation in government. Might that not be why so many have chosen to leave the land of "the victors" in the earnest hope of finding a fresh start and a new life of freedom in the land of "the losers?"