The Liberty Blog

Twenty years ago people said it was impossible. The US having diplomatic relations with Vietnam? No way! Yet here I was at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC attending a reception honouring 15 years of that very thing.

I marvelled at the cordiality of the people in the room. Military officials from both countries from amongst the various forces chatting and talking as if they had just rediscovered old friendships. Diplomats not only from the US and Vietnam but from other Asian countries such as the Philippines, and Singapore all gathered to celebrate the occasion.

One never knows what to expect on these occasions. As a representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church you simply look for those “Divine Appointments.” You don’t know who it will be or what the topic of discussion will be – you are just there. That is how it is in our work – we have a ministry of presence – show up and things will happen. It is very exciting that way.

I mingled amongst the crowd in an attitude of prayer – of thanksgiving really. Thanks that there was peace between these two former enemies. How awesome it would be if the people of the earth would adopt an attitude of magnanimity and goodwill – allowing for dialogue to settle differences rather than the sword. Many of us have friends who are Vietnam veterans. The stories some have told me are not what you want to tell your kids before they go to bed at night. The feelings are as fresh as the moment the horrors occurred. Yet despite those realities grudges had to give way to peaceful relations.

We have been reaching out to the Vietnam Embassy in recent years. Dr. Graz has visited there along with Lincoln Steed. We have hosted delegations – met with embassy officials. All in an attempt to create dialogue on the importance of religious freedom. As a church we have been doing what we can to assist in their rebuilding of their country. Grigg’s University for example provides an M.B.A. education to working professionals. To date, more than 2,000 students have benefited from the program in Hanoi. Vietnam is a country with much promise and wonderful people.

Former President Clinton spoke to the group of his memories when in 1995 he normalized relations. If you remember it was a very controversial decision at the time. Some in Congress argued that it was a “wrong decision at the wrong time.” But 15 years later it has proved to have been the right decision – (as a side note it is really too bad it could not have been sooner). But as Clinton noted while we are not to forget the past neither are we to be held captive to it – we have to move forward.

Two other speakers gave presentations that were meaningful. Senators John McCain and John Kerry also spoke. Both veterans of that tortuous war. Senator McCain’s willingness to seek peace with an enemy who had so brutally assaulted him while a POW says much not only about him as great human being but to the power of forgiveness. Indeed it is that power that can go a long way in mankind recognizing the ultimate futility of war.

I am reminded of the beautiful passage of Scripture – Micah 4:3

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

There remains a few more hotspots around the world that could use the Lord’s spirit of peace and reconciliation applied. It is far fetched perhaps, but what a time it would be if there was a similar meeting as the one I attended tonight between the US and Iran – or how about Israel and Palestine? It might take decades yet for that to happen – but two decades ago people never thought that a reception honouring the diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam would ever come.