Wishes readaloud by Moun Thi Van

Summary

This powerful script reflects on personal and collective wishes for a better world. Through the lens of a family’s escape from post-war Vietnam, it delves into themes of migration, survival, and resilience. It highlights the sacrifices made in search of safety, while also exploring the global plight of refugees driven by violence, natural disasters, and climate change. The script calls for compassion, solidarity, and action, urging individuals to contribute in ways large and small to create a kinder, fairer, and more beautiful world for all.

Takeaways

• 😀 The knight, the bag, the light, the dream, the clock, and other elements in the narrative all express personal desires for improvement, reflecting a deep longing for change.
• 😀 The script touches on themes of migration, focusing on the personal and collective journey of those fleeing conflict, fear, and loss.
• 😀 The narrator reflects on their family’s escape from Vietnam in the 1980s, highlighting the trauma and sacrifices involved in the journey.
• 😀 The narrator’s family had to hide for years due to their father’s involvement in the South Vietnamese Navy, fearing persecution after the civil war.
• 😀 The narrator’s family set off on a secret oceanic voyage to Hong Kong, leaving behind loved ones, familiar places, and cultural traditions.
• 😀 The journey by boat was perilous: they ran out of food and fuel, faced a terrible storm, and some relatives did not survive the voyage.
• 😀 During the journey, the narrator’s family rescued four refugees stranded on an island, exemplifying solidarity in times of crisis.
• 😀 After being rescued by the coast guard, the family spent almost a year in a refugee camp before finding asylum in the United States.
• 😀 The narrative draws a parallel between past refugee experiences and the current global refugee crisis, which includes not just war but also natural disasters and climate change.
• 😀 The narrator calls for a compassionate response to refugees, emphasizing actions like volunteering, sharing resources, and advocating for policy change.
• 😀 The script ends with a hopeful message, urging collective action to create a safer, kinder, and fairer world for all.

Q & A

What is the significance of the 'wishes' mentioned at the beginning of the script?

The 'wishes' symbolize desires for improvements or changes in various aspects of life, reflecting the human tendency to wish for better circumstances, whether in physical or emotional realms. The different items or concepts, like the knight, bag, and light, are personified to express universal longing for improvement.

How does the narrator relate to the themes of migration and displacement?

The narrator connects to these themes by recounting their family's experience of fleeing Vietnam after the civil war, highlighting the challenges and sacrifices involved in leaving behind one's home, loved ones, and culture in pursuit of safety and a better future.

What role does the narrator's family history play in the overall message of the script?

The family history serves as a personal and emotional backdrop that frames the narrator's call for empathy, solidarity, and action. By sharing their own family's story of hardship and migration, the narrator emphasizes the broader issues of refugees and displaced persons worldwide.

What does the narrator mean by 'I wish only for a safer kinder fairer and more beautiful world'?

This statement reflects the narrator's hope for a world where people are treated with kindness, fairness, and respect, particularly in the context of those who face violence, persecution, and displacement. It is a call for global compassion and a better future.

How does the narrator address the challenges faced by refugees?

The narrator speaks from personal experience, describing the dangerous journey of fleeing Vietnam and the hardships faced at sea, including running out of food and gas, and enduring a life-threatening storm. They also highlight the impact of natural disasters and climate change on increasing refugee movements.

What is the significance of the boat in the narrator's story?

The boat symbolizes both the physical and metaphorical journey of the refugees. It is a vessel that carries the family away from danger but also exposes them to peril. It is an embodiment of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of safety and the uncertainty of the journey ahead.

How does the narrator encourage others to help refugees and displaced persons?

The narrator advocates for various forms of assistance, ranging from practical actions like donating food, clothing, or time to volunteering as language tutors or guides. They also suggest showing solidarity through demonstrations or petitioning for policy changes to support refugees.

What does the narrator mean by 'sometimes doing what we can just means saying hello'?

This suggests that even small gestures of kindness, such as acknowledging someone’s presence or showing empathy, can have a meaningful impact. It emphasizes that helping others does not always require grand actions but can start with simple acts of human connection.

What broader issues does the narrator link to refugee movements in the script?

The narrator connects refugee movements not only to local violence and persecution but also to the global issues of natural disasters and climate change. These factors are increasingly displacing people and contributing to the need for international support and humanitarian aid.

How does the script suggest we can collectively make the world a better place for refugees?

The script suggests that by joining together in small and large actions—whether through donating, volunteering, demonstrating, or simply offering kindness—we can create a safer, kinder, and fairer world for refugees and those in need.