During the Vietnam War and during various other political difficulties some Vietnamese people have tried to find refuge in other countries by escaping on boats. Because of their method of leaving the country the are referred to as "boat people". These people sail out to sea, and when they get to neighboring countries they are sometimes received, but sometimes not. (Salgado 62)
In Indonesia the refugees from Vietnam were told to sail to the island of Galang, where their boats were destroyed and they were imprisoned (Salgado 62). These people escaped one bad situation and tragically landed right in another, this time with even less hope of escape. To me the boats represented these peoples' hopes and means of creating a better life for themselves. Salgado's picture shows the destroyed boats sitting on the shore, never to be used again.
Without their boats nor their freedom, these boat people of Vietnam are stuck; they cannot control any outward aspect of their lives, and that is true tragedy.
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| (Page 62) |
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The photo actually caught my eye too and when I read about the background it just made me think how crazy it is it live is such dire circumstances that you are willing to take a chance and sail out to sea hoping to land in a better country and create a better situation. It’s great to know that some are able to escape and start from scratch, but it’s sad to think of those that landed in Galang and have their situation go from bad to worse. And I totally agree with what you said, hope is what keeps them going.
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