There are hundreds of examples where, in the past century, it has been quoted, “the inmates are running the asylum.” It is a term I’ve used for years and is a pretty good way to describe almost any chaotic situation when “the tail begins to wag the dog.” Members of the Houston Texans football team just provided the most sterling example of the saying’s mettle when the squad, instead of protesting police and brutality like some other misguided players are doing this fall, protested their team owner’s actions instead yesterday.
They are “furious” over the belief that Bob McNair, who signs both their ridiculous pay checks and their multi-year contracts, used the word “inmates” on Friday. They claim he was referring to them. Some in the NFL are known for criminal behavior but McNair’s target was the stupidty of what is costing him millions.
Those who protest should blush because a full half of the United States also thinks they are crazy for biting the hand that feeds them. It is an easy bet that most NFL players have no idea what an ‘asylum’ is (an ancient term for a mental hospital).
The protesting athletes have hurt the league, their teams, and themselves. As I have watched the senseless protest, using our national anthem as some cheap tool rather than a sacred hymn, I know that very few of our pro football players know of a country called Vietnam. Over 58,000 Americans died there. I went to high school with a bunch before they left to wear our county’s uniform and were killed. It was an unpopular war for many reasons.
Several years ago, in an effort to thank Vietnam veterans, a Freedom Rally was held near Lubbock, Texas, and somebody came up with the clever idea of having a Vietnamese immigrant give his personal thanks. Since then, millions of people have heard Quang Nguyen’s story.
Since NFL commissioner Roger Goodell refuses to cease the anthem disrespect and since Freedom of Speech allows football players to defile the memory and the honor of those who are named on ‘The Wall’ in Washington, let me acquaint you with a different man’s view.
* * *
“I SPEAK TO YOU AS AN AMERICAN”
NOTE: The town of Prescott Valley, AZ, hosted a Freedom Rally. Quang Nguyen was asked to speak on his experience of coming to America and what it means to become an American. His speech followed a dedication to all Vietnam veterans and after what he saw as a child in the middle of a war, nobody was prepared for what they were going to hear:
- - -
If 35 years ago, if you were to tell me that I am going to stand up here speaking to a couple thousand people, in English, I'd laugh at you. Man, every morning I wake up thanking God for putting me and my family in the greatest country on earth. I just want you all to know that the American dream does exist and I am living the American dream. I was asked to speak to you about my experience as a first generation Vietnamese-American, but I'd rather speak to you as an American.
If you hadn't noticed, I am not white and I feel pretty comfortable with my people. I am a proud U.S. citizen and here is my proof. It took me 8 years to get citizenship, waiting in endless lines, but I got it, and I am very proud of it.
I still remember the images of the Tet offensive in 1968, I was six years old. Now you might want to question how a 6-year-old boy could remember anything. Trust me, those images can never be erased. I can't even imagine what it was like for young American soldiers, 10,000 miles away from home, fighting on my behalf 35 years ago, I left South Vietnam for political asylum.
The war had ended. At the age of 13, I left with the understanding that I may or may not ever get to see my siblings or parents again. I was one of the first lucky 100,000 Vietnamese allowed to come to the U.S. Somehow, my family and I were reunited 5 months later, amazingly, in California. It was a miracle from God.
If you haven't heard lately that this is the greatest country on earth, I am telling you that right now. It was the freedom and the opportunities presented to me that put me here with all of you tonight. I also remember the barriers that I had to overcome every step of the way. My high school counselor told me that I cannot make it to college due to my poor communication skills. I proved him wrong. I finished college. You see, all you have to do is to give this little boy an opportunity and encourage him to take it and run with it. Well, I took the opportunity and here I am.
This person standing tonight in front of you could not exist under a socialist/communist environment. By the way, if you think socialism is the way to go, I am sure many people here will chip in to get you a one-way ticket out of here. And if you didn't know, the only difference between socialism and communism is an AK-47 aimed at your head. That was my experience.
In 1982, I stood with a thousand new immigrants, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and listening to the National Anthem for the first time as an American. To this day, I can't remember anything sweeter and more patriotic than that moment in my life.
Fast forwarding, somehow I finished high school, finished college, and like any other goofball 21 year old kid, I was having a great time with my life. I had a nice job and a nice apartment in Southern California. In some way and somehow, I had forgotten how I got here and why I was here.
One day I was at a gas station, I saw a veteran pumping gas on the other side of the island. I don't know what made me do it, but I walked over and asked if he had served in Vietnam. He smiled and said yes. I shook and held his hand. That grown man began to well up.
I walked away as fast as I could and at that very moment, I was emotionally rocked. This was a profound moment in my life. I knew something had to change in my life. It was time for me to learn how to be a good citizen. It was time for me to give back.
You see, America is not just a place on the map, it isn't just a physical location. It is an ideal, a concept. And if you are an American, you must understand the concept, you must accept this concept, and most importantly, you have to fight and defend this concept. This is about Freedom and not free stuff. And that is why I am standing up here.
Brothers and sisters, to be a real American, the very least you must do is to learn English and understand it well. In my humble opinion, you cannot be a faithful patriotic citizen if you can't speak the language of the country you live in. Take this document of 46 pages - last I looked on the Internet, there was not a Vietnamese translation of the U.S. Constitution. It took me a long time to get to the point of being able to converse and until this day, I still struggle to come up with the right words. It's not easy, but if it's too easy, it's not worth doing.
Before I knew this 46-page document, I learned of the 500,000 Americans who fought for this little boy. I learned of the 58,000 names inscribed on the black wall at the Vietnam Memorial. You are my heroes. You are my founders.
At this time, I would like to ask all the Vietnam veterans to please stand. I thank you for my life. I thank you for your sacrifices, and I thank you for giving me the freedom and liberty I have today. I now ask all veterans, firefighters, and police officers, to please stand. On behalf of all first generation immigrants, I thank you for your services and may God bless you all.
* * *
Before the Houston Texans faced the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday afternoon, all but 10 Houston players kneeled as the national anthem was played.
royexum@aol.com