- Most Ven. Thich Man Giac's Letter
to President of the United State of America, Bill Clinton, on occassion of his historic
visit to Vietnam
- CONGREGATION OF VIETNAMESE BUDDHISTS IN THE UNITED STATES
- TỔNG HỘI PHẬT GIÁO VIỆT NAM TẠI HOA KỲ
- 857-871 S. Berendo St. los Angeles, California 90005
- (213) 384-9638
October 25, 2000
- Mr. Bill Clinton
- President of The United States
- The White House
- 1600 Pennylvania Avenue
- Washington, DC. 20500
-
Dear Mr. President,
Your next official trip is a visit to
Vietnam in November. It will be a historic trip in that it will be a turning point in the
history of a hostile and closed era. It also opens a new hope for better understanding and
collaboration between the two nations. Besides the most meaningful significance of your
present in Hanoi, the success of this trip would germinate and develop the sincere hope,
which is ever our care and concern, that the Vietnamese government will amend the human
rights, respect for democracy, and economic reform for the Vietnamese people’s peaceful
and contended lives. We also appreciate your tolerant and energetic decision to ameliorate
the relations between the two previously hostile nations, in order to help our
underdeveloped country use this good oportunity to make new progress in democracy and as
well as development. The Buddha’s message on "fading away hostility" has been
expressed clearly on your decision to visit Vietnam.
Certainly we believe in your duty as
leader of a wonderful land, The United States of America, where we, Vietnamese, have been
living since the post war era after 1975.
Moreover, we have taken many opportunities
to listen and know about our concerns and hope regarding the miserable conditions in our
country after the war ended. Your intervention for change during the next meeting with
Vietnamese leaders will be appreciated by all Vietnamese people.
On behalf of the Vietnamese Buddhists
living in the United States, we wish you a nice trip, full of success and satisfaction,
and we put all hope and keep it alive in your hands.
- Sincerely,
- Ven. Thich Man Giac, Ph.D.
http://www.buddhismtoday.com/viet/doi/013a-billclinton.htm