Chapter Seven- A Different View

"From my father's death, I had finally leanred how to live." (215)

In chapter seven, the story of Le Ly's journey reaches its full climax as she discovers how to live. From her father's death, Le Ly learns that "a willingness to live" is more powerful than "a willingness to die." (215) She also learns that love can not remove all obstacles, but it can create a smoother path. While overcoming the sadness of death, Le Ly and her family are drawn together again to morn his death and are able to work together to find the strength to move on. She is finally able to understand that her loyalty does not have to lie with the Viet Cong or Americans, but rather, it lies with her family, particularly, in an effort to protect her son. She understands that the purpose of her life is to be a warrior for those she loves.

From loss, one often finds new growth. While forest fires can destroy whole woods, new life is sprouted from the ashes and a new-ecosystem is formed.  Similarly, on September 11, 2001, attacks across the United States led to the deaths of nearly 3,000 innocent victims.  Later, countless others would loose their lives from fighting in the Iraq war that followed. In addition, the United States and world would be faced with an emotional, security, health, and economic effects as well as countless other challenges.  Yet through all this turmoil, the United States only grew stronger as new growth formed from the ashes of this loss. As the New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani, stated, "We will rebuild. We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger."

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