Chapter Ten- Power on Earth

The world is full of choices and as one matures, they are confronted with more decisions, changing the course of their future.  For Le Ly, her maturity came quickly as she was forced to find a way to live to support her family.   Similarly, the officials of the war were faced with decisions that would change the world, particularly Vietnam.  As Chapter Ten unfolds, Le Ly realizes that their is no future for herself in America and begins to try to find a  way out. As she states below foreshadowing her future, she finds that:

"This since of necessity led to one rash act, that looking back, was to change my life tremendously." (256)

That rash act sent Le Ly on the course to freedom in America.  On her return trip, as she speaks with a few of the officials, they discuss the importance of risk.  Le Ly took a risk by making a rash act, but that risk was necessary for her to reach America.  Without risks, Le Ly would have been struggling to get by just as her siblings and mother were.  Similarly, the officials took risks in the war, risks they thought would save their nation, and continually are faced with the decision of risk taking as they try to rebuild their nation.  Le Ly realizes the fragility of peace and how quickly power can shift.

As Le Ly took risks, people around the world continue to take similar risks that sometimes result in their freedom from poverty.  In Argentina, a young girl born illegitimatelyand destined for a life of hardship and poverty, took the risk of going traveling to Buenos Aires by herself when she was only a teenager to begin a life of her own.  That life led to her becoming one of the most influential women in history.  While she was in Buenos Aires, she met Juan Peron whom she married.  With her help, he became the president of Argentina, making her the first lady.  Shortly before Mr. Peron's second election, she died leaving a nation behind distraught for she had internationally helped Argentinians. Her name was Evita Peron.

Evita founded the Evita Peron Foundation
which provided jobs, education, food, and housing
for Argentine people and people around the world.

Today, books, movies, and Broadway plays
have been made in honor of Evita