Oct 31st, 2023: The Truth Will Set Us Free

Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada is a statutory holiday observed on September 30th. It was established to honor the survivors and descendants of Indigenous residential schools, which were part of a system that aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture, with a focus on promoting healing and reconciliation.

The realm of education is intricate. During the colonial period in Indochina, the French endeavoured to influence us Vietnamese with their language, educational system, way of life, and worldview. While there is a significant French influence on Vietnamese culture, our relationship has evolved, and both France and Vietnam have had cultural and economic impacts on each other. We appreciate French wine, and French people have a fondness for our coffee.

It's worth noting that the French government has never formally apologized to Vietnam for the colonial period, just as Japan has not apologized for the wartime hardships it caused in Vietnam. Vietnamese people do not adopt a victim mentality when wronged; instead, we seek solutions with our own strengths. A similar approach can be seen in Vietnam's relationship with the United States after the war, as both nations recognize the need to cooperate for mutual advancement.

The truth is that we all have flaws, and sometimes our attempts to help can inadvertently cause harm. Reconciliation entails the freedom to forgive and does not always require public acknowledgment of wrongdoing in every speech. This way, sincerity prevails, and truth is upheld.

John 8: 31-32

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”