I have a rather unfair affection for the US: I love it more than any other countries in the world, at least nearly equal to Vietnam where I was born, France or the UK where I studied, lived, and gave birth to my children. It is to the point that my friend picking me at the Washington DC Dulles airport a few years ago was so surprised by my excitement arriving in the US, an excitement that should not be that much the case for someone having lived nearly half of his life abroad. May this sentiment be because as a child more than thirty years ago I found in my house myself in the middle of books covered with photos of the USAid handshakes backgrounded by the Stars and Stripes. Or later when I grew up, I visited the American cemetery in Normandy where tens of thousands of American died defending Europe and world freedom and liberty.

It is with this love that I found the images of people storming the Capitol causing the death of 4 people with a deep sadness.  While I agree with the many critics condemning these acts, I don’t share the comments berating the US, its democracy, or some even poking fun at what they call the decadence of the beacon of the free world.

Let aside words from the enemies of the free world, those who show now their disillusion towards the US have, I think, taken democracy as granted and considered simplistically it as a privilege, a special eternal gift to the West, kind of Western exceptionality, hence suddenly feel shocked because America and American are not as beautiful as expected. People may put a bit too much importance to the exceptionality of the West to explain the democratic characteristics of Western society. Living in these countries for many years, I must admit that there are very few differences between people in general in the East and West. Different from what I had expected before, when I went to these countries in the West, I discovered that grass is also grass, people are also people, I mean with all their ups and down, good and bad, intelligent and ugly, peaceful and warring. We are all alike and packed with problems.

The West is more democratic is not because its people are any different or superior to the East, and in our case, Vietnamese. They are not wiser, more civilised or intrinsically less violent. If there is any difference, then they are a bit more courageous, just a bit because most of them are also obliged to, to choose a way to live together better and fairer.

And this choice to live and organise themselves in a democratic way of life governed by rule of law is not without accident, that the storm of the Capitol yesterday is an example. But however condemnable it is, this is an accident of a courageous way of life that chooses democracy over authoritarianism. Imagine how can such a scene happen for example in China, Russia, or even Vietnam where every benign gathering is monitored, let alone meetings, strikes, and of course not storming any Palaces or Congress.

To be frank, storming the Capitol, symbolic though, is not utterly impressing me as a citizen of France, where people strike every few weeks and whose national sport is to protest, most of the case very violently: including picking up street pavements in Champs Elysees to throw at polices, barricading roads, burning cars, and breaking any century old sculptures in Arc de Triomphe, against whichever the government of any elected president: from left to right or even in the middle.

Condemning these acts of violence is a right. Condemning without trying to understand the roots of the problem is a simple neglect of reality or a deliberate choice of political side, then robs the people from the chance to be listened to, to be understood the reason for their acts and even to be sympathized. Yes, however bad they seem to be, these people have the right to be understood, so do those manifesting for the BLM cause. I have always thought that the condemnations of some violent acts caused by some lone BLM members purposely strangle these movements that request legally and rightly the rights for the blacks.

Condemning is one thing, understanding the reason and finding the root solution are more important. Even much more important in a country like the US where we have the most astute of the people sharing the same melting pot, ranging from a certain Obama that I remember the two words “be cool” and “leverage”, most memorable from his Dreams from my father. Don’t know how Mr Obama uses the leverage in his political life but his being cool is a very remarkable trait. And particularly even more important when America has some American named Donald Trump, an intrepid figure that only a democracy like the US can contain and...flourish.

Bihar the Land Of BuddhaBihar the Land Of Buddha

There is mention of Vedas, Puranas, epics etc. in Bihar, and was the main scene of activities of Buddha, and 24 Jain Tirthankaras. The great ruler of the state before the Christian era was Bimbisara, Udayin, who founded the town of Pataliputra. Chandragupta Maurya and Emperor Ashoka and Maurya Dynasty, Sunga and Kanvas. This was followed by the arrival of the Kushan rulers by Chandragupta Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty. In the medieval Muslim rulers built roads in the region. The first conqueror of Bihar was Mohammed-bin-Bakhtiar Khalji. The Tughlaqs and then the Mughals followed the Khajjis.

One of the main states of the Indian Union, Bihar is bounded by Nepal within the north, West Bengal within the east, Uttar Pradesh within the west and Jharkhand in the south.

Most of the travel destinations are Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Pavapuri (where Lord Mahavira breathed his last and attained nirvana), Bodhgaya, Vikramshila (Buddhist University of upper Education), Gaya, Patna (ancient city of Pataliputra), Sasaram. (Sher Shah Suri's Tomb) and Madhubani (known for the famous Madhubani paintings).

Rural Tourist Manali (Nalanda), Jain pilgrimage site, Kundalpur (Nalanda), Manersharif Patna, Kesaria Stupa (East Champaran), Rohtas Garh Fort (Rohtas),Barabar Hills (Jehanabad),Mundeshwari Temple (Kaimur) and Lauria Nandangarh are also famous scenic spots.

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Uttarakhand  is The Beautiful Place  

Toliday Trip

Surrounded by the glorious Himalayas and surrounded by Nepal and Tibet, Uttarakhand is a state of India which is full of unexplored natural grandeur. Broadly divided into two regions; 'Garhwal' in the north and 'Kumaon' in the south, Uttarakhand is home to many Hindu legends. It has been believed to have been the abode of humans since prehistoric times, the number of holy places of this vast region has given it the name of 'Devbhoomi', which has been translated into Hindi as 'Devbhoomi'.

So, you can guess what Uttarakhand is really famous for? Uttarakhand is designed for the Himalayas, sacred rivers, spiritual centers and vast landscapes. Uttarakhand is also famous for adventure sports, which has a fascinating history recorded among a wide variety of flora and fauna, ancient stones and the most fascinating.

Uttarakhand is a place where you would like to get lost on the road going unexpectedly unexpected paths. Fantasies, stories and stories form a part of each scene that reveals itself to the person coming to this holy land. If you are looking for someone for peace or unexpected adventures, then Uttarakhand should definitely find a place in your travel plans.

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Ngồi buồn mà trách ông xanh,
Khi vui muốn khóc, buồn tênh lại cười.
Kiếp sau xin chớ làm người,
Làm cây thông đứng giữa trời mà reo.
Giữa trời, vách đá cheo leo
Ai mà chịu rét thời trèo với thông.

Bỗng dưng lại nghĩ đến bài thơ "Vịnh cây thông" của cụ Uy Viễn tướng công Nguyễn Công Trứ.

Có ý kiến cho rằng tâm trạng của cụ Nguyễn Công Trứ trong bài thơ này là tâm trạng chán nản, bất lực. Tôi không nghĩ vậy. Cụ Uy Viễn tướng công là con người của hành động với không ít thăng trầm nhưng vẫn luôn thể hiện bản lĩnh, khí phách của bậc chính nhân quân tử với nhiều việc làm và chiến công hiển hách. Thậm chí đến đời vua Tự Đức thứ 11 (năm 1858), khi thực dân Pháp tấn công Đà Nẵng, dù đã 80 tuổi nhưng ông vẫn xin vua cho đi đánh giặc. Một con người như thế thì khó có thể sinh ra bi quan chán nản.

Theo tôi, việc chối từ làm người để được làm cây thông ở kiếp sau trong bài thơ chính là ẩn ý của ông nói lên hoài bão và ước mơ về con người, về cuộc đời. Cây thông luôn đứng thẳng và hiên ngang bất kể mưa gió rét mướt, là biểu tượng của lý tưởng sống của bậc chính nhân quân tử mà Nguyễn Công Trứ là một đại diện.