Honoring HoChi Minh

Vietnam is a youthful country. Most people were born after the war and it is ancient history to them. However, Ho Chi Minh remains a great hero-stuff of legends. I don't think I will go inside his mausoleum since the lines are very long. It would take hours. Last night I watched a TV spectacular -live show tribute to him. It was a combo of Los Vegas style numbers with dancing girls and more solomn choral arangements by young men in glorious military uniforms ( a lot of gold braid). The backdrop was a huge videoscreen surrounded by flowers. On the screen, a kind of giant book appeared with Ho's profile on one side and many photos and videos of his life on the other. We saw him as a yong radical, in the jungle, meeting villagers, meeting with world statesmen, etc. His face is full of intelligence in these old photos and his demeanor with people very kind. I think he was a truly great leader for his people. I do wonder what he might think of the show. In one number young girls in pink satin traditional dress swirl around carrying giagantic tulips. In another-MTV style-a sexy young woman sings very intensly (not sure what she sang-but the chorus was his name repeated with passion!) I was struck with the usual western hegemengy of TV culture. The look and feel of the show resembled the cheesy "Live Specials) we know too well. But the life ofHo Chi Minh shines above it anyway.