Montagnards
The Muong people, or better known to westerners as the Montagnards, inhabit The Central Highlands of Vietnam in Southeast Asia. They settled about two thousand years ago and learned to live in harmony with the earth. There are many separate tribes. These include the Bru, Pacoh, Rhade, Bahnar, Jarai, Cua, Sre, Nop, Mnong, Kayong, Lat, Monom, Halang, Hre, Sedang, Jeh, Chru, Nop, and more are probably unknown. Most dwell within a three-hundred kilometer stretch from north to south. It is from the Yen Bai Province to the Nghe An Province of Vietnam. These mountainous lands make the southern portion of the Annam Cordillera and the area is visible from any location along the central coastal plain of Vietnam. Geographically speaking, over the years this region has been accepted as the Vietnamese Central Highlands. The name "Montagnard" is actually pronounced "mountain-yard". It is French for "mountain dweller" or "mountain people." Those who live in Vietnam refer to themselves as "Dega." In their folklore, De and Ga were the first Montagnards in Southeast Asia. For Americans, it is Adam and Eve. The Montagnards are hardly similar to the Vietnamese people of the populated lowland area of Vietnam. Their language comes from the Mon Khmer
many Vietnam veterans, which again shows the care and loyalty between two totally different cultures. The situation of the Montagnard tribes in Vietnam is a perfect example of ethnocentrism. The South Vietnamese believe their advanced culture is the only acceptable way. Any logical human being can see that this mind-set is absurd and completely disrespects the human rights of these people. They harm no one in their simple way of survival. They are one with nature and the spirits within it. Living off the land is the only way they know and the Montagnard people are perfectly content doing this. They are suffering for industry, communist greed, trade, and ultimately the narrow-minded ethnocentric views Vietnamese communists. There are about four thousand safe Montagnards living in North Carolina as a result of concerned Americans. These concerned Americans consist of The situation only escalated after the Vietnam War and the Montagnards continue to face oppression from Vietnamese communists. After the war, elders were forced into areas of poverty where there was no shelter, food, or medicine. Elders held the most knowledge and wisdom of their beloved culture. The South Vietnamese desired cultural leveling and took all measures to achieve it. Schools, orphanages, medical clinics, and Protestant churches were closed. Religious practices were strictly forbidden and the Montagnard people were only granted use of irrigation systems, electricity, and medicine if the publicly renounced Christianity. The Communist authorities say, "You believe in Jesus, let Him feed your family." The people are mainly Christian and free bible study and worship is forbidden. It can only take place in secret underground settings. The people are really looked upon as animals and it is like they are being hunted by the Vietnamese communists each day of their lives. Imprisonment, death, torture, and other basic violations of human rights are every day occurrences in Montagnard villages, or whatever is left of them. Women are subjected to birth control and promised money for classes. In truth, when the women come out of these preventative c
Some common words found in the essay are:
Malays Cambodians, Christianity Communist, Vietnam War, South Vietnamese, Dign Diem, French Vietnamese, North Carolina, War Montagnards, Central Highlands, Montagnards French, montagnard people, south vietnamese, vietnam war, vietnamese communists, totally cultures, montagnard culture, svn rule, people highlands, children usually, political privileges,
Approximate Word count = 1435
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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