On a Positive Note

As I have been accused of being rather “dour” in my outlook on world affairs today, I thought that this story would “brighten” things a bit. This is very exciting news, not because I am necessarily a huge fan of the WTO (I’m not), but because it represents a massive step forward for Vietnam. They are starting to embrace (slowly) capitalism and free trade and becoming a valued, participating member of the world community. This is the last phase of the healing that that battered nation must undergo in order to recover from half a century of warfare and communist rule. The Vietnamese people are honest and hardworking and, though perhaps currently lacking in high tech skills and university education, will eventually develop these things and, hopefully, become a power to rival, if not, perhaps, China, then at least Japan. I look forward to that day and hope to see this struggling young nation emerge as a democratic, capitalist nation that is a leader in its region and a friend of the US.