Erasing and Rebuilding

 


Stories normally start from scratch, looking head on for what’s to come. But some stories are about rebuilding the past from the damage it has inflicted. In The Best We Could Do, the author, Thi Bui demonstrates how powerful forces such as wars, governments, and the unfortunate patterns of history can push ordinary people onto extraordinary journeys. As we continue to read in depth of the story of this Vietnamese family, I’ve come to recognize that this situation doesn’t just stay within the borders of this graphic novel, but it echoes right into my own home.

My dad was only about 15 years old when he left Iraq during the peak of the tension and violence of war in search for a sustainable life. Just like Bui’s story, my dad’s mirrors the same fear and ambiguity more than I’ve ever realized. Similarly to how Bui’s fled borders from the people who controlled power, my dad left Iraq illegally with nothing but luck and timing. He was led by a professional biker who was also fleeing from the Iraqi government, someone being hunted down by Saddam Hussein for carrying a Jordanian flag on his back after winning a competition there. All of this sounds insane until you comprehend that war and violence forces everyone, including kids, to make bold, adult decisions.

But the point I’m trying to make isn’t about the escape itself, it’s about the rebuilding. In the book we notice Bui’s parents arrive in the US with barely anything, while having to carry trauma and responsibility on their backs. My dad did the same, stepping into the US with one hundred dollars and his older sister, saving every penny, trying to rebuild a life war tried to ruin before it could even kickstart.

Thi Bui shows that the genuine conflict doesn’t end when the fighting stops. It continues to linger among families who have to rebuild and adapt, while holding onto their previous struggles. My dad’s story, along with Bui’s reminds me that surviving is just the start of any story.

Comments

  1. MaiaDecember 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM

    I love how you talked about Thi's dad and made a connection to you and your dad. I really like how you told some of his story to show the similarities and differences of your dad's story to Bo's.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Erasing the “Rules”

Image
  Up until now, and probably for the rest of high school, sleepovers with friends are a no go. This is more of a non-negotiable and still feels highly unnecessary. All my friends have sleepovers, and absolutely nothing happens. But usually rules like these don’t come out of thin air, they come from somewhere deeper than simple logic and explanation. Throughout the past week in chapters 8-10 of The Best We Could Do we undoubtedly see how Thi Bui’s parents carry the hold onto the weight of war, escape, and instability, and it floods right into their parenting. The rules they have, like about answering the door, aren’t explained but simply followed. Things like these might feel severe but when you understand what they’ve lived through (escaping Vietnam, rebuilding from dust, generational trauma) these rules start to make perfect sense. They aren’t about controlling but protecting the ones they love. When you see just how quickly safety fades away, you don’t take chances with any pe...
Read more

Erasing Names, not Identity

Image
My father’s name is Bassam, but almost every American calls him Sam. However, unlike the text, The F Word, by Dumas which we read this week, my father never complained about the change or felt that it removed an important aspect of his life. For him, it was just something more simple for Americans to say, something flippant. Although the F Word highlights that someone’s name can carry heavy weight in terms of their personal identity, my father’s experience clearly demonstrates that not everyone views it that way. Some view their name as more practical. Especially when some refugees and immigrants are working incredibly hard just to get by, a name is the absolute last thing anyone could worry about. Now, I’m absolutely not saying that Dumas’s experience is wrong, but I’m aware of the fact that this obviously doesn’t represent all people trying to settle in the US. But this difference highlights something important; sometimes a person’s identity isn’t as fragile as we think. To my dad,...
Read more

Erasing The Bias in Our Society

Image
  In the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically the book of Samuel, there is a very popular story that takes place. For those that are unfamiliar, the record of David and Goliath is typically remembered as a battle of strength, where a small shepherd takes down a massive warrior, overcoming massive odds and proving just about every Israelite wrong. But besides all of the armor, stones, and fighting, the story tells us a lot about perception, as the Israelites assumed they would see David’s defeat before the fight even began. The people misunderstood each character’s size and strength for their own kismet. In a more recent context, people make the same habits, not during battles or competitions, but in everyday life. Now just imagine if everyone viewed David as the villain. The person with no armor, no physique, nothing a sling and 5 smooth stones from a stream. It feels like it wouldn’t be possible. I mean how could the people be so dumb as to view Goliath, a six foot nine, o...
Read more