How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Hmong soldiers died at a rate about ten times as high as that of American soldiers in Vietnam. (10.18)
Dang. That's nothing to scoff at. American deaths were not low in the Vietnam War, so this is extreme. Plus it highlights that thing about Americans just not getting it when it comes the Hmong: though many gave up their lives on behalf of the U.S. government, the Hmong community's sacrifices go completely unnoticed by their American neighbors.
Quote #5
"I didn't have anything to eat, and the baby just ate my milk, and I didn't have any more milk. I just held him like this and he died in my arms." (12.9)
Foua has experienced some truly gut-wrenching (or milk-wrenching) stuff in her life. But still, she never seems to lose hope and is driven forward by her seemingly inexhaustible supply of love for her family. If only you could fuel a car with that stuff, huh?
Quote #6
"Not to bury the dead is terrible. Not to carry your relatives is terrible. It is the worst thing in the world to have the responsibility to choose between you and them." (12.24)
Emotional suffering is often worse than physical suffering. Many Hmong are forced to make tough life-or-death decisions on their trek to Thailand, and the decisions they make haunt them for the rest of their lives. Even worse, many are forced to commit grave spiritual offenses in order to survive, and that just makes for further mental anguish among the refugees.