\head{Ba?o To^`n va` Pha't Huy}
\head{Va(n Ho'a Da^n To^.c}
\hfill {\it Tri'ch Trong} {\bf Nguye^.t San Tuo^?i Hoa so^' 11}

\noindent Em ho.c tro` tha^n me^'n:

Thuu em vie^'t, tha^`y dda~ nha^.n dduuoo.c kha' la^u.  Tha^`y chuua
tra? loo`i dduuoo.c, mo^.t pha^`n vi` ba^.n nhie^`u co^ng vie^.c,
nhuung pha^`n nuu~a la` Tha^`y chuua bie^'t pha?i tra? loo`i voo'i em
nhuu the^' na`o ``cho cu. the^?" nhuu em mong muo^'n.  DDe^'n ba^y
gioo` thi` hi vo.ng thuu na`y co' the^? giu'p em tho?a ma~n pha^`n
na`o.

\noindent Thuu em vie^'t:
\begin{quote}\it
``Thuua Tha^`y, la`m the^' na`o dde^? ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy va(n
ho'a da^n to^.c?  Em va^~n bie^'t va(n ho'a da^n to^.c la` ca'i gi`
ra^'t thie^ng lie^ng cao quy'.  Ta^m ho^`n Vie^.t Nam trong con
nguuoo`i em tho^i thu'c em quye^'n luye^'n, ba?o ve^. ne^`n va(n ho'a
a^'y.  Nhuung ne^'u co' ai ho?i em va(n ho'a da^n to^.c la` gi`, va`
la`m the^' na`o dde^? ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy ne^`n va(n ho'a a^'y?
Thi` em chi.u!  Co' nhie^`u nguuoo`i loo'n va` tri' thuu'c ddi.nh
nghi~a ve^` va(n ho'a da^n to^.c ba(`ng nhuu~ng tuu` nguu~ truu`u
tuuoo.ng va` ra^'t kho' hie^?u. Em nghi~ ra(`ng ne^'u em kho^ng
hie^?u dduuoo.c thi` ra^'t nhie^`u ba.n tre? cu`ng luu'a tuo^?i voo'i
em cu~ng kho^ng hie^?u dduuoo.c.  La.i co' nguuoo`i no'i, em kho^ng
bie^'t ho. no'i ddu`a hay no'i tha^.t, ra(`ng: ``Va(n ho'a da^n to^.c
la` ba't phoo?, la` mo'n cha? gio`, la` chie^'c a'o da`i."  Thuua
Tha^`y, nhuu va^.y, co' tha^.t la` khi ta a(n ba't phoo? hay ca'i cha?
gio`, hay khi ta ma(.c chie^'c a'o da`i la` ta dda~ ``ba?o ve^. va`
pha't huy va(n ho'a da^n to^.c kho^ng?"  Thuua Tha^`y, du` ra(`ng ba^y
gioo` Tha^`y kho^ng co`n dduu'ng tre^n bu.c ba?ng dde^? da.y em nuu~a,
nhuung bao gioo` Tha^`y cu~ng la` Tha^`y cu?a em, ne^n em xin Tha^`y
gia?ng gia?i cho em, ma` pha?i cu. the^? coo, Tha^`y nhe'!"
\end{quote}

\noindent Em ho.c tro`,

DDo`i ho?i cu?a em tha^.t hoo.p ly' va` kho^ng co' gi` qua' dda'ng
ca?.  Ta^'t ca? mo.i vie^.c, ne^'u chi? hie^?u tre^n ly' thuye^'t ma`
kho^ng co' ha`nh ddo^.ng cu. the^? thi` dde^`u kho^ng ddi dde^'n dda^u
ca?.  Co^? nha^n ta dda~ vi' von: {\sf ``No'i mo^.t thuuoo'c kho^ng
ba(`ng buuoo'c dduuoo.c mo^.t gang."} Va^.y Tha^`y se~ co^' ga('ng
gia?i thi'ch va^'n dde^` cho em mo^.t ca'ch gia?n di. de^~ hie^?u,
ddo^`ng thoo`i dde^` nghi. voo'i em mo^.t so^' vie^.c cu. the^?,
nha(`m ``ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy va(n ho'a da^n to^.c."

Ca'c nha` khoa ba?ng khi ddi.nh nghi~a ``va(n ho'a", thuuoo`ng du`ng
nhuu~ng chuu~ truu`u tuuoo.ng va` kho' hie^?u, ly' do chi'nh la` vi`
va(n ho'a vo^'n la` mo^.t ca'i gi` ba`ng ba.c, tha^'m nhie^~m va`o
nhie^`u la~nh vuu.c, ta kho^ng the^? na('m dduuoo.c ca'i ``va(n ho'a"
trong tay, cu~ng kho^ng the^? quan sa't no' tuuoo`ng ta^.n nhuu khi ta
quan sa't mo^.t ddo^` va^.t.  Suu. tha^.t, va(n ho'a chi'nh la` {\sf
ne^'p so^'ng cu?a con nguuoo`i.} Va(n ho'a da^n to^.c chi'nh la` {\sf
ne^'p so^'ng cu?a con nguuoo`i, da^n to^.c a^'y."} Ne^'p so^'ng cu?a
da^n to^.c dduuoo.c the^? hie^.n qua suy nghi~, ca?m xu'c, loo`i no'i,
ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a ho..  Nhuu the^', em co' the^? hie^?u {\sf va(n
ho'a cu?a mo^.t da^n to^.c chi'nh la` ca'i le^` lo^'i suy nghi~, ca?m
xu'c, no'i na(ng, ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a da^n to^.c a^'y.}

Da^n to^.c Vie^.t Nam co' mo^.t le^` lo^'i suy nghi~, ca?m xu'c, no'i
na(ng, ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a mi`nh.  Le^` lo^'i a^'y duu.a tre^n nhuu~ng
dda(.c ti'nh sau dda^y: {\sf tro.ng a^n nghi~a; hie^'u ho`a; uua
chuo^.ng suu. ho`a ddie^.u, nhi.p nha`ng, uye^?n chuye^?n; ca^`n cu`
nha^~n na.i; cam dda?m cha^'p thua^.n nhuung va^~n ra suu'c ddo^'i
pho' voo'i nghi.ch ca?nh; tro.ng ddoo`i so^'ng gia ddi`nh, gia to^.c;
ddoa`n ke^'t khi bi. ke? thu` chung uy hie^'p, ta^'n co^ng.}  Co'
the^? no'i ddo' la` nhuu~ng dda(.c ti'nh ca(n ba?n cu?a ne^`n va(n
ho'a da^n to^.c Vie^.t Nam, no' a?nh huuoo?ng va` ta^'t ca? suu. suy
nghi~, ti`nh ca?m, loo`i no'i, ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a nguuoo`i Vie^.t Nam,
du` ho. oo? ba^'t cuu' dda^u, trong hoa`n ca?nh na`o.

Nhuu va^.y, ne^'u pha^n ti'ch cho ky~, thi` ba't phoo?, mo'n cha?
gio`, chie^'c a'o da`i {\sf kho^ng pha?i la` va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam,}
nhuung no' {\sf the^? hie^.n va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam,} no' {\sf la` sa?n
pha^?m cu?a va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam,} chi.u a?nh huuoo?ng dda(.c ti'nh
{\sf ho`a ddie^.u, nhi.p nha`ng, uye^?n chuye^?n cu?a va(n ho'a Vie^.t
Nam.}  Ngay ca? nhuu~ng ca'i co' ve? thie^ng lie^ng, cao quy' hoon,
nhuu thoo lu.c ba't, lo^'i thoo thua^`n tu'y da^n to^.c cu~ng kho^ng
pha?i la` va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam, ma`, cu~ng nhuu nhuu~ng mo'n a(n hay
chie^'c a'o kia, no' chi? la` mo^.t sa?n pha^?m mang dda(.c ti'nh
cu?a va(n ho'a da^n to^.c:  {\sf dda(.c ti'nh nhi.p nha`ng, uye^?n
chuye^?n.}

\medskip
\noindent Em ho.c tro` tha^n me^'n,

Nhuu the^', ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy va(n ho'a da^n to^.c kho^ng pha?i
la` ta ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy nhuu~ng sa?n pha^?m cu?a ne^`n va(n
ho'a a^'y, nhuung la` ta ba?o to^`n chi'nh nhuu~ng dda(.c ti'nh cu?a
ne^`n va(n ho'a a^'y, nhuu~ng dda(.c ti'nh dda~ a?nh huuoo?ng va` chi
pho^'i dde^'n y' nghi~, ta^m ti`nh, loo`i no'i, ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a con
nguuoo`i Vie^.t Nam, nhuu~ng dda(.c ti'nh dda~ ta.o ne^n nhuu~ng sa?n
pha^?m cu?a da^n to^.c Vie^.t Nam nhuu thuu'c a(n, y phu.c, nha`
cuu?a, va(n chuuoong, chuu~ nghi~a.

Theo thoo`i gian va` theo lua^.t pha't trie^?n, ca'c sa?n pha^?m cu?a
va(n ho'a cu~ng dda~ co' nhie^`u bie^'n ca?i, thay ddo^?i.  Ba't
phoo? hay mo'n cha? gio` dda~ tro^i no^?i theo thoo`i gian, chi.u
nhie^`u suu. gia gia?m, pha che^' moo'i tha`nh mo'n a(n ba^y gioo`;
chie^'c a'o da`i cu~ng dda~ chi.u suu. mo^? xe?, ca?i ca'ch nhie^`u
la^`n; lo^'i thoo lu.c ba't cu~ng tuu` tho^ soo da^`n da` troo? ne^n
ddie^u luye^.n.  Ngay ca? chuu~ vie^'t cu?a chu'ng ta, lu'c dda^`u
du`ng chuu~ Ha'n, sau du`ng chuu~ Ha'n che^' ta'c tha`nh chuu~ No^m,
ro^`i cuo^'i cu`ng la` chuu~ Quo^'c Nguu~; chi'nh chuu~ Quo^'c nguu~
la` chuu~ chu'ng ta du`ng ba^y gioo` cu~ng dda~ tra?i qua nhie^`u giai
ddoa.n hi`nh tha`nh va` pha't trie^?n moo'i tha`nh thuu' chuu~ nhuu
ba^y gioo`.  Boo?i the^', ne^'u ba?o ra(`ng ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy
nhuu~ng sa?n pha^?m cu?a ne^`n va(n ho'a a^'y, thi` ho'a ra mo^~i khi
chu'ng ta bie^'n ca?i, suu?a ddo^?i nhuu~ng sa?n pha^?m a^'y la`
chu'ng ta dda~ bo? ma^'t hay dda~ suu?a ddo^?i va(n ho'a da^n to^.c
hay sao\?  Cha('c cha('n em cu~ng nghi~ la` kho^ng.  Boo?i va^.y,
Tha^`y muo^'n nha('c la.i voo'i em: {\sf ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy va(n
ho'a da^n to^.c la` ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy ca'i go^'c, ca'i co^.i
nguo^`n,  tuu'c la` ca'i dda(.c ti'nh co^'t ye^'u cu?a ne^`n va(n ho'a
chu'ng ta\.}

Nhuu va^.y kho^ng co' nghi~a la` chu'ng ta kho^ng co`n a(n phoo? hay
cha? gio`, kho^ng co`n ma(.c a'o da`i, kho^ng co`n chuo^.ng thoo lu.c
ba't.  A(n nhuu~ng mo'n a(n ddo', ma(.c thuu' y phu.c ddo', sa'ng ta'c
hay thuuoo?ng thuu'c thuu' thoo ddo' la` di.p ra^'t to^'t dde^?
nha('c nhoo? chu'ng ta nhoo' dde^'n va(n ho'a da^n to^.c.  Nhuung
ne^'u cuu' a(n, cuu' ma(.c, cuu' thuuoo?ng thuu'c nhuu the^', ma` la.i
kho^ng chi.u the^? hie^.n nhuu~ng dda(.c ti'nh co^'t ye^'u cu?a va(n
ho'a da^n to^.c qua lo^'i suy nghi~, ca?m xu'c, no'i na(ng, ha`nh
ddo^.ng trong cuo^.c so^'ng ha`ng nga`y thi` vie^.c a(n, ma(.c,
thuuoo?ng thuu'c kia kho^ng ddu? dde^? ke^'t lua^.n ra`ng chu'ng ta
ddang ba?o ve^. va` pha't trie^?n va(n ho'a cu?a da^n to^.c chu'ng
ta\.

DDe^'n ba^y gioo`, co' le~ Tha^`y kho^ng ca^`n dde^` ra nhuu~ng ha`nh
ddo^.ng cu. the^? ve^` vie^.c ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy va(n ho'a da^n
to^.c nuu~a.  Em la` ho.c tro` cu?a Tha^`y, nhuung ba^y gioo` em dda~
loo'n, ne^n Tha^`y co' the^? chia se? voo'i em ddie^`u quan tro.ng
na`y: vie^.c ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy va(n ho'a da^n to^.c kho^ng
pha?i chi? dduuoo.c thuu.c hie^.n ba(`ng va`i ba vie^.c la`m cu. the^?
ma` ddu?, no' pha?i dduuoo.c thuu.c hie^.n ba(`ng ca'ch mo^~i nguuoo`i
Vie^.t {\sf so^'ng nhuu mo^.t nguuoo`i Vie^.t, suy nghi~ nhuu mo^.t
nguuoo`i Vie^.t, xu'c ca?m nhuu mo^.t nguuoo`i Vie^.t, a(n no'i nhuu
mo^.t nguuoo`i Vie^.t, ha`nh ddo^.ng nhuu mo^.t nguuoo`i Vie^.t...
trong mo.i hoa`n ca?nh, mo.i thoo`i gian, mo.i nooi cho^'n va` ke'o
da`i trong ca? cuo^.c so^'ng gia ddi`nh.} DDe^? so^'ng dduuoo.c nhuu
va^.y, lu'c na`o ta cu~ng pha?i nuo^i trong ta nhuu~ng dda(.c ti'nh
co^'t ye^'u cu?a ne^`n va(n ho'a da^n to^.c chu'ng ta, nhuu~ng dda(.c
ti'nh ma` Tha^`y dda~ nha('c oo? pha^`n dda^`u buu'c thuu\.  Khi em
ho.c ha`nh, la`m vie^.c trong soo?, chung so^'ng trong gia ddi`nh,
hoa.t ddo^.ng xa~ ho^.i, dda^'u tranh chi'nh tri.; khi em ye^u
thuuoong, la`m vie^.c ba'c a'i, sinh hoa.t ddoa`n the^?... em dde^`u
so^'ng ddu'ng nhuu nhuu~ng dda(.c ti'nh cu?a ne^`n va(n ho'a da^n
to^.c chu'ng ta\.  Nhuu the^' thi` du` em co' so^'ng tre^n xuu'
nguuoo`i, oo? nhuu~ng hoa`n ca?nh kho^ng the^? a(n thuu'c a(n, du`ng y
phu.c thua^`n tu'y da^n to^.c, pha?i no'i ngo^n nguu~ nuuoo'c nguuoo`i
hay mang quo^'c ti.ch cu?a xuu' soo? kha'c, em va^~n {\sf tro.n ve.n
la` mo^.t nguuoo`i Vie^.t Nam.}

\noindent Em ho.c tro` tha^n a'i,

Tha^`y ra^'t vui khi dduuoo.c bie^'t hie^.n ta.i em ddang la` co^
gia'o da.y Vie^.t nguu~ cho ca'c em nho?.  Vie^.c giu'p ca'c em no'i
dduuoo.c, ddo.c dduuoo.c, vie^'t dduuoo.c ngo^n nguu~ va` va(n tuu.
da^n to^.c la` vie^.c la`m qua' to^'t dde.p dde^? giu'p ca'c em ga('n
bo' voo'i gia ddi`nh Vie^.t Nam, co^.ng ddo^`ng Vie^.t Nam, da^n to^.c
Vie^.t Nam, va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam.  Nhuung em a., ne^'u ca'c tha^`y,
co^ gia'o xem vie^.c giu'p ca'c em nho? no'i dduuoo.c tie^'ng Vie^.t,
ddo.c dduuoo.c mo^.t ba`i ba'o chuu~ Vie^.t, vie^'t dduuoo.c mo^.t
buu'c thuu ba(`ng Vie^.t nguu~ la` mu.c ddi'ch, thi` tha^`y thie^?n
nghi~ ra(`ng vie^.c la`m a^'y du` co' to^'t, ra^'t to^'t, cu~ng chuua
the^? dduuoo.c coi la` vie^.c la`m ba?o to^`n va` pha't huy va(n ho'a
da^n to^.c.  Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ga(.p goo~, no'i chuye^.n, ta^m suu.
voo'i mo^.t so^' tha^`y, co^ gia'o da.y Vie^.t nguu~ oo? San Jose,
California, Tha^`y dda~ nghe nhuu~ng loo`i cha^n ti`nh pha't xua^'t
tuu` tra'i tim ye^u chuo^.ng va(n ho'a da^n to^.c cu?a nhuu~ng
nguuoo`i tre? dda'ng ki'nh tro.ng ddo'.  Nhuu~ng anh chi. a^'y no'i
ra(`ng: mu.c ddi'ch cu?a vie^.c da.y Vie^.t nguu~ kho^ng pha?i chi?
nha(`m giu'p ca'c em nho? no'i, ddo.c, vie^'t tie^'ng Vie^.t, chuu~
Vie^.t; nhuung la` huuoo'ng da^~n ca'c em {\sf so^'ng la` mo^.t
nguuoo`i Vie^.t Nam, voo'i ne^`n va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam.} Tha^`y nghi~
ra(`ng em cu~ng chia se? ta^m ti`nh va` y' thuu'c a^'y.  Va` ne^'u
mo.i nguuoo`i Vie^.t chu'ng ta dde^`u y' thuu'c va` ha`nh ddo^.ng nhuu
va^.y, thi` lo gi` va(n ho'a da^n to^.c kho^ng dduuoo.c ba?o to^`n va`
pha't huy\.

DDo' la` uuoo'c vo.ng cu?a em, cu?a Tha^`y va` cu?a bao nhie^u
nguuoo`i Vie^.t thie^.n chi' kha'c.  DDuu`ng choo` ddoo.i ai va` cu~ng
dduu`ng choo` ddoo.i dde^'n lu'c na`o, ngay ba^y gioo` mo^~i chu'ng ta
ha~y the^? hie^.n uuoo'c moo ddo' ba(`ng cuo^.c so^'ng va` ha`nh
ddo^.ng cu?a chi'nh mi`nh.

\sig{{\sl Tha^n a'i,} \\Tha^`y: Bu`i Va(n}