Beyond Hate

THEMES This is a story about some of the sufferings after America's involvement in the Vietnam War ended (1954-1975). The story begins with the rape of a 16-year-old Vietnamese girl by a black Amerasian. The rape raises numerous is-sues and questions. Can people still hate long after the war has ended? How should an intellectual live and think when life reaches a dead end? Can love and trust overcome ha-tred, envy, and separation? When one's life is full of hatred and lies, can happiness be achieved by losing one's mind?