The Freedom Forever, I Treasured
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
From the day I arrived, and for the next 22 years, I
continued to work. I have been
independent and self-sufficient in making my living and in obtaining my
education. I have successfully achieved
what my parents had envisioned. Today,
I have a good career and a wonderful life. Mom, your determination, courage,
wisdom, and love have paid off. I not
only admire you, but I respect you and treasure you as a parent. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank
this greatest country of ours. I thank
you for giving me
The freedom of speech,
The freedom of thoughts,
The freedom of belief,
The freedom of religion,
The freedom to explore and achieve my own potential
and future.
This underlying political structure and foundation
is built on the belief of a democratic society, which offers all people the
equal opportunity to build their lives for as long as they have the motivation
and drive to be successful people. This capitalistic society offers all people
the opportunity to prosper. Taking this opportunity to heart, I earned myself a
good life on this opportunity land. I
shall treasure this beautiful and wonderful country forever.
I often travel around the world on business trips,
witnessing the conditions of other countries and at the same time remembering
my own past encounters and there are indeed no words for me to describe my
appreciation and love toward my own country.
Whenever my plane reenters U.S. airspace, without fail, I feel that I am
the most fortunate and proud citizen of the greatest country in the world. I believe everyone can succeed in this
country, as long as you try your best. God bless this great country and God
bless the United States of America.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
This is the true account of my personal journey to
freedom. I truly believe that “freedom”
is the most valuable commodity to us as human beings. For many of us, freedom comes with a huge price tag.
I was separated from my family as a teenager in
order to escape from the communist-governed Vietnam. This escape meant crossing
the South China Sea. There were more
than 165 people on a small wooden fishing boat; each hoping to survive and
reach freedom. Unfortunately, my first
attempt failed. I was captured and
locked up in jail for eight months.
Although my second attempt succeeded, I traveled 14 days at sea with no
food and water and was robbed 21 times by sea pirates. Through that appalling journey, women were
raped and people were killed. Hope was the only element providing us with the
energy to move forward toward that freedom land.
I grew up in a wonderful family filled with love and
care, just like many of you. I never
thought that I would one day face so much turmoil and hardship in my life. Our property was confiscated by the
government. My father was thrown in
jail for a year and was accused of being a capitalist by the North Vietnamese
government. My mother’s life was turned
upside down dealing with all the tragic events occurring among us. Our family was never the same after South
Vietnam was defeated in 1975.
I believe that I have earned my freedom through
suffering many atrocious experiences, sadness, sorrow, and humiliation
throughout many years of my life.
Nevertheless, living in the United States of America today, with my
total freedom, made it all worth it!
About the Author
Steven Liu was born in Vietnam; he is of Chinese
descent. This book is about his
personal tragedies and triumphs on the journey to freedom in the United
States. As a matter of fact, Steven
insists that he not be called an “Author” because he is not a professional
writer. He makes a living by providing business and technology consultations to
both domestic and international corporations.
He has held many positions throughout his career such as Director of
Information Technology, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, and
Manufacturing Business Process Software Application Consultant. He is currently living in New York State
with his wife Phyllis.