Author Description

This book covers Laos, its past and present as well as its land, its peoples, and its interaction with Laos' former citizens living in the Unites States of America. It also includes a brief coverage of Laos in the re-orientation of the U.S. priority in the Asia-Pacific. The book highlights the Secret War and its impact on the country, the refugee exodus and their adaptation to the United States, postwar relationship between Laos and the United States, and the process of healing the scars from the war years. To tell the story of Laos and its mystique, fascinating culture and belief systems, the book includes many folk stories and local legends that led to certain beliefs, festivities, and/or gave name to certain mountains and local villages. This discussion also includes traditions and cultural festivities, rituals and ceremonies and their meaning and ramifications. The discussion of war to peace or healing scars of the war-adds an important meaning to the book and special hope to the peoples of Laos and Laos' expatriates in the United States. Another important point of the book is its cover on the influences from its neighbors. More specifically and significantly, the impact of "Sino Neo-colonialism" has on Laos and its peoples. Another important aspect of the book is its overall narrative, which is from the point of view of an academic and native of Laos, who sees the diverse peoples of Laos as having peacefully co-existed since ancient time, and making significant contributions to the making of Laos as well as being key players in Laos' quest to be rid of foreign domination. Despite their experiences of many periods of turbulent wars, internal division, and economic hardships, the diverse peoples of Laos have always survived and moved from one chapter into another chapter of their history. The book is designed to provide information that might explain some of the issues of the past, present and future. It should provide needed facts and figures to the general publ