How Vietnam Continues to Divide Us
Photo courtesy of CSM
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War, a conflict that divided the United States, killed many fine soldiers, and left many with hard feelings that exist today, the College of Southern Maryland is spending the next year exploring this divisive war. And the college has on board a treasured national resource to help.
Wayne Karlin, professor of languages and literature at the college, is a Marine veteran and award-winning writer who spends much of his time ensuring this war will never be forgotten.
For nearly 30 years, Prof. Karlin has shared with his students his stark memories of the Vietnam conflict and the struggles of the returning servicemen and women. He continues this year by sharing his experiences with the Southern Maryland community through lectures on campus and a travel study program to Southeast Asia.
“Rarely do you have an international tour guide of the caliber of Professor Karlin,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “Wayne fought there and has subsequently spent considerable time traveling around Vietnam, so he brings a wealth of knowledge and cultural understanding. He’s a Southern Marylander leading Southern Marylanders on the journey of a lifetime.”
As part of Vietnam Then and Now: A Travel Course, credit and non-credit students will spend two weeks – starting June 15 – traveling with Prof. Karlin through the Vietnam countryside, and ancient and modern cities from south to north, using as “guides” some of the literature that has been produced by both sides that fought in the Vietnam War. In addition, students will meet with Vietnamese writers, scholars and veterans as a way to help to immerse into the history of the war and in the modern culture of Vietnam. Costs and registration information can be found here.
Prof. Karlin is a five-time recipient of the Maryland Individual Artist Award in Fiction; he received two fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Paterson Prize in Fiction and the Vietnam Veterans of America Excellence in the Arts Award. His book “Prisoners” was named an Outstanding Novel of 1998 in the Dictionary of Literary Biography Yearbook and “Love After War” was named one of the best books of 2005 by The San Francisco Chronicle.
In addition to his literary work, he was a consulting producer for “Shared Weight,” a series of radio programs following journeys of reconciliation in Vietnam for the Center for Emerging Media for National Public Radio.
As part of this study of the war on its 50th anniversary, CSM is hosting “The Things They Carried: Vietnam War Memorabilia,” from 10 am to 8:30 pm, Feb. 17-21 at the Leonardtown Campus, C Building, Room 216. CSM faculty and students who are veterans of the Vietnam War will display the things they carried with them during their service.
CSM’s Connections Literary Series will feature Prof. Karlin discussing his book “Wandering Souls: Journeys with the Living and the Dead in Vietnam” at 7:30 pm, Feb. 28, at the Prince Frederick Campus, Building B, Multipurpose Room. Tickets are $3 through advance sale at the CSM box office and $3 at the door with a student ID. General admission at the door is $5.
Here are more stories about programs at the College of Southern Maryland.
For information on Vietnam War Commemoration events, visit this site.
