Status Updates From Remembering Heaven's Face: ...

the more you read & learn, the more complex the problems of US intervention becomes.A chapter that illustrates this clearly is “The Poor American” about the legacy of Dave Gitelson, a volunteer who lived among the farmers & also met with Edward Kennedy about the hidden civilian casualties. Reports state Dave was killed by Viet Cong, investigations Show he was most likely assassinated by Americans.

Balaban finally allows himself to meet like-minded people (Americans against the war IN Vietnam) and together they write a letter to the president. Balaban begins to feel that even though he's there to help people in Vietnam, this can send mixed messages to the people and he and others can be viewed as part of America's Pacification program--which was a large war strategy.

It’s strange to read of the potpourri of people gathered in Vietnam who are not soldiers- mixing with military & CIA. Balaban notes contradiction after contradiction as he escapes a party of civilian girls and soldiers by ascending to the roof where his CIA friend burns secrets.

Balaban questions American involvement in a small slice of earth so far away. Befriending a CIA agent who feels the same, the cosmic answers come from the market where they possibly see an older woman standing and peeing.

Balaban speaks of his upbringing & intersections w/violence that make his ascension to Harvard that much more surreal.
Then, Balaban credits a 4 minute spectacle of Robert McNamara, a major architect in the Vietnam War, as his catalyst for becoming a Conscientious Objector in Vietnam.

Balaban joined the International Voluntary Service through the Peace Corps & went to Vietnam. How did he have the nerve to walk 6 miles, alone, in the countryside during his first month? Did he tell anyone of his brief ‘capture’ potentially by the Vietnam Cong- or was this revealed in the publishing of the book? Does he regret these choices now?