The Beauty of Humanity Movement (94 page)

T
admittedly finds it hard to imagine a world where such sacrifice would be necessary: today one is more likely to kill oneself because of debt or drug addiction or a broken heart than for reasons of protest or principle. He whispers a few words of prayer to ward off debt or drug addiction or a broken heart in his own life, then stares upward at the cards that hang from the burning coils of incense.

“What are the tags for?” Mr. Brentwood asks, his eyes watering.

“You give some đ
ng to have your name written down on a card, and then the incense carries your prayers up,” says T
.

Mr. Brentwood pulls some đ
ng from his pocket, and T
gestures to a novice monk. The monk pulls the card down from the coil and passes it to Mr. Brentwood along with a pen that he pulls from his orange folds. Mr. Brentwood places the card on his thigh, bends his knee and writes down his name before saying, “How do you spell your name?”

“My name, Mr. Brentwood?” T
stammers.

“I’d like to pray we can forgive each other.”

This man is looking for forgiveness? From him? It is T
s job to understand and respond to the needs of his clients—but forgiveness? Even when General Kh
i welcomed President Bill Clinton he didn’t offer him forgiveness. Nor did the general demand an apology. He simply said that it is better to make up for what happened in the past with actions in the present.

T
finds himself in a very uncomfortable position. Mr. Brentwood is looking at him with some kind of emotion on his face. Emotion is admittedly not a subject in which T
has developed much expertise. Tact and sensitivity in the face of the foreigner’s emotions, he reminds himself—rule #10. The instructors at tourism college had cautioned him about dealing with Vietnam vets and couples who are adopting babies from Vietnam, particularly the women. “Their opinions might be very different from your own,” his instructors said, “but it is your job to remain neutral and friendly. Give them your best Vietnamese smile, and when in doubt? Just change the subject.”

“I think it is best you put your name alone,” T
finally says. The man is trying hard to be a good person, T
can see this, but still, he cannot give Mr. Brentwood what he wants.