Where Rebels Come From

I recently read a bit about Ho Chi Minh.  I am amazed where leaders come from.

In 1911, Ho Chi Minh boarder a French passenger ship in Saigon as an assistant cook.  He spent 30 years discovering the world working as a pastry chef in Boston, studying in Paris and moving to Moscow, where he became a Communist agent.  He traveled through China, Hong Kong and Thailand before returning covertly to Vietnam and setting up headquarters in mountain caves. Ho Chi Minh had a vision.  He believed in his vision and gave his life to it.

His name translates as He Who Enlightens. He worked for years under French rule and Japanese control to bring reunification to Vietnam via communism. He died at the age of 79 unfulfilled.

From my lens I don’t believe with any of his policies, ideals or leadership tactics. I am, however, amazed at how a pastry chef can influence so many people so negatively.

• What caused him to become a communist spy?
• What was the vision in his head – absolute power or true convictions for people? One man affected so many negatively because of his misguided dreams.

Posted on June 01, 2008 in Historical Leaders